Page 9 of Pucking Wild

God, this man is too damn precious. He’s like if a golden retriever came to life and started wearing bespoke Armani suits. And here I was grilling Rachel about needing an exit. What’s the point? No matter where I might take her, this man will just follow us. Jake Compton Price is Rachel’s end game. I have absolutely nothing to worry about by putting her happiness in his hands.

“I’m coming out,” Rachel calls.

“NO!” Four voices say at once.

Jake slaps his hands back up over his eyes as she steps around me. She moves into the doorway, the tail of her gown whispering across the carpet.

“Wow,” Harrison huffs, his dark eyes wide as he takes in his twin for the first time in her rocker glam wedding look. “Sis, you look…holy shit.”

“That good, huh?” she says with a laugh.

He steps forward, quickly wrapping her in a hug.

“God, this is fucking torture,” Jake groans.

“You really do look amazing,” says Amy, tears shining in her eyes.

“Thanks,” Rachel replies, slipping loose of Harrison’s hug. “Alright, we’re officially calling this Twin Summit to order,” she declares. Then she turns to Jake’s sister. “Amy, I would never dream of taking the spot that only you can fill. You’re Jake’s best man tonight. No question.”

Amy nods.

“And H, you’re mine,” she adds.

“Of course,” he replies.

Rachel places one hand on Jake’s shoulder. “Angel, look at me.”

“No,” he replies. “I don’t want to jinx us.”

“I don’t believe in superstitions,” she says gently. “Besides, I think Twin Summit rules outweigh wedding superstitions. I want you to look at me.”

Slowly, he turns, dropping his hands. The moment he sees her, I swear my heart skips a beat. That look he gives her, it’s the look of pure love. His whole face changes from one of anxiety and worry to one of unbridled joy.

“Oh my god,” he says, struck breathless by his bride’s beauty. “Baby, you look fucking amazing.”

“So do you,” she replies, sniffing back her tears.

“Fuck, I wanna marry you right now.” He cups her face with both hands.

“I love you so much,” she murmurs.

“I love you,” he replies. “God, my heart’s beating a million miles a minute,” he adds with a nervous laugh, taking one of her hands and dropping it down to his chest. Her fingers splay over his heart as she gets to feel it beating for her.

Inside my own chest, the dull thumping of my jaded heart echoes in its loneliness. Battered and broken, she beats in survivor mode. It pulses to the cadence of a single word. It’s a harsh reality. A life sentence.

Alone. Alone. Alone.

I tune out that sound, focusing instead on my friends. This is their moment.

“H, when you married Somchai, I thought it would change us,” Rachel admits, glancing at her brother. “And it did, but now I realize it’ssupposedto change us. Somchai is your person now. He’s your number one, not me.”

Harrison just nods.

She turns the other way. “Amy, I really hope you’re okay with this, because I love your brother so goddamn much. And I swear, I’m going to be so good to him—”

“I know,” Amy assures her. “I’ve never seen him so happy, Rachel. You and Cay and Mars, you deserve him. And he deserves all the happiness you can give him,” she adds, eyes shining as she smiles up at her brother. “I just want you happy, Jake. It’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

“Then you approve?” Jake says, his hands still holding steadfast to Rachel.

---