Page 226 of Pucking Sweet

“Better.” He leads the way in the opposite direction Rowan just disappeared.

Over by the restaurant, Tina is leaned up against the wall, puffing on her vape. She takes in the state of Violet’s ruined dress and our makeup-smeared faces. “Do I even wanna know?”

“The wedding is off,” I reply. “You came all this way for nothing.”

She shrugs. “Eh, it was a nice drive.”

I smile, an idea forming. Squeezing Violet’s hand, I glance to Tina. “Wanna do me a favor?”

“Depends,” she replies.

“Get Violet out of here? Take her home before my mom notices she’s gone?”

It was Tina who supplied me with my getaway car when I left Anderson. It’s only fitting she should help another St. James girl in need. She grins, nodding. “Life is a freaking circle, isn’t it?” She holds out her hand. “Come on, Vi.”

Violet looks to me, all the words unspoken lingering between us. “Poppy…”

“Go,” I say, giving her a nod. “Really, it’s okay.” At her wary look I add, “Okay, it’s very muchnotokay…but maybe it could be again. The door on my side is still open, yeah?”

Slowly she nods, giving my hand one last squeeze. “Yeah.”

She walks away with Tina, leaving me standing in the light of the restaurant. Inside, I can see that the guests have all but cleared out. Another Rosemary Clooney song plays as waiters clean up the plates.

“Well…that was memorable,” says Lukas, wrapping his arms around me.

I let out a shaky breath, leaning against him. “That was a disaster.”

Colton steps in, and they both nuzzle me, exchanging kisses. We’re still whole, and that’s all that matters.

“I’ve thought about it,” I say, rubbing my hands down both their arms. “And I’d like permission to break rule number three.”

They both look down at me.

“Babe, the wedding is off,” Colton says. “No wedding, no church.”

I just shrug. “So, we find one. Maybe this hotel has a chapel.”

“That’s how you wanna spend the rest of your sister’s ruined night?” says Colton. “Fucking like rabbits in a hotel chapel?”

I feel oddly light as I grin. “Let’s try to steal some tiramisu too.”

“On it.” Lukas ducks away from us to slip inside the restaurant.

I turn in Colton’s arms. “What were we going to win if we didn’t break the rules this weekend?”

He smiles down at me. “Whoever won got to take you to Aruba.”

My eyes go wide, but my smile is wider. “Can we do it anyway?”

He kisses me with a laugh. “Of course. I already bought the tickets.”

81

Four Months Later

Iwander down the hall toward the kitchen, pausing as I hear Lukas singing what sounds like Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now.” Only he’s changed the words to make it a song for the damn cat.

“Princess says meow,” he sings, swaying with her in his arms. “Feed me right now…’cause we’re having some pâté—Jesus—” His shoulders stiffen as he turns and sees me leaning against the doorway. “Dude, what the fuck. Lurk much?”