Page 6 of Cruel Revenge
Landon was grinning at me as he followed his father out, leaving me with Carey and Dirk. Dirk looked at his husband leaving with dismay, but didn’t try to follow. He started focusing on his drink instead.
“Sorry,” Carey mumbled, watching the door that her father and brother had just marched out of. “I was hoping we could figure it out by the time you and Dad got back.”
“It is what it is,” I said, knowing the two werewolves were marching out to the truck. “We’ll let your father do his thing and get us the venue. It’s his wedding, too.” I reached out and gave Carey a one-armed hug that she leaned into and made a full hug instead. Before letting her go, I sighed.
“You’re not avoiding classwork or anything to do this, right?” I asked, pulling away to look her in the eye.
“No, I got my early assignments and homework done. I’ve got a few weeks before there’s any more due. I had the time, Jacky. I promise.” Carey grinned, and she wasn’t lying, something I was glad about. I didn’t want Heath and my busy lives to distract her too much.
“So, what was going on when you and Dad got home? You seemed happy, but normally, you come home from raids looking exhausted. Did something good happen?” she asked.
Dirk started coughing, not saying a word as he escaped the room.
“Wow, thanks, Dirk,” I called out as I let Carey go. “Not even a proper hello!”
“Welcome home. Glad to see you’re okay,” he called back, his voice hoarse from the coughing.
“Oh, I get it.” Carey started to shake her head, taking a step away from me. “I should have known better. That was stupid to ask. Sorry.”
“It’s fine.” I chuckled. “I just figure you don’t want to think about your dad like that.”
“You’re right,” Carey said, now not looking at me. “You and he are happy, and that’s what matters and what I prefer to think about. The idea of you being happy and not the… reality of what that means.”
“We can drop it now, Carey,” I said gently, smiling as she made a face as she nodded, clearly trying to banish the thought entirely. “So, since I’ve caught you here working on my wedding, I wanted to ask something. I’ve been mulling it over, and I think Heath will agree with my choice. I haven’t mentioned it to him, but I think he’ll enjoy this.”
“Oh?” Carey turned back to me, curiosity lighting up her eyes. “What’s going on?”
“Sit down with me.” I went behind my desk and took my seat while she grabbed the chair Dirk had been using and brought itbeside me instead of sitting across the desk. I took her hand and smiled as she touched the engagement ring.
“It’s pretty, isn’t it?” I said, chuckling.
“Yeah. I hope if I ever get married, it’s like this one,” she said, nodding. She tore her attention away from the ring and looked up at me. “So…”
“Heath and I don’t want a large wedding party. That’s been discussed. We don’t want a lot of bridesmaids or groomsmen, but we agreed on one, maybe two. Clearly, we need a best man and maid of honor… I want just one person in my wedding party, Carey. I want you to be my maid of honor.”
I searched her expression as I said the words, catching the flash of disappointment when I said that we wouldn’t have large wedding parties. It was quickly chased away when I got to the point. The scent of her joy, excitement, and love filled the room quickly as tears filled her eyes.
“I would love that!” she nearly screeched, dropping my hand to launch forward with a strong hug, nearly in my lap as I hugged her in return. “Yes! Oh my God!”
I laughed as tears welled in my eyes as the image formed in my head. I knew who Heath’s best man would be. On the day I married my werewolf, we were going to be standing with Carey and Landon at our sides, and just the idea of it moved me.
Carey’s excitement also moved to tears as she pulled back, her eyes welling up and getting redder by the second as she fought those tears.
“So, this means I’ll get to stand next to you as you marry Dad, and, like, obviously, Landon will be up there. Could we fit Dirk in?”
“I would need a bridesmaid to even it out,” I said, smiling. “But I would love to get Dirk up there, if Heath wants him as a groomsman.”
“Of course he will!” Carey started wiping her eyes. “Zuri can be your other bridesmaid. You know she would do it. She’s been like the best big sister ever for you.”
I almost argued with that, but she was right. If I was going to have two women beside me at the altar, it was going to be Carey, then Zuri.
“She’s a pretty damn good sister,” I agreed. “I’ll ask her when she’s back about planning this thing. I need to ask her about Amir, too.”
“Why?”
“We need a ring bearer,” I reminded Carey with a grin.
“Oh, that’s going to be so adorable!” Carey’s voice went up two octaves with the last word and nearly made me wince, but I resisted, knowing she was a teenager who was excited, and this happened sometimes.
