Page 132 of Holding on to Chaos
“Har har.” She rolled her eyes.
“Something bothering you?” he pressed, adjusting the ties of her cloak and letting his fingers linger on her neck.
“I’m concerned about something,” she admitted.
“Is it something that can be fixed right now?” he asked.
She shook her head. “It’s something I’ll want to talk to you about if it turns out to be something to worry about. But for now, I’d like to have fun tonight.”
He wrapped her in his arms, squeezed. “I’d like that,” he told her.
Eva closed her eyes and let herself be held by the man who loved her. Here, in Donovan’s arms, she could forget about the rest of the world.
“Two, four, six, eight, who shouldn’t be getting married?”
“Ellery! Ellery!”
“Well, fuck,” Donovan sighed.
“What in the ever-living hell are they doing here?” Eva groaned. The remaining members of the Beautification Committee were shuffling about in a small circle on the sidewalk in front of Ellery’s house. Willa, dressed as what Eva could only assume was a rubber chicken, held a sign that read “Caution: Match Not Approved.” Bruce and Amethyst, in matching clown outfits, were lugging around a banner that simply said “SHAME.”
Wilson, the diminutive jeweler, carried a sign for his jewelry store. He was dressed as a garden gnome. Or a fairytale dwarf. Eva wasn’t sure which.
Bobby stood off to the side in her pizza delivery costume, looking first at the protestors and then the gathering wedding guests. Finally, after what looked like monumental inner conflict, she picked up her sign.
I’m not with them. Congratulations, Ellery & Mason.
“This is about to go horribly wrong,” Eva whispered.
“Bobby, what exactly do you think you’re doing?” Amethyst stormed toward Bobby, her happy clown face hiding her frown. Her clown shoes made squeak noises on the sidewalk.
Ellery’s front door flew open, rebounding against the front wall of the house. Ellery, in yards of white lace and an honest-to-goodness veil, stood hands-on-hips, glaring at the uninvited guests.
“Uh-oh,” Donovan said under his breath.
The bride stormed down the stairs toward the Beautification Committee.
Donovan gave a warning whistle, and Carter, Beckett, Jax, and Niko arranged themselves between the protestors and the angry bride. It was a dramatic faceoff considering the costumes. Beckett was dressed as George Washington complete with white powder wig. Carter in his crushed velvet pirate overcoat and tricorner hat stood next to Niko Frankenstein.
Jax was decked out as a German beer wench. “What?” he asked, noting the attention. “I lost a bet.” He shrugged his bare shoulders and adjusted his sock boobs.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Ellery demanded, peering over Jax’s shoulder.
“We’re protesting an unfit match,” Bruce said proudly.
“And I’m protesting their protest,” Bobby piped up.
“Oh, this is bad,” Eva muttered.
Joey growled at her side. “We’re not letting these jackwagons ruin Ellery’s wedding.” In a nod to the holiday, she’d gone the cowgirl route with an ankle length duster, jeans, and checkered shirt.
“Doesn’t Jax have a thing for cowgirls?” Eva asked.
Joey smirked. “Yeah, but unfortunately for him, I don’t have a thing for beer wenches. Did you get a load of Emma’s outfit?”
Eva grinned. “The mummy?” Emma was wearing a ragged white mini dress that looked like it had been fashioned out of bandages. “Niko’s in for one hell of a surprise tonight .”
“Yeah, well, let’s try to keep the rest of the freaking to a minimum,” Summer said, pointing at Ellery who had her fingers to her temples and was humming as she stared daggers at Bruce.
