Page 63 of Big Daddy Christmas
With what she hoped passed for a believable smile, she pushed open the door—and entered chaos.
Even though this was her first time being in a wedding party, something told her that all the experience in the world couldn’t have prepared her for being part of Charlotte Duvall’s wedding. On one side of the room, two women she vaguely recognized were getting their makeup done. On the other, Cordelia and Ivy were both getting their hair done, Ivy with hers down in the loose curls Lottie had requested for her bridesmaids while Cordelia’s was pulled up in a sleek, sophisticated looking ponytail. Cordelia had been switched to Braden’s side of the aisle when Lottie had realized, in a moment of pre-wedding devastation, she had one more bridesmaid than Braden had groomsmen.
“Ruby!” The cry rang out all around the room when her friends spotted her.
“Oh my god, I was worried you weren’t coming!” Racing up to her, wrapped only in a white silk robe that barely covered the lingerie she was wearing beneath it, Lottie threw her arms around Ruby’s neck. “Are you okay? What happened? Frankie said you got in trouble.”
“Yeah.” It wasn’t really a lie, and yet it stuck in her throat anyway. “You know how Beckett gets.”
“Ugh, tell me about it.” Pulling away, Lottie rolled her eyes. “You’d think with it being a special occasion, he’d take the stick out of his ass.”
Guilt slammed into Ruby’s stomach. “It wasn’t his fault. I was pushing his buttons and I knew it.” Still not entirely a lie.
“Aw.” Lottie’s expression turned sympathetic. “Sometimes you need the stress relief. Ask me how I know,” she added with a grimace.
“Anyway,” Lottie continued before Ruby could respond, grabbing Ruby’s hand and dragging her toward the middle of the room. “Come meet everyone! The leggy brunette there is Braden’s daughter, Aria.” Said leggy brunette waved from where she’d curled up in one of the armchairs with a plate of food and a mimosa. “Blonde with the big blue eyes is Portia, and beside her is Eva, two of mine and Frankie’s best friends since we were kids. This is Ruby, she works at the club with me and she’s amazing.”
More guilt, twisting and turning Ruby’s stomach. “I’m not really anything special.”
“Oh, hush. You helped me out after that New Year’s Eve prank and you’re a kickass bartender and you bagged the club’s biggest playboy. That place wouldn’t be the same without you.”
Ruby blinked. “I didn’t realize you felt that strongly about me.”
“Um, would I have you in my freaking wedding party if I didn't love you? Don’t be ridiculous. Did you see Emily and Titania are here?”
Another round of greetings later, she was feeling more than a little overwhelmed. Luckily, Silver took pity on her, pushing a mimosa into her hand and dragging her over to a couch somewhat out of the way of the chaos.
“Drink. You look like you could use it.” Lips twitching, Silver took a sip of the water she held in her hand.
“Thanks. And yeah, I could. It’s been a long-ass morning.”
“Wanna talk about it?”
Emotion welled in Ruby’s chest, and she found herself blinking back fresh tears. “Not really. But I could use a hug.”
“Of course, honey. Come here.”
Even though she didn’t deserve the comfort, she let Silver pull her in for a tight hug, let the familiar feel and scent of her friend unravel some of the knots in her stomach.
“You know, it’s still kind of bizarre to me that I can get a hug from Amanda Sterling whenever I want it.”
Beneath Ruby’s cheek, Silver’s chest vibrated with laughter. “Life is funny that way sometimes.”
“Yeah.”
Slender fingers ran through Ruby’s hair. “You sure you’re okay, honey? You don’t seem like yourself.”
“Honestly? No. I fucked up really, really bad and Beckett’s pissed.”
“Still? Even after he punished you?”
Danger lurked beneath Silver’s words, and Ruby silently swore at herself for not choosing her words more carefully. “He didn’t really punish me yet.”
“But I thought that was why you were running late.”
Before she could come up with some explanation that made even a modicum of sense, Lottie called their names. “Ruby! Silver! You’re up!”
Chapter 5
