Page 13 of Father of the Bride

“Aye, aye. Let’s not start talking about my folks.”

“Well. Just saying.”

“Yeah, it’s whatever. Listen, am I seeing you later?” His eyes roamed her body again. “I like this dress on you, but I think it would look even better in a pile on the floor.”

Before she could answer, her phone buzzed in her clutch.

Saved by the bell.

She dug it out and stared, confused by the notification.

Mark Bennett wants to send you a message.

Her heart thundered in her chest. She looked around like she’d been caught doing something wrong, then took another step away from Orion.

She hit Accept.

Her lips curved into a slow smile as she read the words on her screen.

Did you hear our song?

Chapter 7

Mark’sfavoritewaytounwind after a hard day at work was to grab a tasty snack and lay around watching a movie or tv show.

Tonight’s tasty snack was stuffed mushrooms. The show was a beautiful, tasty woman in a form-fitting red dress who looked like she’d rather be anywhere else other than talking to her ex-husband.

He popped a mushroom in his mouth as he watched her. Earlier, after the introductions, Brooklyn hadn’t been any help in that department. She was too frazzled and too distracted to answer any of his many deliberately vague questions. All he’d managed to find out was that she and Orion were divorced, which he knew already, and that Davion was still upset about it. Also obvious. The only new information he gleaned was that she worked as a flight attendant.

He threw in some questions about the boys, too, for a little razzle dazzle. Apparently Amari wanted to be a pilot, and Sylvan was headed to medical school soon. Cool. He’d tried to bring the conversation back to Sunny, but Brooklyn lost interest by then because Daisy, the wedding planner, walked in with another problem to solve.

Mark’s usual problem-solving measure was to pull out his Amex, but money wasn’t gonna fix the fact that the weather forecast had changed.

That was the last thing Brooklyn needed to hear.

He’d left them to discuss the idea of moving the outdoor wedding inside. He showered and changed into his suit, then went to the kitchen to check on the food. When he saw Cici, in that dress, his chest tightened. His body heated. It was a foreign feeling to him, something he hadn’t experienced since Alayna was alive. Sometimes, he thought his desires had died with her.

Looking at Cici, he realized he’d been mistaken.

He’d told the band to play their song, wondering if she’d even remember. But watching her from the kitchen, he saw the flicker of recognition cross her pretty face.

And then he airdropped her.

He’d debated doing it for several minutes before remembering this was his house, and he was a grown ass man. She had made him forget that. She made him feel like that nineteen year old boy again.

They say you’re a man at eighteen, but if so, Mark suffered from arrested development. He didn’t become a man untilher.

Now, he put one foot in front of the other until he stood across from her and her ex.

“Good to see you two,” he said. “I hope you’ve enjoyed your stay so far.”

“It’s all good,” Orion said, looking him up and down. “I was just telling Sunny, you gotta loosen up, man. You so buttoned up.”

Mark smiled tightly, something Sunny knew was a warning.

“Sunny, can I speak with you for a minute?”

She nodded and followed behind him as he walked away, leaving Orion alone and wondering what he said wrong.

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