Page 36 of Uncovering Love: The Wedding

THE NEXT THREE DAYS GOby in a blur of work and random errands. As hectic as the days seem, it all makes sense at night when Evie and I come together. Making love into the early mornings, we put our fears to rest, leaving them between tangled limbs and twisted sheets until we’re both satiated and too exhausted to do anything other than succumb to sleep.

She hasn’t said anything about her sister or Drew, or the suspicion that he’s cheating on her, and I hope that means she’ll let it go until after the wedding. I still can’t believe that’s something Drew’s capable of, but I’m also not privy to all the details of their investigation. Whatever the truth, we’ll figure it out and face the consequences ...afterthis weekend.

Today’s another full day at the club, but when five o’clock arrives I wave good-bye to my co-workers with the biggest smile on my face.TGIF. I’m off work for the next two weeks, the longest vacation I’ve had since moving away from home. That’s reason enough to smile. More than enough. Tonight we’ll rehearse, share drinks and dinner with family and the friends we consider family, and then tomorrow ... Tomorrow I marry Evie. I’m the luckiest man on earth.

Evie’s waiting for me when I walk in the kitchen door, already dressed and looking beautiful in a sundress and sandals that show off her blue toenails. I drop my bag, my feet moving toward her of their own accord. “You’re gorgeous, you know that?” I brush my lips over hers for a kiss. Her lips widen against my own with her smile.

“You remind me every day.” She eases away. “How was work?”

“Fantastic since I don’t have to go back. How much time do we have?” I pull her in for another kiss but this one’s not so simple. Starting at her lips, I kiss my way down her neck. I only break to glance at the clock, but she answers me first.

“Not enough time for that.” A giggle escapes her lips. She presses her hands against my chest to back away, but I don’t give up my hold on her hips. Her eyes widen and she shakes her head. “Tate! Ten minutes and we need to leave!”

“Fine, okay.” I laugh, walking backwards until I reach the hall. “I still don’t understand exactly what we’re practicing. Can’t we just skip it and go right to the wedding?”

“Tate!” she chides, but there’s laughter in her voice.

I wink and turn into the bedroom to get changed. We’ve made it here. Tomorrow is the day, but tonight we celebrate how far we’ve come. Surviving these months of planning and family and drama. Hell, making it through this week as one cohesive unit is reason enough to throw a party. Nothing’s gonna rain on our parade.

“I never understood the point of the rehearsal. For a band it makes sense; you have to check sound and make sure lighting is bringing their A game. But with a wedding, is it that difficult to walk down an aisle, say I do, and then walk back out?” Derek grouses as he lifts his beer to his mouth for a long pull.

We’ve all gathered at the bar at Rigatoni’s, a local Italian restaurant not too far from the ceremony venue, for a drink or two before sitting down to dinner in the back room.

“Don’t be a hater.” Kate throws him a knowing glare. “You’re jealous it’s not you and Carly.”

“What? No.” Derek’s quick gaze finds Carly across the room, Eli and Ezra at her side while she chats with our parents. The way he looks at my sister ... It’s the same way I look at Evie, or how Jon regards Kate. We’re each so far gone over the woman we love.

“Liar.” Kate’s grin pulls wide and Derek’s lips form a goofy smile as he shrugs with defeat. Satisfied, Kate turns her attention on Evie and arches her brow. “No champagne tonight?”

Evie blanches. “Ugh. Don’t even say the word. I’m sticking with water. I can still taste last week’s hangover.”

We all laugh as the girls share highlights from the previous weekend’s bachelorette party. Jon and Derek order another round at the bar and I take Evie’s hand in mine.

“Let’s go eat,” she decides and we all head to the private room reserved for our dinner party.

Kate bumps her shoulder against Evie. “Who’s the hottie at two o’clock? I didn’t know you had Latino cousins.”

Evie stops to crane her neck to where a man, college-age I’d guess, slides into a seat at the bar.

“Shit,” she swears, and with that every protective nerve in my body comes to attention.

In his ball cap and jeans, he’s mildly out of place. I don’t recognize him, and when his stare continues to settle on my fiancé, I glance at Evie, wondering how she knows him.

“Who is he? Would he model for me?” Kate gives a round of silent golf claps over her belly.

“Only if I’m there too,” Jon says with a growl. I don’t know how he does it. He supports Kate’s photography, although maybe a little begrudgingly since she specializes in male nudes. I’m forever thankful my future wife doesn’t share the same interest.

Kate pats his shoulder and rolls her eyes. “Relax, Army. You’ve got a standing invite to all my shoots. But seriously, Evie, hook a sister up?”

“Let me go check. You all go on in.” Evie’s gaze is distracted as she hands off her drink and marches toward the bar. Something’s off, though. Evie’s got a horrible poker face, and none of us move.

“I don’t think she’s happy to see him, whoever he is.” Jon’s brow furrows as he follows her retreat.

Evie glances from side to side, her back to us as she talks with the man. He stands from the barstool and his gaze hardens. That’s when I’ve had as much as I can take.

“I’ll be right back.” I hurry through the smattering of tables and ignore my father when he tries to wave me into the dining room. Evie’s finger points at the door and the man shakes his head, the volume of his voice increasing.

“I want answers! You can’t make me leave. I’ll keep following you until I get them!” the man says so loudly that most of the bar and restaurant can hear.

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