Page 132 of The Obvious Check

“What's that supposed to mean?” Scotty asks, his voice sharp.

Erik's grin turns wicked. “Just that you tried to change yourself for a girl who was never going to be interested in you anyway.”

Scotty mutters something under his breath that sounds a lot like “I wish that were fucking true.” Then he stands a littlestraighter. “It doesn’t matter, though. You’re officiating,” Scotty says louder. “I'll sit next to Chloe just to save her from your bullshit.”

Erik sucks in a sharp breath, pressing a hand to his chest in mock hurt. “Ouch. But you know what? We've only got this room for another twenty minutes, so we need to get this show on the road if we want this to actually happen today.”

Madison squeals and launches herself at me, wrapping me in a hug that nearly knocks me over. “I won't get to say this after, so I just wanted to tell you how proud I am of you, big brother. Seeing you this happy makes me happy, and I love you so much.”

She pulls back, tears shining in her eyes, so I press a kiss to her cheek.

“Love you too, Mads.”

Madison and I have always been tight, which is something I have to reluctantly thank Dash for, since apparently that's the only reason she put up with my shit for so long, but having her here is one of the most important things to me.

“Okay,” she says, bouncing between us. “I'll go get the bride. I can't wait to see your face when you see her. She looks absolutely stunning.”

I bet she fucking does.

She hustles out of the room, leaving the wedding party to settle into their seats. My heart nearly stops when the door opens, and I fully expect to see Savannah, but it's just Chloe slipping through with the iPad and cheeks redder than a fire truck.

“Sorry,” she mumbles, speed-walking down the aisle and sliding in next to Scotty. As she sits, the iPad screen flashes toward me, and I see Adley and her foster sister Briar smiling from the screen.

“Hey.” I wave, grateful as hell that Savannah has them. “Glad you could make it.”

“I wouldn't miss this for the world,” Adley says, her voice sweet through the speakers. I've only talked to her once over FaceTime before this, but I already feel protective of her, like she's my little sister too.

Madison clears her throat at the back of the room, motioning for Henry to join her. I can practically feel the tension radiating off Dash when she threads her arm through Henry's and flashes him a playful smile.

I lean toward my giant friend. “Relax, D. Henry's got nothing on you.”

He exhales sharply but doesn't argue.

To my surprise, Alex starts playing the wedding march on a tiny keyboard in the corner.

“When the fuck did he learn piano?” I ask Dash, genuinely confused, as Madison forces Henry into overly dramatic, pause-heavy steps while tossing plastic petals at our friends. Several land on Scotty, who ignores them completely, and more hit Brooks, who picks them out of his beard with obvious disdain. The guy doesn't say much, but his face clearly shows he's not entertained by her antics.

The room goes silent when Madison and Henry reach the front. She gives Dash a little wink before they take their seats in the front row.

Dash clears his throat, and I straighten my spine, adjusting my tie for the millionth time. My hands? Still shaking like fucking leaves.

When the doors at the back of the courthouse open, my breath catches in my throat and the rest of the world just… stops.

Savannah's heels click against the floor as she steps into the room, and for a moment, nothing else exists.

She's absolutely breathtaking in a short, simple white dress that hugs her curves perfectly. Elegant. Effortless. I can't find words adequate enough to describe how beautiful she is. Shewalks quickly down the aisle, eyes focused on the white roses in her hands while her dark, wavy hair partially hides her face.

Finally, she looks up, and some of the tension in her shoulders melts away when her green eyes lock onto mine.

Dash mutters something under his breath, but I don't hear him and don't give a shit what he said.

All I see is her. All I care about is her.

She's mine.

Now and forever.

Chloe stands, holding the iPad, and gasps fill the room from the girls watching through the screen.

---