Page 9 of Cream Pie

A couple of hours later,in my maid of honor dress, I step up onto the small altar set up by the beach, under some palm trees. The crowd is starting to fill in their seats, and I grin as my dad walks up.

“Hey kiddo,” he smiles. He looks positively giddy, which for a gruff alpha-type like my dad, is hilarious to see.

“Hey yourself,” I grin back as I hug him tightly. “You ready?”

“Absolutely,” he beams before frowning slightly. “I’m just wondering where my fucking best man is.”

My brow furrows. “Wait Javier isn’t here yet?”

Javier is my dad’s right-hand man at his hedge fund, though they know each other from before that, I guess. He used to work for my dad at some other job, before joining his hedge fund, but dad’s always been vague about whatever it is. I’ve actually never met the guy, I just know he’s a finance guy like my dad, and a military vet like him too. He’s also my dad’s best friend, and currently, his best man.

“He’s here as in, in Thailand, but he’s been MIA since last night.”

I frown. “Well, I’m sure he’ll be here.”

Dad nods and smiles at me.

“Hey, by the way, that cake…” he whistles, and I grin.

“You saw it?”

His grin widens. “Tasted it, too.”

“Dad!” I punch him in the arm as he laughs. “That’s bad luck!”

“I thought it was seeing your bride before the wedding in her dress that’s bad luck?”

“Yeah, well, so is leaving finger swipe marks in my freaking cake,” I grumble.

Dad chuckles. “Well, I’m just saying, if you ever go pro and want investors, I want in on the ground floor. You’re seriously talented, Ames.”

I roll my eyes. “It’s just a hobby, dad.”

“Model trains and collecting baseball cards are a hobby. What you’ve got is a serious gift. I mean it, kiddo.”

“Thanks, dad” I grin.

He sighs and puts his hands on my arms. “Listen, Amy, I know none of this has been easy for—”

“Dad,” I sigh, shaking my head and smiling back at him. “For the last freaking time, I’m happy for you guys.”

He chuckles. “Not what I was going to say, honey. I just wanted to say thank you.”

“For?”

“For being great. For being the best daughter a guy could ask for.”

I grin. “Well, I do my best.”

He chuckles and gives me a hug, when suddenly he sighs and pulls back, looking past me.

“Well it’s about fucking time, man. You know this thing is about to start, right?”

“I know, I know. I’m sorry, buddy. I got caught up this morning and then had to play damage control for some shit back at the office. We’re all good though.”

I freeze.

Hang on.

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