Summer Breeze Kisses - Addison Moore Page 0,176

black and white, detail orientated by nature.

“To break them up.” Scarlett shivers as if it were deplorable to think about, and in a way it is. “Then, when we saw the error of our ways, we did our best to bring them back together.”

Trixie’s pink mouth falls open, and I feel the weight of my own shame. I’m not proud of what we set out to do. I’m just glad we came to our senses. “And on the way you fell in love?”

“The real deal.” Scarlett wraps her arms around me as the music turns up in volume and couples drift to the dance floor.

I lean toward Lawson. “Are we good?”

“We’re good.” He offers up a knuckle bump.

“You better be good,” Scarlett chides. “You’re looking at Whitney Briggs’s new premier basketball star.”

“Congratulations, man.” I slap him over the shoulder. “You won’t believe how many jersey chasers there are at that school. You got it made, dude.”

“Watch it, you.” Scarlett bounces a kiss off my lips.

Mom and Bradley appear from nowhere, and Knox and Trixie are the first to congratulate them.

“Lynette!” Scarlett steps in. “You are a beautiful bride. I can only hope to shine half as bright on my wedding day.”

Mom tosses her head back and laughs with unabashed joy. “I know for a fact you’ll outshine the stars, and I for one can’t wait to see it.”

“Thank you.” She blushes a beautiful shade of rose, emulating her hair in every capacity. “And you look amazing, Daddy.” She thrusts her arms around him. “Thank you for finding the perfect woman to complete our family.”

I hug my mother and Bradley in turn. “Take good care of each other. I know you will.”

Mom looks up at Bradley as if his chariot ran the sun across the sky, and, for the first time in a long while, I feel as if she’s not so alone anymore. She has someone securely on her side, fully devoted to all her needs.

“Shall we let them eat cake?” She touches her nose to his.

“Cupcakes,” he corrects.

Roxy and Cole delivered a mountain of white frosted confections just for the occasion. Scarlett helped with the baking, so there’s love in the mix.

Mom and Bradley head over to the display, and the entire room turns their attention to the two of them.

Bradley picks up a cupcake, and my mother does the same.

“To true love.” He toasts his bride with the tiny treat.

“To true love,” she counters.

The room breaks out with applause. Scarlett and I clap the hardest, the longest, with as much heartfelt affection as we can muster.

This is the happily ever after they wanted.

The happily ever after they deserved.

Scarlett and I head to the Black Bear after what Trixie dubbed as the early bird wedding. The 12 Deadly Sins rock the stage, and the sorority girls and frat boys are out in droves. Summer has all but tapped out, and the last school-free weekend is upon us.

Owen waves us to the back, and we head on over.

“So, it’s official?” He nods to Scarlett. “You’re dating your brother?”

Piper slaps him over the shoulder. “Stepbrother!”

Savannah Anderson struts by and does a double take in our direction, her face stunned into submission before her friend pulls her away.

“That’s disgusting!” she shrieks.

“Is not,” I say, laughing mostly to myself. “It’s official. I’m in love with my stepsister. I enjoy kissing my stepsister. And, yes, in the event inquiring minds want to know, I enjoy fu—”

Savannah cuts me off, gagging like she has a chicken bone lodged in her throat. “You’re a bunch of dirty backwoods whores!” she cries as they dive into the crowd.

“Nobody calls my girlfriend a whore but me,” I tease, my eyes never wavering from Scarlett’s.

“Shut up and kiss me.” Scarlett silences me with her lips, and suddenly, I’m craving some alone time with my new stepsister.

She pulls back with her eyes dancing into each of mine. “You’re such a goober. Some things are better left unsaid, you know.”

Jet comes up from behind and wraps an arm around Scarlett and me. “Congratulations, you two.” He looks to me with that familiar snide grin. Deep down, Jet is still the person I knew him as growing up. That’s what I like about him. He stays true to himself no matter how many years drift under the bridge. “Nobody deserves to be happier than you, man. If I had a stepsister this hot, I might break a few rules myself.”

“Speaking of sisters, how’s Lucky settling in?”

He winces. “She’s roomies with Owen’s little