"Yes. I love you. Thank you for being the sane one among us." She smiled sadly. "You look beautiful in that dress."
"You do, too. If you change your mind, I'll have Tate drive his bike up in the middle of the ceremony and steal you away. Sound good?" I wagged my eyebrows at her.
"Please. Do it." She laughed and shook her head. "Get out of here before I change my mind yet again. I'm good."
I turned and closed the door behind me, passing my mother on the stairs. She acted as if she didn't even see me, but I was used to it. She was the master of ignoring people when she was upset.
I walked down the stairs as my eyes found Tate. He looked incredible in his black suit and dark gray shirt. He was every bit the man I wanted in my life, for the rest of it.
He glanced up and a smile pulled at his lips as his eyes met mine. He licked his lips subtly and moved through the crowd to wait at the bottom of the stairs for me.
"Everything okay?" He extended his hand and I took it.
"Not really, but my sister seems to be trapped at this point." I moved into his arms and breathed in deeply. "Let's just hope this thing goes off without too much of a ruckus."
"Oh, yeah? Someone causing more fireworks?" he chuckled.
"No, just my parents forcing her to marry someone she's not really in love with." I shuddered. "I can't imagine that."
"I wouldn't do it." He glanced around as the wedding coordinator walked up a few stairs and announced that it was time for everyone to find their places. People started to move toward the patio, and Tate released me. "I'll see you after it's all said and done. Everything is going to be okay."
"I hope so." I smiled at him and turned to see Kade walking toward me.
"Tate," Kade called out as he moved up in front of me. "Hey, man. I wanted to tell you what a great girl you have here. She's classy, beautiful, and everything a man with a good heart could want. You're a lucky bastard."
Tate chuckled. "I figure you've been trying hard to take her from me. Am I wrong?"
"Nope, but after last night, I figured that it was time to stop being a dick and own up to the fact that she's completely lost to anyone but you."
I smiled. "This is true."
Tate chuckled again and reached out to take my hand. "She's my girl, for sure. Don't get any ideas, Mr. All-Star Football."
"Shit, you're the one that's been invited to the Olympic tryouts. Who gets to do that?" Kade extended his hand to Tate. "Forgive me. I'm too much like my father, though I fight against it day after day."
"Nothing to forgive, but stay away from my girl." Tate shook his hand and turned to me. "See you soon, baby."
"Okay." I watched him go before turning to Kade. "You know...there's a really pretty girl in a black dress walking around here who thinks you're pretty special."
He rolled his eyes. "You're not giving up, are you?"
"Nope. Go find her and tell her she's welcome for me." I pushed at his shoulder as he turned and walked off. Things felt right for the first time in a long time, even though my heart ached in my chest. My sister shouldn't have been marrying someone she wasn't completely head over heels for, but I wasn't surprised that she was. She'd always been compliant with my parents, no matter what.
"You know that I'm quite disappointed in your choice to invite that slug to your sister's wedding." My father moved up to stand in front of me as I waited patiently for the wedding coordinator to come get me. I was the maid of honor and would be walking down the aisle first.
"Not any more disappointed than I am that you would stoop so low as to threaten his mother." I kept my stance relaxed, but made sure to hold his eye contact.
"I did no such thing. He's full of lies." My father's eyes narrowed slightly. "If you think that I'm going to allow you to be disobedient and still pay for your schooling, you're dead wrong."
"Take it away, Dad. I don't want your money. I'll get loans like every other kid on campus and when Channel Two News calls and asks for another interview on the Scott family and their giving heart, I'll be sure to be honest this time. I have no problem explaining to them that as long as people do exactly what you want them to, you're willing to help. Otherwise, you turn into a monster." I couldn't believe I was talking to him like that, but I was done. I would pay for my own schooling.
"You better watch your mouth, young lady." He moved toward me, but I ignored him.
The wedding coordinator stepped up beside him, oblivious to our heated discussion. "You're up, Valentine. Are you ready?"
"As I'll ever be." I smiled and moved past my father. "This is the last time I plan on being in this house."
She glanced down at me as we walked toward the patio. "What? Why is that?"