Page 12 of Every Which Way

Maizie was having flashbacks?

Kenna moved closer to the girl and touched her cheeks. “We can leave right now. Or Ramon can come over and take you outside, let you get some air.”

“I know why you like the RV.”

“That’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me.” Kenna smiled. “You want Ramon to take you?”

Maizie shook her head. “I want to see you put on a dress.”

Kenna gave her a quick hug. “Who says I’m wearing a dress?”

Adrielle gasped.

Laney’s eyes widened in a panic.

Maizie said, “You wouldn’t dare!”

“My wedding.” Kenna folded her arms and fought the smile that pulled at her lips. “My rules.”

And, on top of that, it was pulling Maizie out of her funk.

“Well…well…” Adrielle sputtered. “What’s the alternative?”

“Crisp white slacks, a white bodice made out of wedding dress material, so I get the top part. White Converse.”

Laney started laughing. “That’s oddly specific. Almost as if you’ve thought extensively about this.”

Adrielle started to fan herself like she was going to faint.

“But Isupposewe could try some dresses on. Just in case.” Kenna bit the inside of her lip. She was going to murder Jax.

Okay, maybe not.

But still.

Adrielle smiled widely. “Let’s at least go look at some. Who knows, you might be inspired.”

Laney looked like she thought this entire thing was hilarious.

Kenna turned to Maizie. “Sure you’re okay to be surrounded by dresses?”

The teen said, “As long as you’re around, and Ramon is close by.”

Except that the threat wasn’t here. It was in Maizie’s mind, locked in her memories. Everyone had things they wanted to forget or parts of their past they chose not to recall. One person couldn’t say their experience was worse than anyone else’s—except that Maizie’s had been as bad as things could get.

“I need my wingman.” Kenna nudged her. “That church is a pretty good idea.”

Didn’t mean that was how it would go down. She preferred Jax’s idea of the two of them with a few people—she was thinking five max.

Him in slacks and a white shirt, not even tucked in. Bare feet. Hermaybein a white sundress or her idea of white pants and a wedding-dress-like top, also no shoes. Loose hair with a flower in it. On the beach, but not when it was hot.

Quiet.

Gorgeous.

The perfect day.

Fanfare wasnother thing. They all knew it, and Adrielle was going to catch on.

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