Page 96 of Shiver

Aiyana finally figures out the lock on the windows, pushing it open and sticking her head outside. “You have exactly five seconds to turn that shit off before I make you!” she screeches.

Kas is cackling behind me, keeled over where he stands, using his hands on his knees to support himself.

“Sounds like your girl isn’t much of a morning person, huh?” I joke.

“Like you wouldn’t believe,” he manages to get out. His eyes go wide, and he takes off in a sprint.

Aiyana’s tiny body practically flies out the window, heading directly for Kas.

Poor fucker, this wasn’t even his family tradition.

Dante, Gianni, Ale, and I can’t contain the laughter that spills out of us, and when Kat sticks her head back out the window, her cheeks are pink. “You may have just gotten my brother killed on my wedding day, you know that?” she asks us, shaking her head, but her smile stays put.

“He’ll be okay. Aiyana loves him too much to kill him,” Gianni notes, but I’m not so sure. Gi bounces on the balls of his feet with a hand cupped to the back of Jer Bear’s head, where he sleeps peacefully in his carrier.

Ale finally turns the music off and we see Kas making his way back over to us, now with Aiyana draped over his shoulder, thrashing and smacking his ass.

“You’re gonna pay for this,” she grumbles.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. I’m sure I will,” he tells her, all smiles as he tips his chin at us with a wink.

“You guys better get out of here before he sets her down,” Kat urges, leaning farther out the window to give Ale a kiss.

“Good morning, groom,” she tells him quietly.

“Good morning, bride,” he says.

They sound so deliriously in love, and I couldn’t be happier for them.

***

Despite the fact that Samara showed up to the rehearsal dinner last night, I still have doubts about whether or not she’ll actually make it today. The girls are getting ready in the bridal suite, and I’m compelled to wonder whether or not Samara actually made it here or not.

I shouldn’t care as much as I do, especially because I’m so excited for Kat and Ale to finally get married and be one step closer to closing on that adoption. But Samara has infiltrated my brain, and I’m unable to stop thinking about her.

“Hey, you good?” Rome asks, leaning up against the side of one of the few trees that aren’t wrapped in twinkling warm white lights.

“Yeah, just a little nervous,” I answer honestly.

“She’s here,” he says, a slow smirk creeping across his face.

I lift a brow at him, wondering how he knows.

“Perks of being engaged to the wedding planner.” He grins. “I was volunteered to bring the non-alcoholic limoncello for their good-luck shots before the ceremony. I saw Samara getting her makeup done when I dropped it off,” he tells me.

“There’s clearly something on your mind—get it out, or it’ll ruin your night.”

I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts, but ultimately sink to the ground beside him with my back up against the tree.

“I keep thinking that with the way she’s been keeping her distance from me, tonight’s the last time I’ll see her.” The moment the words leave my mouth, it feels like a tight vice is wrapped around my heart.

“If it’s meant to be, it will be. And if not, then at least make tonight the absolute best that you can,” he tells me as he stares out into the dense woods surrounding us.

“Like a goodbye?”

“Yep. Exactly like a goodbye. One last night together. Make the memories so you have something to hold onto when she’s gone.”

I can’t say that’s the best idea I’ve ever heard, but it’s all I’ve got.

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