Page 35

Most of my focus was on trying to stay upright, but around me, the kids were humming with excitement. The girls looked so damn cute in their pale blue dresses and Ariel all grown up with her kitten heels and sweeping up do.
“Seriously, Tiana, you have to wear that dress for five hours, max. Stop pulling at it.” Esme’s tone was one of amused exasperation.
“I hate dresses.”
“Well, I said you could wear pants, but you insisted.”
“That was a big mistake.”
“You look great, Tee.” I nudged her with my shoulder, giving her a wink of encouragement.
“Esme looks like a real-life princess.”
“She sure does, Belle.”
Esme was a vision, in an ivory dress with layers of soft lace and silk flowing down into a dreamy train. The bodice sparkled with tiny beads, catching the light and making her look like she was glowing. Her hair was all done up with these loose curls that framed her face perfectly. She wore a simple diamond pendant that Wolfe had given her on their first date and diamond earrings he’d sent to our room just this morning. She looked nervous as fuck. “You good?”
Pressing her hand to her middle, she nodded. “Just a bit nervous. There are over five hundred people in there, and they’ll all be looking at me. “
I forced a grin. “Listen up, my little vanilla slice. You’re gonna knock Wolfe’s socks off. He won’t know what hit him. Don’t even look at anyone else.”
Her laugh was a little shaky. “Good advice. Thanks. I needed that.”
Florian, all suited up and trying his best to look serious, took his place beside Esme. He was normally so wild and boisterous, so seeing him looking so grown up made me smile. “Got your serious pants on, Florian?”
“Yep.”
“Good job.”
The music shifted inside, signaling it was go-time. “Ready to rock this aisle?” I nudged Esme gently, trying to ignore the way my head was spinning.
She nodded, her eyes lighting up. “Let’s do this.”
The doors swung open, and Ariel stepped onto the blue carpet, all poise and grace, as she made her way down the aisle. Tiana was only a few paces behind and managed not to play with her dress the whole way down. Then Belle slipped her hand in mine and up we went. Every step was a battle, my legs feeling like lead, but I kept my focus on not tripping over.
I joined them on the dais, standing across from Wolfe and his brothers. Of course, my gaze went straight to Grayson, making my belly flutter. As expected, he looked hot as fuck in his impeccably tailored suit with the dark blue waistcoat that matched my dress. And, um, oh, was that a flicker of heat in his eyes when he looked at me? If only I wasn’t feeling so shit…Nope, don’t do that. That’s completely and totally dumb.
I dragged my gaze away, back to Esme walking slowly and steadily up the aisle, her eyes on Wolfe the whole time. Then she was standing in front of him, handing me her bouquet and smiling up at him. I noticed that Wolfe’s hands shook a little as he took her hands in his.
The ceremony kicked off with Rowan’s gentle voice. “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome, welcome. We are so pleased to see you all here today…”
I sort of lost track after that, my brain filled with a thick fog that made it hard to concentrate. If I made it through the next half hour without face-planting in front of everyone, I’d call that a win.
I did manage to focus on the vow part of the ceremony, which was beyond sweet. Man, I couldn’t be happier for my little cupcake. So happy, in fact, that I felt a lump in my throat and had to blink back tears when Wolfe took the rings from Grayson and slipped one on Esme’s finger. His whispered, “I love you. So much,” and her murmured reply almost did me in. Because she’d been through so much, raising her siblings all on her own, and here was her very own, very real, happily ever after.
Then it was over. Rowan raised his hands and proclaimed, “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
The applause was instant and loud. I felt it like a thunderclap, rolling around inside my head. Fuck, I was going to throw up. Or pass out. Or both.
Esme and Wolfe stepped off the dais so everyone could congratulate them, and I immediately looked around for somewhere to sit before I fell over. There was a low bench against the back wall behind the dais, about ten feet away. Yeah, I could manage that.
I’d taken two shaky steps when a strong hand grabbed my arm, and I was hit with the scent of intoxicating cologne. Grayson’s voice was low in my ear.
“Have you taken anything for the pain?”
I shook my head, grimacing at how much the simple action hurt.
“Well, that’s fucking stupid.”