Page 60 of Monsters, Vows, and Growls
“Youaresitting,” I muttered.
“I need to sit deeper.”
Carol crossed her arms, eyes still locked on Gabe. “Say it. Admit it. You were reading itfor fun.”
Gabe’s mouth twitched. “The prose was passable.”
Thorne groaned with glee.He’s dead. We’re having roasted linebacker tonight.
Carol gasped like she’d just been personally assaulted by a thesaurus. "Passable?”
“I liked the line about her screaming his name while he made her?—”
“I'm going to kill you,” Carol snapped.
I stepped between them, hands raised. “Okay. This has been… enlightening. But maybe we don’t need to reenactyour entire enemies-to-lovers subplotat my wedding?”
Carol was still glaring.
Gabe stood. “I need another drink.”
“You need a muzzle.” Carol hissed.
Ben nodded sagely. “Or a safe word.”
Carol spun on him so fast he dropped his drink.
“I take it back,” he said. “No talking.”
Gabe was already ordering another drink, and Carol turned on her heel and stormed off in the opposite direction, muttering something aboutpassable proseandone day I’m writing you into a book as a roach.
I stared at the swaying string lights overhead and sighed.
Ella appeared beside me, eyebrows raised. “Everything okay?”
“Just the usual,” I said. “Gabe being a menace. Carol being Carol. Ben possibly developing a stress ulcer.”
She took my arm, smirking. “So… normal.”
I smiled and kissed her forehead. “God, I love our family.”
The moment I’d finished declaring my undying love for our twisted little family, the DJ’s voice came over the speaker with too much enthusiasm and way too much volume.
“Alright, folks, it’s time for thegarter toss!Gentlemen, make your way to the dance floor!”
I turned toward Ella, a wicked grin on my face. She shook her head.
“Don’t make it weird,” she said, already backing away a step as I approached.
“Oh, sweetheart,” I grinned, “I am the weird.”
“You make one innuendo, and I’m calling Carol back over.”
I held up both hands like I was negotiating a hostage release. “Understood. No jokes about what’s under the dress.”
“Also, no teeth.”
“You wound me.”
