of the sofas watching a few of the guys play pool.
“I would never,” I lied, biting back a yawn.
“Come on, baby, let’s get you to bed.” He stood and held a hand out to me.
I took his assistance and leaned heavily against him as we made our way upstairs, then he put me to bed, curling his body around mine and falling asleep.
Parker
THE SUNDAY OF our big wedding party arrived, and I’d kicked Rabbit out of the house so that I could meet him at the barn and surprise him in my wedding gown.
Jasmine and Willow were on their way over to help get me ready, and I was buzzing with excitement as I laid my dress out on my bed.
I bit my lip. I couldn’t wait to put it on. It was a tulle ballgown embroidered with delicate flowers and wrapped at the waist with a pair of velvet ribbons. It was super low-cut and gave the illusion it was see-through, and it made me feel like a princess.
“Yoo-hoo!” Jasmine called and I walked out of my bedroom to find her setting her full makeup kit up on my dining room table. “Why is your alarm not set?”
“I disarmed it because I knew you were coming,” I said, pulling her in for a hug. “Where’s Will?”
“She’s coming separately. Alfie was having a meltdown because her dress was too long.”
“Uh-oh.”
“Willow’s going to hem it real quick, then come over.” She smiled. “First things first, do you have coffee?”
“Did I know my bestie was going to be here?”
Jasmine laughed. “I love you the bestest.”
“I know.” I grinned. “I’m going to grab my robe while you make yourself a cup.”
“Okay, honey.”
I brushed my teeth (again), then grabbed my robe and pulled it on, arriving in the kitchen just as Willow walked in.
“Hi,” she said, hugging me. “I’m so sorry I’m late.”
“It’s totally fine,” I said. “Everything okay with Alfie’s dress?”
“Yes. Fine. She just kept tripping over it, and she didn’t think she was graceful enough. She wants to be you when she grows up, after all.”
I clasped my hands to my chest. “Aw, that’s so sweet. I didn’t realize I was graceful.”
Willow chuckled. “Well, she thinks you are. So, we hemmed it an inch and now she feels she can walk down the aisle and not fall on her face.”
My doorbell pealed and I frowned. “Who could that be?”
“Sloan,” Jasmine said, heading for my door.
“Wait!” I snapped. “Sloan, who?”
She snorted and reached for the doorknob.
“DeMille?” I squeaked.
Before I could say anything further, my door was open, and Sloan DeMille was walking in with Quin.
“Hi,” I breathed out.
Quin pulled me in for a hug. “Figured Sloan could get some pictures of you getting ready.”
“Does she owe you her first born or something?” I asked, and Quin laughed.
Sloan smiled. “You look gorgeous.”
I don’t know why I felt so intimidated, but I suddenly found it difficult to speak. I managed to force out a pathetic, “Thank you,” then Jasmine stepped in.
“Just wait,” Jasmine said. “She’s going to put everyone to shame once I’m done with her.”
For the next hour, I was primped and pampered to a level I was not at all comfortable with. Sloan kept shooting and I tried to appear comfortable and Zen as Jasmine worked on my hair and makeup.
Once it was time to put on my dress, Willow grabbed my hand. “Sorry, ladies, I just need my bestie alone for a minute. We’ll let you know when she’s ready.” She dragged me into my bedroom and closed the door. “You’re ready to meltdown,” she observed, and I felt tears prick my eyes. “Don’t ruin your makeup.”
I dropped my head back and blinked, taking a few deep breaths to calm my panic. “It’s too much,” I whispered.
“You’re okay, honey,” Willow crooned.
“I can’t let Quin pay for Sloan DeMille, Willow. And I don’t know if we can afford—”
“This is the club’s wedding gift, Parker. Well, more specifically, the old ladies.”
I met her eyes. “What?”
“Quin knows Sloan, and we all wanted you to have the best, so we got Sloan…”
“Oh my god,” I rasped. “It’s too much.”
“It’s not, honey. We all love you and us girls wanted to go big or go home.” She took my hands. “You are beautiful and worthy of all of this attention, even though I know you hate it. I promise when you see the pictures, it’ll all be worth it.”
I took another deep breath. “You’re right. I just…”
“…don’t want to put anyone out,” she finished. “I know, Parker,