Page 126 of Fanged Embrace
“Why not?!” I was yelling, freaking out just a little. My nerves were frayed and Maxine’s faffing was driving me up the wall. “What if she’s changed her mind? What if she gets cold feet?” I swatted Maxine’s hands away, dumping my suit jacketon the floor and elbowing my way towards the door. “I have to talk to her?—”
“It’s bad luck to see the bride before the ceremony!” Maxine stepped in front of me, blocking the exit and throwing out her arms. “Besides, Addison isn’t going to change her mind.”
I tried to push past her, half-dressed and on edge, but Maxine clamped her hands on my shoulders. “Hunter, just breathe. You’ve got wedding jitters, it’s totally normal—but you need to calm down.”
“Calm down?” I blinked at her, bristling under her grip. “Calm down?!”
“Maxine does have a point,” Caden piped up from behind me and I shot an aggrieved scowl over my shoulder. He backed up a step and raised his palms in surrender. “I’m just saying, it’s tradition. I didn’t get to see Marcy until she was walking down the aisle toward me.”
“See, even Caden agrees.” Maxine spun me around and herded me back toward the dressing room mirror. “Now suck it up and stop being a clingy crybaby.”
I slumped into the chair she offered me, staring at my miserable reflection while Maxine messed about with my hair.
“You could have at least gotten a trim before the big day,” she tutted, waving a hairbrush around and nearly clocking Caden in the face. “Or maybe highlights… Really, you haven’t given me much to work with here, Hunter.”
“I didn’taskyou to help me.” I frowned at her in the mirror, grimacing when she tugged the brush through a tangle of knots. “You barged in here without warning and Caden is too polite to make you leave.”
“Caden knows as well as you do that this wedding would be a bust without me.” Maxine ignored my sneer and got to work styling my hair. “Now stop complaining and let me do my job.”
My gaze slid to Caden’s in the mirror and my best man withered under my brittle stare.
“Don’t look at me like that.” He folded his arms, leaned back against the wall and snatched his gaze away. “I already booted River out on your behalf. I’m not risking my neck battling Maxine.”
“He knows he’d lose,” Maxine crooned, smirking over her shoulder at the human man. “How about another arm wrestling match, Caden? Or did my last victory injure your pride?”
“Hey.” I snapped my fingers in front of her nose. “Nobody is allowed to bully my best man except for me. Leave the poor guy alone.”
Maxine shrugged and resumed her self-imposed styling, while Caden dragged exasperated fingers down his face. “God,” he groaned, rubbing at his temple like this whole ordeal was giving him a headache. “When this is over, I’m taking Marcy and the kids on an extended holiday. I need a serious break from all of you.”
“We love you too, Caden.” Maxine shot him a smile and both Caden and I rolled our eyes in unison.
Five minutes and far too much poking and prodding later, Maxine helped me adjust the lapels on my jacket and stepped back with her hands clasped under her chin, beaming at me while I shifted awkwardly in place.
“God, you look great.” She fluttered her hands in the air and gestured for me to give her a twirl (I refused). “I would cry but I don’t want to ruin my makeup.”
A second later the door creaked open and Penelope, Addison’s sister, poked her head in. We’re just about ready to get started.” She looked me up and down, a wanton smile spreading wider. “I gotta say, Addison is one lucky bride.”
I would have offered a thank-you of sorts, but my heart had leapt into my throat and I couldn’t manage more than a tight nod. Penelope slipped away in a swirl of purple taffeta and Maxine looped her arm through mine. She tugged me towardthe door and I walked on shaky legs, gripping tight to the shorter woman when my knees threatened to give out entirely.
Caden patted my back and adjusted his tie. “You ready?”
I sucked in a breath, steeling my nerves. “This is the happiest day of my life,” I croaked out. “But I kinda feel like I’m gonna throw up.”
“Yeah.” Caden nodded thoughtfully. “That sounds about right. I was pretty much the same before Marcy and I tied the knot.” He offered me his arm and I took it gingerly, allowing both parties to escort me out the door.
“Deep breath, soldier,” Caden murmured, and for once, I took his advice, huffing in lungfuls of air until I felt lightheaded.
They led me all the way up to the altar, in front of the guests bustling in their seats. Then Caden assumed the position of best man, standing at attention beside the podium.
Maxine released me with a final, delighted grin, slapping me on the ass for good measure. “You’re gonna do great. Just don’t forget your vows or it’ll be really awkward for everyone involved.”
“Why would you say that?” I squeaked, but Maxine had already vanished, scurrying off behind the line of dangling fairy lights.
Alone at the altar, I looked over the crowd of guests. Not too long ago I’d been out there, watching Jordan and Sky tie the knot. I’d sat there with an ache in my chest, a deep pain in my heart. A desperate yearning for something that I thought could never be mine.
How wrong I had been—and how perfect, to be standing here now, knowing that in just a few minutes I’d have everything I had never even allowed myself to hope for. I would have Addison at my side, her hand in mine, and an infinite supply of time to show my love for her.
So I swallowed my nerves and waited—impatiently—forthe woman I wanted to spend the rest of my immortal life with. For the woman I had met under wildly different circumstances, at a grimy bar in the dead of night. The woman who had taught me so much about myself, who had held me when I thought I didn’t deserve it. The woman who meant the world to me.
