The bouquet flies into the air. Shit. It’s heading straight for me. I take a step to the side and it falls to the floor. I watch as it lays there. No one pounces on it. What the hell? I’m used to all the single ladies diving for the bouquet. What’s going on?
I look around and notice I’m standing all alone on the dance floor. The uncles and Pops are guarding the edge of the area while holding the other women back.
“You promised no pranks!” I shout at them.
“It’s for your own good,” Pops claims. Easy for him to say. He’s not in the line of fire.
Hailey marches to me, picks up the bouquet, and slaps it into my chest. I grab it before it can fall again. Cheers ring out.
I hold out the bouquet to Hailey. “Nope. I am not taking it back. Deal with it,” she says and stomps away. It’s kind of impressive watching her stomp in those obnoxiously high heels Phoebe insisted she buy.
I know when I’ve lost. I walk back to the table and slam the bouquet on the table. “This is ridiculous!”
Grayson doesn’t have a chance to answer before the DJ announces it’s the men’s turn. My mouth drops open as he stands. He winks at me before sauntering off to the dance floor.
“What are you doing?” I scream at his back. Confession – I may be screeching at this point. What? Give me a break. I’m starting to panic here.
I stand and walk to the edge of the floor to watch. Maybe I can prevent whatever disaster is about to happen. Hailey is now sitting on a chair in the middle of the dance floor and Aiden is on his knees in front of her. She gathers the folds of her gown and starts to drag it up her legs, but he growls to stop her.
“These fuckers are not going to see your legs.” He dives under her dress.
Someone grumbles, and I look up at Pops next to me. “I thought you liked Aiden.”
“Doesn’t mean I need to see him with his head under my baby girl’s dress.”
Before I have a chance to remind him Hailey is no longer a baby, Aiden emerges and lifts his hand holding the garter in victory. He doesn’t bother turning around and counting off. He throws it straight to Grayson with a smirk.
“This is some bullshit right here.”
I lift the hem of my dress intent on making a run for it. I don’t make it one step before Pops blocks me. Then, Grayson is there taking my hand and leading me to the dance floor. How is this happening? The lights dim, the music starts up, and Ed Sheeran’s voice begins to sing.
Hailey and Phoebe shout and clap. I flip them off behind Grayson’s back. Their response? They laugh. They fricking laugh!
“This doesn’t mean a thing,” I tell Grayson as we sway to the music.
“I know, Precious. I know.”
He draws me close and I lay my head on his shoulder. His arms wrap around me making me feel like the precious person he calls me. Well, shit. This is not good. Adult Suzie disagrees. This is not good. This is fantastic! I tell her to shut up and enjoy my moment with Grayson. Because there is no doubt in my mind, this can’t last.