The Chase is Over - Toni Aleo Page 0,5
isn’t white, but it’s ivory, and he’s wearing a nice shirt and slacks. I believe y’all got married there and are keeping it all to yourself.”
Or maybe, instead of getting married, she’ll become a spy for the FBI? Hell, it’s Emery. She could easily do both at the same time.
Ally isn’t even blinking. “For your information, future little sister of mine, we took nice pictures since it was gorgeous there—”
“Yeah, to celebrate your nuptials,” Emery says, so sure of herself, I believe it to be true. I just stare at her as she crosses her arms over her chest. “I zoomed in on both y’all’s hands, and there were rings. But then you came home, and they’re gone. I know it’s true. You can’t change my mind.”
Ally glares. “You’re as stubborn as your brother.”
“Tell me I’m wrong,” she challenges, but Ally just looks away, meeting my gaze.
“So, you’re getting married, Shelli!”
My jaw drops. “Ally! Did y’all get married?”
The room is so quiet, you could hear a pin drop. But then Amelia holds up her phone, and the picture of Ally and Asher is filling her screen. “There are rings.”
My eyes about fall out of my head as I turn to my cousin. “Really?”
Slowly, Ally scrunches up her face before she raises her palms. “Yes, but hear me out—”
“Oh my God!” I screech.
“You’re kidding me!” Posey yells, while Stella warns, “Man, Mom and Dad are going to be pissed.”
“Harper and Jakob are going to kill you,” Amelia says, speaking of Ally’s parents. She’s right; they’re gonna murder her dead—or better yet, Asher for sure.
Meanwhile, Emery is grinning from ear to ear.
Ally is flustered. I can hear it in her voice as she yells, “It was spontaneous and so romantic, I swear! We’ve known each other forever, and it just seemed right. We don’t want some big lavish wedding like you and Aiden. We’re private.”
I shake my head. “Um, Aiden and I are private.”
Emery snorts. “Three hundred people at a wedding isn’t private.”
“No one asked you, child,” I say, pointing at her, praying she doesn’t come at me with that steak knife. “You could have invited us. We would have flown over for it.”
“But we didn’t want to share it with anyone. We just wanted us.” She takes my hand and then Posey’s. “Please don’t let that hurt your feelings. Really, it was so spur-of-the-moment. He asked, and I couldn’t come up with a reason why it would be a bad idea.”
At the same time, Posey and I lace our fingers with Ally’s. I don’t know why I’m surprised. When Ally wants to do something, she does it. “How in the world are you going to tell your mom?”
Ally shrugs. “I have no clue, but right now, it isn’t about us. It’s about you and Aiden! Now, let’s go party!”
“I would have wanted to be there for my two best friends,” Posey said, eyeing her.
Guilt riddles our cousin. “I know, but it all just happened so quickly. I’ll have another wedding if I can’t find the balls to tell my parents and his.”
“Sounds like we’ll have another wedding,” I laugh, and soon, everyone else joins in as I hug Ally tight. Posey comes around, doing the same, and as I watch them, I’m in awe of us. Never in my dreams could I have imagined all this happening for us. We’ve found the men of our dreams, and now we’re living our best lives. It’s incredible.
Just then, Ally looks at me. “Did you love the bathtubs?”
I beam. “I did. It was perfect.”
“Asher was pretty impressed by Aiden. Not gonna lie, but I didn’t think he was that romantic.”
I scoff. “He’s so romantic. It’s sweet.”
“Good, you deserve it,” she says, kissing my cheek. I grin at her as we gather our things, but then I remember Emery is still with us. “Are you meeting your dad outside?”
Emery flashes me a sneaky grin. “Nope, I got myself a fake ID.”
Stella nods. “It’s legit, too. I had my hookup make it for her.”
I blink. “No way.”
Ally shakes her head. “No way in hell can I take you barhopping with your fake ID. I can’t have your parents hate me before I tell them I married your brother.”
Emery’s grin widens. “If you don’t take me, I’m telling.”
I press my hand to my chest. “You’re a sneaky little shit,” I accuse, but she isn’t fazed by me at all.
“Be real. I’m not drinking. I just want to go with y’all and dance. Stop being all grown up