Page 16 of Wicked Pickle

“What the ever-loving hell?” she whispers.

“Nice to see you, too,” I whisper back.

“This is absolute batshit!” But her happy smile is almost worth it. Almost.

“No Sunny?” I ask.

She shakes her head. “They couldn’t get away. Some royal ambassador thing. Plus, having them go anywhere is, like, asituation.”

Grammy takes my hand and squeezes. “I’m glad you made it.”

“Hey, Grammy.” I pretend to be chill, like I planned this all along. I glance around, realizing the front row of the bride side is empty. “Where’s Bailey’s people?”

Grammy leans in. “It’s only her and her dad left. He’ll sit there after he’s walked her down the aisle. Not everyone has a big family like us.”

A gray-haired man in a suit emerges from the side door, holding a black folder. When he’s in place, the music changes for the processional.

Fucking weddings. Maybe this was a coincidence, and Bailey didn’t know I was a Pickle. Or maybe her lack of family made her come find me when she learned I was blowing off mine. I wasn’t that far, at least not from her and Rhett.

Either way, I’m trapped like a rat in a cage.

Caden walks in with arms outstretched, holding the pillow with a fake ring tied to it. He looks like his dad, now that I’m paying attention. He’d be six or seven. I wasn’t around when he was born.

The little girl is bound to be a Pickle, too, given that Bailey has no other family. Or maybe a friend’s kid. I can’t figure out who else would have popped out an infant since I’ve been gone, other than the princess baby Sunny had three years ago. I haven’t met her kid either.

I’m not the kind of uncle anybody wants around.

I want to ask Grammy about the kid, but I can tell by the way she’s watching Caden that he’s probably the only Pickle blood.

And by then, I’ve got another distraction. Symphony has appeared as the first bridesmaid, her poufy pink skirt swaying as she walks. She holds a metric ton of flowers. She keeps her eyes on the kids the whole time.

The other chicks from the bachelorette follow behind, and the three of them settle opposite my cousins at the front. Symphony sends Caden over to Rhett’s group and keeps the flower girl with them.

I watch Symphony scan the rows, probably looking for me.

Even as the music changes and we all stand to watch for the bride, she keeps looking. I don’t bother checking out Bailey. I want to see what happens when Symphony spots me.

I know the minute she does. We lock eyes. She takes in a sharp breath. Her eyes move from me to the family around me to the fact that we’re in the second row on the groom’s side.

I can tell she’s dying to ask questions. But she’s stuck.

Bailey arrives at the front, and Grammy squeezes my hand again. “She’s lovely.”

I tear my gaze from Symphony. Bailey’s lanky father kisses her cheek and shakes Rhett’s hand. Grammy dabs a handkerchief at her eyes. “We’re going to be a right proper family for that girl.”

My jaw twitches. I get what she’s saying. And I get why she’s saying it. Bailey has almost nobody, and she’s holding on tight.

Merrick and I have a lot, and we abandoned it.

Bloody hell. This is going to be a long night. I’m ready to bail the moment we’re cut loose.

But Symphony keeps sneaking looks at me during the wedding speeches. I figure either she’s not guilty in getting me here on purpose, or she’s got Oscar-level acting skills.

But what I really aim to find out is if she’s got another one of those contraptions under her dress.

And what will happen when I cut it off her this time.

CHAPTER 5

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