Page 131 of The Obvious Check

Erik scoffs, completely unbothered. “I already told you assholes, my black suit is at the dry cleaners. This was all I had on short notice.” He tugs at his collar with a satisfied smirk, clearly proud of his questionable fashion choice.

The only reason we're even able to get married today is because Erik volunteered to officiate. Apparently, he got himself ordained right out of high school “for moments like this.” I've always thought the guy was reckless as hell and completely insane, but right now I'm fucking grateful for his particular brand of anarchy.

That said, his suit is… a choice. He's wearing our team's Covey Crushers purple suit with his jersey number stitched on the back. It's loud, obnoxious, and, knowing Erik, completely intentional. I can only imagine what Savannah's going to think when she walks down the aisle toward a man who looks like he raided Barney the Dinosaur's closet.

Hopefully, she'll be too focused on me to give a shit.

“It's a goddamn crime against fashion,” Scotty deadpans.

Erik winks. “Thank you. Have you forgiven me yet?”

Scotty's eyes narrow to slits. “Yes,” he says, his voice flatter than roadkill.

“Bullshit. Doesn't sound like it.”

“I actually like the suit,” I interrupt. “Separates you from the rest of us and guarantees Savannah's attention will be on me.”

“Always happy to help a brother out. Still can't believe you're letting Madison and Henry walk down the aisle together, though.”

Dash goes rigid beside me, his expression turning to pure stone as he fixes me with a look. “Henry and Madison? What’s he talking about?”

“I wanted to be the flower girl,” Madison admits, looking sheepish as she lifts a little basket filled with purple plastic petals. “I know I'm probably too old, but I never got to do it as a kid, so I thought it would be cute.”

Dash mutters something under his breath that definitely doesn't sound like agreement.

Madison catches it and sticks out her bottom lip in an exaggerated pout. “Did you just say I wasn't cute, Big D?”

He grumbles something that might be an apology. “No, of course not. Just make sure he keeps his fucking hands to himself.”

“Don't worry,” Madison says with a grin that's pure trouble. “The only hands I want on me are yours.”

The entire group goes silent, and they all turn to stare at me like they're waiting for me to explode or start throwing punches. Whatever. I've got bigger things to worry about than relationship drama.

“Did you manage to get through to Adley on the iPad?” I ask Madison, trying to redirect this conversation before someone says something that ruins the day.

She nods. “Yeah, she's talking with Savannah and Chloe right now. Didn't want her to miss her sister's wedding, even if I'm actively dodging calls from Mom and Dad for you.”

“Thanks,” I mutter.

Did my parents take the engagement news well? Hell fucking no. They haven't even met Savannah yet, so I can only imagine the shitstorm I’ll be walking into when they find out I actuallymarried her. I get why they're losing their minds. They haven't seen us together. How are they supposed to know she's the love of my goddamn life?

Madison's the only family member here today, and she's proving her loyalty by dodging those calls. Smart move, considering she's a self-confessed blabbermouth who can't keep a secret if her life depends on it. When she asked about the rush, I gave her the Adley excuse, and Dash backed me up with a nod. It's not technically lying if you don't actually say the words, right? Madison didn't push for more details either, though something tells me she knows there's more to this story.

“You still haven't settled our debate, though. Which side does everyone sit on?”

I glance at the pathetic rows of folding chairs, at the uneven split. That's when it hits me like a punch to the gut… Savannah's side is completely empty.

No family. No lifelong friends. It will just be Chloe, sitting alone with Adley on a fucking iPad.

The realization guts me.

I swallow hard, waving my hand dismissively before the weight of it can crush me. “Spread out. We're all family now.”

“Does that make me Chloe's wicked stepbrother?” Erik asks with a shit-eating grin.

“How the hell do you get so many women when you talk like that?” Scotty shakes his head, looking genuinely disgusted.

Erik raises his hands, chuckling. “I'm all about honesty, brother. Girls know exactly what they're getting with me. Can't say the same for you.”

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