Page 76 of Discord
Damien tugged at his little tux instead of answering, fussing with the bow. Raven removed his hand to keep him from tearing open the collar, but he was relentless. Damien was going through aTerrible Two’sphase, though he was three years old. He had also picked up a nasty habit of cursing.
“Leave it alone, buddy,” Milo scolded in a deep voice. He had a stern talk with Damien before the wedding festivities commenced. However, everyone was on edge about Damien’s unpredictable behavior.
Raven turned to me. “Feeling any better?” She had seen me fifteen minutes ago and knew my nerves were frayed.
I didn’t have the chance to respond. The ceremony music started, and the planners ushered Raven to walk inside with the kids.
Milo stood tall next to me. I choked up, sensing the official end of an era to our bond. I had clung to him my entire life. Now, we were both moving on and in the healthiest way possible. My hold tightened slightly while his gaze remained forward, thinking the same.
The two event coordinators opened the heavy French doors. Through the crack, I saw the center stage with a rose gold arch. Large flower arrangements stood on podiums on either side of the altar. Hordes of guests stood from their chairs for a glimpse of the bride.
Reid stood in the middle of the altar. It was my special request that he marry us. Brandon had his back to me, but when the music changed, he turned. The dread faded away as soon as our gazes locked. With a shaky breath, I took a step forward.
We had barely crossed over the threshold of the great hall when suddenly, flashing lights went off.
“What the hell?” Milo jumped in shock.
We stopped mid-step due to the blaring noise of a disturbingly loud alarm. The guests appeared equally perplexed. Turning our heads from side to side, we realized a full-blown fire alarm was going off during the middle of our wedding ceremony. As if there hadn’t been enough obstacles getting to this day, there was yet another one with only twenty feet between Brandon and me.
So close, yet so far away.
“What the hell is going on?” Milo hissed at the planner as she ran up to us.
“I’m so sorry, Mr. Sinclair. There was a small fire in the kitchen. The fire department should be here in less than five minutes.”
“Are you kidding me?” Milo snapped, lowering his arm, and letting my hand fell away. “You’re ruining my sister’s big day. Right during the ceremony, too. Look at this place. This is a disaster.”
The guests scrambled out of their seats in a hurry to escape. Everyone was panicked and asking for more details. I wrapped both hands around my bouquet, and my eyes returned to Brandon. He was the only one unperturbed by the chaos, watching me instead. The intensity of it would make you doubt there was a fire in progress.
The second coordinator joined the first. “Good news. The fire was small, and the hotel staff was able to put it out. The fire department is on site as well. So, we are just waiting for confirmation that there is no risk in proceeding.”
Ignoring their discussion, I sidestepped the group. They were more concerned with pleasing Milo anyways, not the bride.
Milo lectured them about the hotel’s negligence. I barely noticed or heard their apologies. Couldn’t focus on the panicked guests, either. Many of them had already left their seats and exited the great hall, my parents amongst them. The event coordinators pleaded with the guests to settle down as they had contained the fire, and the ceremony would commence shortly.
Sharing a furtive look with Brandon, I watched as he descended the altar and charged toward me. My legs moved on their own, an invisible force pulling me forward.
Reid stared after Brandon, likely wondering if he was attempting to clear out before the fire spread. With perplexed steps, he followed Brandon down the aisle with an equally confused David in tow. Colonel and Carmen caught the small procession from a few feet away and trailed behind.
In jarring contrast to the anarchy surrounding her, a happy Layla skipped and spread her rose petals a few steps ahead of me. Meanwhile, Damien didn’t care for the loud alarm and dropped his favorite curse word.
“Fuck!” he screamed with both hands covering his ears.
“Damien!” Raven scolded. “What did I tell you about that word? You’re going on a time-out. A nice, long one.”
Like a magnet, Brandon and I were pulled toward one another, lost in each other, as everything around us fell apart. We met in the middle of the long aisle.
“I told you I’d bring the damn altar to you if you refused to marry me again,” Brandon stated, his gaze steady on mine.
Raven was nearby. She held Layla’s hand and took a few steps to reach me, appearing puzzled. I held her gaze. Wordlessly, she grabbed my bouquet. On cue, Brandon seized my empty hands.
From my peripheral, I watched as Damien yanked his pants down. “Mommy, Mommy. Look, I can put out the fire like this.” He pulled out his little weenie and started putting out an invisible fire with his pee.
“Oh, my God!” Raven shrieked hysterically. “Damien, pull up your pants right this instant. Milo, do something.”
“Damien, what are you doing?” Milo grabbed Damien, forcing him to pull his pants up.
With Damien safely under arrest, Milo lifted the little troublemaker so he couldn’t inflict more damage. When his gaze landed on the gathering in the middle of the aisle, he joined us.
