Page 9 of Hat Trick
A best friend and lover wrapped up in one.
“There was a time that I thought the only way I was ever going to be fortunate enough to be loved by someone was to make everything I am louder. Bigger. Bolder. But then you came along—” Clay’s voice cracks and I’m officially a goner. “You came along and loved me for everything I wasn’t, or what I thought I wasn’t. You showed me that the parts I tried to snuff out not only make me who I am but are worth just as much as the rest. And because of that, I have finally learned to find peace in the quiet moments. The small moments. The mundane moments. I have found peace withyou. In this lifetime, and every one that follows.”
Rounds of sniffles sound from the chairs, and I finally chance looking back at Emerson and Dominic, and I can’t help but think…
Is there a love out there for me like what I see in my parents? Like what I see in Rocky and Clay?
Will someone ever love me enough to give me all of them?
Will I ever love someone enough to give them all ofme?
Is that what love is?
If that’s the case… do I even want it?
As deep and profound as these questions are, I know that right now is not the time to answer them. But I do know that I have both of my men here. My maid-of-honor duties are done after the reception, and I want to have some fun. And despite the fact that we clearly have some important details to go over, there’s no better place to enjoy the present. Everything else can be saved until we return to reality.
My only problem is… now that they both know, how could I ever choose?
Or do I even need to?
1 Back to Back (feat. Future, Southside) - Nardo Wick, Future, Southside
CHAPTER 8
TEQUILA—STAT
LILIANA
I’m practically jogging through the doors where the cocktail hour is being held to find the closest manned bar, and bark out, “Tequila gold, I don’t care what kind—stat. You know what, make that a double.” The bartender’s eyes are about to bug out of his head, so I give him my most unhinged smile. Hopefully that relays that both of my situationships are currently in this very room, and I need some alcohol in me to deal with this new discovery.
We just finished taking pictures for what felt like three hours.
In all reality, it was under thirty minutes.
Come to find out, when the grooms actually love each other, the photographers don’t have to try too hard to get good shots.
Thank fuck.
But now that pictures are over and cocktail hour hasstarted, I can feel all eyes are on me. And it’s making my skin itch. Because as more people enter, I know the questions that are about to be thrown my way.
“When’s it going to be your turn to tie the knot?”
“Are you seeing anyone?”
“Gosh, don’t you hope your wedding is going to be this beautiful one day? You better get on it if you want to get married before you’re fifty.”
How about,fuck off.
Thankfully the DJ’s voice sounds over the speakers to make a few announcements, and I use the opportunity to dip back out the door I came in, but not before locking eyes with Emerson and Dom standing in the corner, talking animatedly to one another. The conversation seems heated, and I can only assume it’s because of me.
Duh, Lil.
Knowing I won’t have time to give this conversation the focus it deserves before I have to find Jackson for our grand entrance, I decide to take the risk and return to the rest of the wedding crowd.
“And the reason we’re all here tonight! Please help me welcome Mr. and Mr. Campos!”
I wolf whistle as my brother and brand-new brother-in-law make their way into the extravagant venue. “That’s my brother!” I scream before whispering tomyself, “I’m not going to cry. I’mnotgoing to cry. You can’t mess up your damn makeup,again.”
