Page 120 of Let Me Love You (Excess All Areas 5)

“Here, take him, then come to the stage. Alex has an announcement to make that’s going to blow your mind.” Ben stepped up onto the stage and placed his hand on Alex’s shoulder.

“Hey,” Ben shouted into the microphone. “If we could get everyone into the garden, for a minute.”

They waited as the crowd made their way to the stage area, eyes looking up at the two of them expectantly. Nan. His mum. Zoe’s parents. The rest of the girls talking amongst themselves. Jimmy Bexter, Cerys’s dad, and people from the label. People Alex had worked with at the coffee shop. Classical musicians he’d never met.

“Think you’re good,” Ben said, handing the microphone to his brother.

“So, I’m super grateful for you all coming out to celebrate my birthday. But it isn’t the reason you’re all here,” Alex said.

Ben felt the moment Chaya questioningly looked at him and discreetly raised her hand and pointed to her ring finger. As Willow and Izabel followed Chaya’s gaze, Ben winked, and the three of them, complete with Zale, grinned as they began to back away from the crowd. No doubt, heading inside to find Zoe.

“In half an hour, Zoe and I are going to get married.”

The crowd erupted in cheers and screams. He saw Zoe’s parents hug each other.

Alex grinned as he took in the shouts and hollers. “Matt knows what needs to happen out here to get ready. Don’t go far.”

It took five minutes to get off the stage and away from all the well-wishers to find Mum and Nan.

“Oh, Alex,” Mum said, when she finally got her hands on him. “I’m so happy for you and Zoe.”

Ben hugged Nan. “And they have something they want you to do, Nan.”

“You do? Whatever it is, I’ll do it, lad.”

Alex ginned. “I want you to sing during the wedding. Can you do Cilla Black’s “You’re My World”?”

Nan put her hand to her chest. “I can’t sing in front of all these professional musicians. There’s a woman here who plays the harp, and that gentleman over there played the National Anthem in the presence of the Queen. Why on earth do you want me to sing?”

Alex put his arm over Nan’s shoulders. “Are you kidding me? None of them have been in the movies, Nan.”

“And it’s Alex’s big day,” Ben said. “It would mean the world to everyone. And some of those musicians are currently being told by Zoe’s old professor that they’re going to accompany you.”

“They are?” Nan asked.

“Yeah. Let’s go find them. Unless Alex needs me for something.”

Alex shook his head. “Just be at the front of the aisle with me in half an hour or so. I’m going to find Zoe.”

“You can’t go see her,” his mum said. “It’s tradition to not see the bride.”

“You don’t have the bedroom next to his, Mum,” Ben said. “He’s already seen her plenty, today.”

Their mum placed her hands over her ears. “I really don’t want to hear anything about that.”

Alex laughed. “Nothing about this is traditional. Plus, we’re legally already married. Happened yesterday, just the two of us. I really want to go tell Rocky that it’s going ahead.”

“Come on, Nan, let’s go get you rehearsing.”

Five classical musicians and, bizarrely, Niles, the lead singer from Stryker, and his drummer, Jared, bustled about inside one of the large rooms.

“I can’t go in there,” Nan said, gripping his arm.

When he turned, he saw Nan’s panic-stricken face. “Are you okay?”

She shook her head. “It’s one thing to sing in my living room. But my voice isn’t what it once was. And these musicians are…”

“Oh, come here,” he said, putting his arms around her. “What’s got you all upset? If you don’t want to sing, you don’t have to. I’m sure Jase will step in. But here’s the thing… Your voice? It means the world to Alex. It’s been a constant of safety and love. So, for him, you’re going to do this. Right?”

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