Page 114 of Sinful Skulls
“I’ll see you up front, brother,” Jackson says, giving my shoulder a squeeze before getting out of the car.
Raffe turns and holds out his hand. “I’m real proud of you, son.” He shakes my hand and then he steps out too, leaving Rachel and me alone in the car.
“What in the fuck is going on?” I ask, half chuckling, half shitting my pants.
“Do you need to wash out your ears? You’re getting married.”
Just then, little twinkling lights appear in the field, joining the lightening bugs. “What the fuck is that?” I ask under my breath. My gaze goes back to Rachel.
“That’s your wedding. Your bride is out there waiting for you. How long do you want to make her wait?”
“And you’re walking me down the aisle?” I laugh lightly, shaking my head. “You know I’m a simple man, Rachel. My brain is having a hard time figuring all this out.”
Her eyes soften, and she reaches back to cup my cheek. “I wanted to see my boy get married.”
“And Daisy agreed?”
She nods and laughs. “She planned most of it. Including this.” She waves a hand between the two of us.
“Are her parents here?”
“They are. They’re the kindest people I’ve ever met.”
“You spoke to them?”
“Yes.” She pats my cheek. “They’re very happy to be getting a new son. My heart is at peace with the thought you’ll have them when I’m gone.”
My gaze bounces over her face. “This is the nicest thing you’ve ever done for me, and you’ve done some pretty awesome shit.”
She laughs. “Come on. Let’s get you hitched.”
I nod, swallowing back tears. “Yeah, let’s do it.”
She meets me at the back of the car, and then together we walk toward the lights. Fuck, everyone is here. “That’s why she had me build an arch,” I chuckle quietly as we approach.
“Jesse wanted you to feel apart of it.” She sighs. “Are you surprised?”
“I’ll admit this might top all of my pranks.”
The way she leans on me for support as we walk breaks my heart, but I’m not going to let it ruin this moment for either of us. This is everything.
When we get to the end of the aisle, the music begins and Daisy steps into view, her parents standing by her side.
“This is real,” I say, stupefied by how beautiful she is.
“It is, baby.” She pats my hand and urges me forward.
Everything around me disappears the closer I get to her. Her gown is painted with black dahlias and daisies. I rub my hand over my chest.
“Breathe, sweetie,” Rachel says quietly.
When we reach her, Raffe stands, and together with Daisy’s parents they intertwine our hands.
Daisy smiles at me as they fade into the background. The minister is saying a bunch of mumbo jumbo, but all I can hear is the beating of my heart. “I love you,” I say, interrupting him and everyone laughs.
“I love you too.” She giggles.
The minister starts to yap again, but I ignore him. I’m not done talking to her. “This is the craziest wedding I’ve ever been to.”
