Page 61 of Loving Lex

“Try it on,” Rebekah suggested.

“It’s compliments of my brother and his wife,” Sophia added. “They’re sorry they can’t be here, but they send their congratulations, as well as this...” She handed me an envelope. “I don’t know what’s inside, but if I know my brother, it’s a big, fat check.” She grinned.

“I... I don’t know what to say.”

“How about, ‘I do’?” She winked.

I laughed. Damn. Today was totally not what I’d expected, but I was going to roll with it. I let the women help me slide into the decadent Versace gown and pin my hair up with a few baby’s breath flowers.

I studied myself in the mirror, fighting back the tears. “Holy shit.”

“You look like a dream,” Grace said, tears in her own eyes. “Here.” She took off a bracelet and slid it onto my arm. “I bought this today. Something new.”

I gasped and looked at her, grateful, about to blubber again, when Sophia pulled an antique-looking barrette from her hair. It looked old and delicate. She slipped it into mine, adding it to the updo. “It was my mother’s,” she said. “Something old and borrowed.”

“Sophia,” I whispered.

“Hang on,” Rebekah said, rummaging in her bag desperately, finally pulling something out and holding it over her head triumphantly. “Yes!”

It was an empty keychain with a sparkling blue gem on it. “I had no idea why I bought this until now,” she said, chuckling as she pressed it into my hand. “Here’s your blue, sweetheart.” She hugged me tightly. “I’m so happy for you.”

“I can’t believe this,” I said, laughing through my tears as I looked at all of them.

“Yeah, we’re awesome.” Sophia smirked, making us all laugh.

“Let’s go get you married,” Rebekah said.

“Good idea.”

They led me back out toward the balcony, and a sudden aloneness crept over me as I realized I had no father to give me away. But that was okay, I decided. I’d give myself away.

“May we?”

I looked up into the faces of the two gentle giants, Maverick and Lucky, as they stood on either side of me, offering their bent elbows.

I smiled in awe, taking their arms.

“From your man,” Lucky said, offering me a perfect white orchid.

“You guys—” I bit back the newest wave of emotion. “You’re going to make me cry off my makeup again.”

“Wedding of your dreams?” Maverick asked.

I took a deep breath and let it go, focusing on the man under the arch, looking at me like I’d just handed him the moon. “It is now,” I said. “And being escorted by two hunks named Lucky and Maverick? It doesn’t get better than that.”

“Lucas,” Lucky whispered as Grace cued up wedding music on her phone and held it up with an excited grin.

I looked up at him and he winked.

“Tanner,” Maverick whispered sideways as we began walking.

“Aw,” I said, squeezing both men’s arms. “I feel special.”

“Just for you, sweetheart,” Lucky said on a chuckle. “Just for you.”

I was married.

Six months ago—hell, three months ago—I was a single, lonely, unemployed, broke, hot mess. Now I was married, madly in love, with college and a career on the horizon.

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