Page 28 of Out of Luck in the Outback

Lila and Clara stand on each side of me as we watch our younger sister giggle at the dust motes floating from the church rafters. I have half a mind to reach out and put a hand on her arm to stifle her giggles, but knowing my luck, it’d probably just make her laugh harder. It’s better to let her be off in her own little world while we shake our heads at her usual antics. I don’t know why we’d expect Peyton to not do what Peyton does. I half expect her to wave her hands in the air and tell us she sees fairies like she did when she was a child.

I straighten my own mouth and turn to face the most important sister at the moment. Cora’s oblivious to Peyton’s shenanigans as she recites her vows to the dark-haired man across from her that’s smiling like he’s not sure how he got so lucky.

The story goes that Cora once threw up in Eric’s pants when they met in Hawaii. I’m not sure how true the beer pong story is, but it doesn’t matter. They got here, and heislucky to have my sister. Damn lucky.

A tear threatens to trickle out of my eye. My eyes dart around the rest of the church, noting my parents, my sisters’ partners, and some guy named Skippy that was Eric and Cora’s tour guide in Hawaii. He sits next to a woman with red hair that’s Cora’s friend and the best man’s girlfriend. Speaking of the best man, Bran sweats behind Eric and dabs his forehead like he’s the one getting married and not Eric. Behind Bran, my only brother, Ryan, surveys the room, looking for any woman suitable for a night of drinking and fun.

Samantha, the maid of honor, ruffles Cora’s dress, and I wonder how long it’ll be until Samantha and her boyfriend Cooper are engaged. So far, they don’t seem to be in a hurry. Cooper watches her now from the second row, his eyes focused on her and smiling a wry grin.

Regi stands beside Samantha, fidgeting with her flowers and making secret hand signals to her boyfriend, Craig, who sits in the second row next to Cooper. Clara, Lila, Lily, Peyton, Eric’s sister, and I round out the bridesmaids and stun in our coral bridesmaid dresses as well as anyone can stun in coral bridesmaid dresses.

Then I see him.

He’s late, his flight out of Juneau delayed by weather, but he stands in the vestibule, smiling at me through the glass windows. He probably doesn’t want to disturb the wedding by opening the sanctuary doors.

But he disturbs me. He disturbs my heart into pounding like it did when I first saw him at the bed and breakfast in Sydney, even though he’s visited me or flown me to him every weekend since we met. He disturbs my heart in appreciation that he respects my family enough to come to my sister’s wedding, meet my family, and not muck up the wedding when he comes in late.

I met his family on one of my visits to Juneau and adore them. Unfortunately, this is the first time he’s met my family since I don’t get to Alton much. I haven’t seen them since I met Maddox, and I’ve selfishly wanted him all to myself. What my family doesn’t know is that I’m keeping him, and he’s their family now.

I smile, and Clara follows my eyes. “Is that him?” she whispers out the side of her mouth.

“Yes.”

“Cute. I’d do him.”

“Over my cold, dead body, bitch.”

She covers her mouth with her fist to stifle a giggle and focuses back on the bride and groom as the minister tells Eric he can kiss his bride. Organ music blares while Eric cups Cora’s face and kisses her long and slow, and I imagine it’ll be a long night for Cora after the wedding reception.

We file out of the church and head for the receiving line, and Maddox wastes no time to greet me. “Calvert,” he mutters, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me into his warm chest.

“You’ll have to be more specific here. We’re all Calverts. Well, Cora’s a Lenning now if she changes her name, but something tells me that’s not going to happen. We’realla stubborn lot in that way,” I say, raising my eyebrows.

“I’ve missed you,” he whispers, tilting my chin up to him. “Any chance we can sneak into the honeymoon suite before them and fuck up the sheets? Maybe drink the good champagne?”

Before I can answer, my mother comes out of the church and stops short, putting her hand to her chest like she’s having a heart issue. “Is this him?” she asks, her eyes wide like Tom Cruise just walked into my sister’s wedding.

“Maddox, this is my mother, Dottie Calvert. Mom, this is Maddox Brewster.” My mother shakes Maddox’s hand, and I stomp on her foot a little to wake her out of her comatose greeting. I smile and widen my eyes where Maddox can’t see my face, imploring my mother not to make an ass of herself.

I really shouldn’t have bothered.

She shakes her head, the curls at the crown of her head bouncing with the movement. “I’ve never met a billionaire before. What do you eat?”

Leave it to my mother. “Jesus, Mom. He’s not an exotic pet like Peyton’s axolotl. He picked the beef option. Feed him the beef, for fuck’s sake.”

I maneuver him away from my mother before she can ask him a bunch of personal questions right here in the receiving line or chastise me for cussing. Taking my own place in the receiving line, I quickly introduce him to my sisters, and they all fawn and fuss over him like I knew they would as he goes down the line. To be fair, I fawned and fussed over Eric, Craig, and Cooper when I met them. Thankfully, Maddox takes it in stride, smiling and winking at me when they gush over his suit and Italian shoes. Eric shakes his hand, and Maddox kisses Cora on the cheek before congratulating her.

Such a charmer.

Once the last guest is through the receiving line, I take Maddox’s arm as we head for the car to the reception. Cora and Eric got a party bus big enough for Samantha, Regi, and me to bring our significant others for the ride with the bridal party. I take his arm and walk like a snail, drawing out the time I can touch his arm.

“Did you tell them yet?” he asks in a soft voice.

“Tell them what?” I smile.

“You know…aboutthe thing. And that you’re moving to Juneau.”

“I told Mr. Gosnell that I’d be working remotely from now on. Does that count?”

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