Page 51 of Adored By Them
Our new friend Damiano is in one of the seats, and he shoots me a reassuring grin.His friend, Seth Colton, sits next to him.They didn’t bring a date, which is interesting.Turns out they’re like Edmund and me, and they like to share.
I push their situation from my mind.Return to the beautiful moment in front of me.
A hush of expectation falls over our friends and family.Everyone looks to the opposite set of arches that face the wedding party.
And then—there she is.Our girl.
17
Edmund
Ilove her so much it hurts.Our bride.Ourwife.
The ceremony passes in a blur of happy emotions.My father says I feel too damn much?Well, fuck yes I do, and I’m glad.Because these kinds of feelings make everything else—rage, pain, sorrow—worth it.
Danica is a vision.Her creamy-white gown has tiny little sleeves capping her shoulders.This one isn’t fancy like her first gown was; it’s a completely different style.It hits her mid-calf, exposing her family tattoo.She’s proud of her heritage, of her family.She should be.While no family is perfect, hers has overcome incredible struggles.
Her blond hair is piled on her head in a riot of intricate curls and braids.I want to find the pins in her hair and let it all down so I can touch the strands, so I can breathe in her sweet scent.
We walk back down the aisle, arm-in-arm.Married.Troy walks on one side of her, me on the other.If music is playing, I’m unaware.All I can focus on is our Danica.
The reception is also fairy-garden style.Small picnic tables laden with tea cakes and Russian cookies, dainty dish sets in mismatched designs and colors.Flowers everywhere.Gauze in pink, purple, and yellow drapes over the tree branches, creating an ethereal effect.As the sun sets, twinkle lights come on, illuminating our romantic wedding night.We dance—Troy dances with Danica first, and then it’s my turn.I also dance with my mother, who gushes about the “perfect night” and how she “hopes this will last, unlike your father’s and my sham of a marriage.”I let her comments roll off my back.She and my father are, as usual, flaunting their affairs to each other and thriving on misery.
I found something better.Something joyful and everlasting.
The night is perfect.Even when one of the caterers dumps an entire tray of cookies on the lawn, nobody bats an eye except to help the poor woman pick them up.We have plenty of cookies.All is well.
While everyone seems distracted, I grab Danica’s hand.She grabs Troy’s, and I lead us under a large willow tree.Its long branches form a tent around us.
“This is the perfect night, the perfect wedding.”Danica’s gray eyes shine as she looks between Troy and me.“I love you both so very, very much.”
“I love you, too.”Troy kisses her cheek.
“And it’s still a good night for you, even though your cousins showed up?”
He grimaces.“They’re behaving themselves.For now.I’m not worried about them—you’re the only family I need.”
“And your parents seem to be getting along okay.”Danica reaches up to squeeze my arm.
“They’re okay enough.Like Troy said, I’m not worried about them.I have you.”
She sighs.“This is like a fairytale.But we should return to the party before we’re missed.”
“I don’t care if we’re missed.”Troy leans down to nuzzle her neck.
I crowd her on the other side.“Neither do I.You’re our bride.Let them think we’re getting up to all sorts of nefarious, filthy things with you.”
Danica giggles, then sighs as Troy and I both kiss over her neck.I find her lips with mine and drink her in.Soon, she’s making soft, needy sounds in the back of her throat.
“Back to the party,” I say in a cheerful voice.
Troy chuckles.
“Argh!”She stamps her foot.“I hate you both.”
“I know, princess.You hate us a lot.But in one hour, we’re taking you home.”
She blinks and widens her eyes.“And—and then what?What happens at home?”
