Lucky Forever - Cee Bowerman Page 0,49
to wipe a tear from his eye with one hand as he fanned himself furiously with the other.
“First off, I’d like to thank the academy and my family and friends, because without their support I wouldn’t be the man I am today,” Jace kept fanning his face and with his free hand he picked up a beer bottle to talk into as if it was a microphone. “We’ve come so far.”
I threw the bottle of water at him and he ducked, laughing.
“Of course I’m going to be in your wedding, asshole. I’m your only fucking friend.”
“Fuck you. I rescind the offer. I’ll let Sam and Zeke fight it out. Winner gets to hold the rings.”
“Any of the three of us would be honored, brother,” Jace said seriously as he pulled a stool over and sat down by the chair I was in. “Most definitely honored.”
“Thanks,” I told him as I nodded. “It’s fucking crazy that I’m getting married tomorrow.”
“Yeah,” Jace tilted his head. “It’s awfully sudden. You sure this is what you want to do?”
“I’m sure,” I nodded. “At first it was to help us both out - for her so she could hide the lottery money from her ex and stay safe, for me so I could have an airtight case against any judge trying to give Beverly a chance to get time with my daughter. Now, Sierra’s ex is dead and Beverly is the only worry.”
“She fucks with your kid, man... that would be crossing a line we couldn’t accept.”
“No doubt.”
“Marcus talked to Sam and Zeke about it and I know he also brought it up to Lout and Kale. Clem knows about Beverly, too. He said something about keeping an eye out for her around town and that he’d talked to some friends in Lubbock that could make their presence known as a favor to him.”
“Really?”
“You and Leia grew up with us, man. Seriously. We were just kids and Leia was always there. She grew up right beside us. We watched her learn to walk, taught her words she should’ve never heard, used her to pick up chicks - she’s our little sidekick. Anyone upsets her, they upset a whole lot of people.”
“I’m going to have another girl running around too, you know.”
“Sassy little Lexi. That one is a pistol,” Jace laughed. “I’ve been around her a few times when I’ve gone in to do some work for Kari. Love that kid.”
“She’ll be mine, too. Marcus has the stuff ready for me to adopt Lexi and for Sierra to adopt Leia. We’re covering our bases just in case something happens to one of us. We’re lucky that the girls are such good friends, I just hope that moving them in together strengthens that rather than breaks it.”
“Oh, they’ll fight,” Jace laughed. “But if you fuck with one you’ll get the wrath of both. That’s what having siblings is like. You might want to kill them half the time, but if they need you, there’s no hesitation.”
“I didn’t have that until I met you guys. Best thing I did, other than raise an awesome fucking kid, was to join the club. Now I’ve got family and brothers busting out the seams.”
“That you do,” Jace agreed. “Is it just me up there beside you?”
“No, Fain is coming in tonight. He’ll head back up to Colorado to be with Jenna tomorrow after the wedding. I told him I’d understand if he didn’t want to leave her, but he said Martha is up there right now so she won’t be alone.”
“That’s good. I haven’t seen nearly enough of him since her accident. It will be nice to catch up. So, tell me what to wear, where to go, what to do, the works.”
“Sarah is going to bring you a shirt to wear under your cut - just find some jeans without too many holes. Other than that, show up before it starts and stay until it ends.”
“Simple enough, even for a man like me.”
“I had to drop it down a peg or two so you wouldn’t get confused.”
◆◆◆
SIERRA
“It’s perfect!”
I spun around and looked at every angle in the mirror. Sarah had picked out a dress that was simple and elegant and would work perfectly for the outdoor wedding she and the girls had planned.
The low-cut, sleeveless bodice and skirt were nude satin and fit perfectly against my body. It flared out at mid-thigh and hung to my toes. The white lace overlay covered me from neck to wrists and flowed down