Page 27 of Wild Ever After
“Do you know where the girls are? I want to talk to Jade before we head down.”
“Fifth floor, suite at the end of the hall, but you can’t see her before the wedding. It’s bad luck.”
Laughing quietly, I push past him. “I’ll see you down there.”
I take the stairs up two floors, and as soon as I step into the hallway, I can hear them. I knock twice, but no one answers. I lift my hand to knock again, and I start to say, “Hello?” but the word gets caught in my throat as the door opens and I spot Jade.
Her profile is to me. Red hair hangs in curls over her shoulder and a white veil, kind of like the one she had on at the bachelorette party, sits on the crown of her head. Her mom is teary-eyed as Piper zips up the back of the white dress.
Jade turns at my voice, and it’s like a punch to the gut. Simple diamond stud earrings catch the light. Her gaze drops to take me in and a slow smile spreads across her face.
Scarlett gasps and steps in front of me, blocking Jade from view and shutting the door on me.
“You can’t see her in the dress. It’s bad luck,” she screeches.
“I just need a minute with Jade,” I say through the door.
A second later, it opens again, and my soon-to-be wife appears.
“Hi. Is everything okay?” She looks past me, then steps out into the hall. The shoes she’s wearing put her almost at eye level and her red mouth is close and tempting. “I sent over the signed prenup this morning.”
“Yeah. I got it. Everything is good.”
“Oh.” She glances over her shoulder at her mom and friends, then lowers her voice. “Then, why are you here? You’re dooming this marriage.”
I get an eye roll out of her that breaks loose the knot in my stomach.
Sliding my hand into my pants pocket, I wrap my fingers around the velvet box and pull it out.
“What is this?” she asks, when I hold it out to her.
“I heard, I mean, I read that it’s tradition for the groom to get the bride a gift on their wedding day.”
She stares at me wide-eyed. “You didn’t need to do that.”
“I know. I wanted to.”
Hesitantly, she opens the box and then squeaks her surprise. “Oh my god, Declan. Is this real?”
“I hope so.” I chuckle as she stares at the diamond necklace.
“Is it a rental?”
I can’t decide if she’s kidding or not. “No.”
“You bought this for me?”
“Umm… yes.”
“Declan, it’s stunning, but I can’t accept this. You’ve already done so much.”
“I want you to have it. Do you like it?”
Her eyes widen. “Are you kidding? I love it. It’s the nicest gift anyone has ever given me. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Help me put it on?” She lifts it from the box, unclasps the hook, and drapes it around her slender neck.
