Page 133 of Wicked & Wildflower

“Right here.” Right now. Because I need to.Because I need you. “Please.”

She laughs softly, twining her fingers with mine and letting me pull her in. I spin her, getting a glimpse of her phenomenal ass before I tug her against my chest and wrap my free arm around her waist. She rests her head on my shoulder, letting out a contented sigh as we sway in the entry of my brother’s house.

He’s spending some time with my dad before the ceremony, and I know Darby’s in her room with Macie getting her hair and makeup touched up before we head outside. We only have a few minutes, but I couldn’t help but steal a moment alone with Dahlia.

“Mom?” Lou’s voice calls down from above us. “What are you guys doing?”

“Dancing.” I chuckle.

Her little feet bound down the stairs, and I turn us so we’re facing her.

“Next to the front door?” She gives me a bemused look, heryou’re-a-weirdoface that I’ve come to know all too well.

“Wherever we want. Next to the front door or in the grocery store. If I feel like dancing with my girls, I’m going to do exactly that, so you better get used to it.”

She scrunches her nose at me like she’s unimpressed. Dahlia laughs into my neck, the sound more beautiful than any melody floating around us.

I let go of Dahlia’s hand, extending it to Lou. Keeping my other arm tight around Dahlia’s waist, I continue swaying side to side with her next to me. “C’mon, Luz. Take a spin for me and let me see your dress.”

She rolls her eyes, but a small giggle escapes her lips as she takes my hand. I hold our arms above her head and twirl her around.

“Mi lucecita.” I laugh. “You look so beautiful.”

When she’s done spinning, she looks up at me with a face-splitting grin that sets my soul on fire. She wedges her way between me and Dahlia as I rock my girls back and forth in the entryway.

I catch sight of my mother at the top of the stairs, who appears to have witnessed the entirety of the interaction. She’s misty eyed, smiling down at us. I toss her a wink, because while Dahlia and her daughter may not understand the true meaning behind my words, my mother does. She understands what it means when I say I want to dance with them anywhere.

I’ve finally found everything I’ve been searching for.

45

Wildflower

You Deserve Everything, Dahlia.

“Looks like a rock-solidcase. Tax fraud, felony embezzlement, and a fuck ton of forgery,” Ryan says, stepping out of his car and meeting Everett and me in the driveway.

The low bass of music pounds beneath our feet, evidence of the raging party going on out back. Darby and Leo’s reception is completely wild.

Everett and I took a trip to my storage unit earlier this morning, where I put together a box of Lou’s old toys and dropped them at a donation center on our way home.

But as far as the police are concerned, I was grabbing table linens for the wedding and stumbled across an odd thumb drive I didn’t recognize. After opening it up at home, I saw several concerning documents belonging to my father’s business, and I thought it best to report them to Ryan and get his opinion.

Upon seeing the evidence, it was his duty to turn the files into the police.

“They’re on their way to the local authorities in Crestwell, where the business is licensed. It’ll take a few days to process, but I’m guessing official charges will be brought against him for at least tax fraud and felony embezzlement.”

I let out a deep breath. “When do you expect the warrant will be issued?”

Ryan shrugs. “I expect it to happen very quickly.”

Everett’s arms tighten around my waist as I fall into him, letting out all the tension I’d been holding in. We head around the side of the house and enter the backyard. The reception rages on with lights, music, and dancing.

The ceremony was beautiful, taking place right at sunset on a crystal-clear day. The backyard was immaculately decorated, in white, green, and yellow florals, Darby and Leo saying their vows against the backdrop of the ocean.

My sister opted to walk herself down the aisle, but she only made it halfway before Leo ran out to meet her at the center of it, pulling her into his arms and kissing her before they even had the chance to say, ‘I do’.

The reception was just as lovely. Everett and I both gave speeches. I opted for heartfelt, whereas he opted for funny, ending with a video of Leo doing a humiliating sandwich chain commercial several years ago, which is apparently the best way to embarrass him. Leo then spent the next several hours getting pleasantly drunk, my sister right along with him.

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