Page 37 of Paradise & Vodka
"Because of my friends. He's married a few of them, and he's sick of us all leaving the game."
"He's ordained?"
Nick shrugged. "Yeah, and even held the weddings at his house."
"So, it's like a one-stop shop? Book a date, fall in love, and get married?"
"Well, none of them have fallen in love with a client."
"Oh." My shoulders sagged. "Of course not. That would be crazy."
He leaned back and draped his arm across my shoulders as others started to take their seats. "Yeah, that would be pretty wild."
One of Douglas's friends escorted my mom to her seat next to us, and then the Alexanders took their seats. Douglas took his spot next to the minister. His gaze locked with Nick and then narrowed. I knew they didn't like each other, but Douglas was seconds away from saying, "I do," so what was his problem?
"Are you okay?" Nick whispered, breaking his stare with Douglas.
I nodded. "I have to let it go if Everleigh is happy, right?"
"I think you'd be surprised to learn—"
"Here she comes," Mom gushed, stopping Nick from finishing what he was saying.
Everyone stood as the music started to play.
"Learn what?" I whisper-hissed.
"I'll tell you when this is over."
For the next thirty or so minutes, I watched my sister marry my ex, but the entire time I was curious about what Nick had to tell me.
"It's an open bar, right?" Nick questioned as soon as the bride and groom walked off to take pictures.
"I think so, but—"
"Are you coming to take pictures with us?" Mom asked.
"I—Can it wait? Nick needs—"
"My thing can wait, honey," Nick chimed in. "Go take your pictures."
I blinked. "But—"
He cupped my cheek and looked into my eyes. "Trust me. Let all of this play out, and when you're done, we'll grab a drink."
"Grab a drink?"
"What I need to tell you would be easier to hear with a cocktail."
"Excuse us," Mom said before she and Dad walked away. They probably thought we were fighting or something.
"Why are you acting weird?" I questioned.
"Just trust me." He kissed my lips softly, winked, and then walked away.
Ashleigh was chompingat the bit. I didn't blame her, but I couldn't tell her what I saw the night before while she sat and watched them get married. I wanted her to be away from them so she could react the way she needed to. Plus, I wanted to tell her when I didn't have to whisper. Hell, I wanted to tell everyone in attendance that it was all a sham, except it was clear that Everleigh was doing it to help her family, and that meant she was helping Ashleigh too, even if it wasn't directly.
While the family took pictures, I made my way to the reception. It was on the beach but more inland, so we weren’t walking in thick sand. Round tables were set up with white paper ball lanterns hanging above. It baffled me that they had gone to such lengths for a sham wedding. It must have cost fifty, sixty, maybe even one-hundred grand to pay for flights, hotel rooms for whoever he’d offered to pay for, and everything wedding related. While I knew people spent that kind of money on weddings, it amazed me that Dougie and Everleigh didn’t go to the courthouse in New York and get married to fulfill whatever needed to be done for their agreement to work.
