Page 79 of Flame
It’s perfect.
Jason stands tall and tilts his head to me. “You ready, Miss Brewer?”
Goose bumps cover my arms. “Let’s do this.”
My brother leads me down the aisle of vermilion and white rose petals. His family—his brothers, their girlfriends and wives, Kixx and Damaris—stand as we approach. They aren’t sitting on a groom’s side for Foxx. They’re on both sides of the aisle, supporting us both through our unique event. It tugs at my heartstrings. Although Jason is here, seeing their support makes me feel less alone. It’s as if I’m really becoming a part of their family.
“This is amazing,” I whisper, taking in the scenery.
The setting couldn’t be more beautiful, with a breeze blowing through the trees, rattling the leaves. The grounds are freshly mowed so that the ceremony feels intimate on the larger plot of land. Lights hang from palm tree to palm tree like a highwire of hammocks, and the bougainvillea that Damaris said was fading in the season appears to have bloomed again just for the occasion.
As incredible as this day is in all ways, the sight of Foxx whips the air out of my lungs.
He is always breathtakingly handsome with his lady-killer jawline and those piercing blue eyes. But seeing him in khaki-colored pants and an open suit jacket with a white dress shirt with the top button undone might be the death of me. My heart skips more than one beat.
Dipping his head down, he runs a finger over his mouth as if he’s willing a smile to retreat behind his shield.
Jason gently nudges me to keep moving. I hadn’t realized I’d stopped.
Foxx looks up, our eyes meeting across the distance. A calmness washes through me. No doubts arise, and no last-minute panic or urge to run away takes over. Instead, I’m confident that this is the right answer. I’ll just have to enjoy it while I can and prepare myself for it to be over.
But not yet. Right now, I’m living this up.
Foxx gives me the sincerest smile I’ve ever seen on his handsome face.
Between the leaves and breeze, it’s as if time stands still just for us.
Jason and I stop just before the minister, where he turns to me and wraps me up in a big, brotherly hug.
“I am so proud to be here with you, and I’m so proud you’re my sister,” he whispers.
“If you don’t stop trying to make me cry, I’m going to drop you right here.”
He chuckles and places a kiss on my cheek. Then he takes my hand. “Here you go.” He offers my hand to his best friend. “You are the only person in the world I’d trust with my sister.”
“I won’t let you down,” Foxx says.
Jason smiles. “Take care of her, my guy.” And with that, he finds a seat next to Maddox.
Foxx’s fingers lace through mine. They’re sturdy and strong. “You’re gorgeous, Bianca.” He grins bashfully.
The minister welcomes everyone and dives right into the ceremony. I try to pay attention to what he’s saying and stay connected to the happenings around me. But it’s hard to concentrate on anything besides my soon-to-be husband.
Foxx strokes the top of my hand with his thumb, watching me with the quietest reverence.
I smile at him, wishing we were alone so I could talk to him. I haven’t seen him since three this morning when he snuck over to check on me. The girls thought it was wildly romantic, and I played along with that. Really, he just wanted to make sure I was safe.
But despite knowing the truth—knowing Foxx is playing a game of charades right along with me—it would be easy to forget it. The sweet smile. The loving way he’s holding my hand. The glimmer in his eyes is so real that I’m impressed he can fake it. It all adds up to a vision of one very real wedding ceremony.
The ring I slip on his finger, thanks to Astrid’s quick thinking, is platinum. Foxx’s brows shoot to the clear sky as I slide it down his digit.
“How?” he asks, amused.
“Astrid. Don’t worry about not having one for me. Blame her.”
He chuckles. Then he stares me in the eyes without any resistance in his baby blues. He reaches in his pocket and retrieves a perfect, simple band. He slides it on my finger as he promises to love me for better or worse until death do us part.
“How?” I ask him.
