Page 132 of Wicked & Wildflower

“Traditionally, a bride would have her father walk her down the aisle, share a dance with him during the reception. He’d give a speech showcasing his pride and love.” He clears his throat, letting out a rough laugh. “I know you don’t have that today, and I don’t know what kind of emotions that’s stirring up inside you. Neither Monica nor I are looking to replace anyone in your lives or fill any kind of space you don’t want us in.”

My sister begins furiously dabbing at her eyes. “It’s okay,” I whisper, removing her hands from her face. “We’ll fix it.”

“Sorry.” Carlos winces. “I…I guess I just want you both to know how cherished you are. We are so grateful you found our boys. That we get to have you—and Lou,” he pauses, smiling at me, “in our lives.” He blinks rapidly, as if attempting to fight off tears. “We always wanted a big family, a ton of kids. After Monica had some complications with the twins, she wasn’t able to get pregnant again, and we accepted that for what it was. When Leo came to us, we didn’t hesitate to make him ours. We thought…maybe it didn’t work out all those years ago for a bigger reason. Maybe we were meant to have more kids, they just hadn’t found us yet.” His bottom lip trembles beneath his smile. “I believe that now more than ever. Now that we have you.”

I didn’t realize I had been crying too until I felt a tear spill over and run down my cheek. I’ve never been particularly interestedin replacing my father figure before, never had much faith in the male species. Part of me still thinks I’m too far gone to ever accept that kind of relationship in my life, but at the very least, I know I have a deep love and care for the two people who I may someday call my in-laws. For the first time, I have faith that they’re not lying to me when they tell me they love me too.

I trust them with my child, and I think every kid deserves a good pair of grandparents.

I never had that, never got to experience the kind of relationship with my grandmother that Darby had, and I never felt particularly close to my mother’s parents. They’re cold and distant, like she is.

But like everything else, Lou deserves better. I’m happy she has them.

Happy we all do.

Carlos stands from the bed at the same time Darby and I get up. He opens his arms to us, and we step into them. “I’d be honored if you saved me a dance tonight,” he whispers.

“Of course,” she whispers back, silent tears still streaming down her face. She pulls away, quietly thanking him as she squeezes his hand before heading into the bathroom to fix her makeup.

Carlos turns back to me as he reaches the door, flashing a knowing smile. “I hope you’ll save a dance for me too, when the time comes.”

“Oh.” I laugh. “I’m not sure I’m cut out for all of this.”

“Save me a dance anyway, even if it’s at the courthouse.”

Tears sting my eyes, my throat thick as I swallow down my emotions. “Deal.”

Wicked

“Darby’s almost ready,” Dahlia says from the top of the stairs. “She’s in her room. I was just checking on Lou.”

She descends in a light green silk dress that clings to every curve of her beautiful body. It’s simple, but she’s not. She’s exquisite.

There are flowers pinned in her hair, little white ones. Orange and pink, too.

Wildflowers, I think.

She smooths a hand down the fabric of her dress, deep blue eyes locking on mine. It’s like the entire world stops spinning on its axis. It pauses at that look in her eyes, and I wonder if that pause is the Earth changing orbit, no longer moving around the sun, but around her instead.

My world. It’s her.

“How do I look?” she asks quietly as she reaches me.

“Beyond comparison to anything in this plane of existence,” I find myself whispering, more to me than to her.

Because my brain wracks for words, but they simply don’t exist, not for the way she looks. Not for the way my chest cracks open at her smile, begging her to fill the gaps left behind.

Cigarettes After Sex filters softly through the house, intensifying the moment that much more.

Because she’s a love song.

She’s not words. She’s music. She’s harmony. Fucking peace.

“You look the way this song sounds.”

Her breath hitches at that, eyes widening and mouth dropping open. I can tell she doesn’t know how to respond, so I only hold my hand out. “Dance with me?”

She lifts her arm, hovering over her chest. A playful smile accents her lips. “Right here? At the bottom of the staircase?”

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