And then Becca was tugging Max by the ear and into her arms.
I didn’t ask why she had a goat on a leash, or why a gecko seemed to be riding it.
I’d learned not to ask questions where Max was concerned.
Because for some reason, the guy just existed in a perpetual state of chaos that oddly made sense and, scarily enough, influenced way too many people, if his book sales were to be put into the equation.
“It was nice of you to pick him as your best man.” I wrapped an arm around Jason.
“I know.” Jason shrugged. “I actually already chose Colt. Then Max threatened to poison him, so Colt stepped down. I don’t even want to know where the bachelor party will be.”
We’d wanted to get married so fast, he hadn’t had time to plan one, so he was going after our honeymoon. The girls and I had every intention of crashing it.
Max disappeared for a few minutes.
And all was forgotten as Jason and I talked to guests.
It was starting to get dark when a giant cake was wheeled out.
Candles were lit and then snuffed out when the top came off the cake, revealing Max, flashing plane tickets around and yelling, “VEGAS!”
“Oh hell,” Jason swore. “Max and Vegas… I said never again.”
“NEVER, ever,” Reid stomped over to us, “Again. He knows what happened last time!”
Colt just shook his head. “Guys, don’t worry. I have a plan. We still have all that Xanax…”
I listened in horror as they graphically came up with a plan that basically involved Max being drugged and lost. Maybe it was because I was in a good mood, or maybe it was because I felt bad for the guy, but I piped up and said, “The girls will go, too. I’ll babysit Max.”
“If you survive it,” Reid said soberly.
“Rest in peace,” Colt crossed himself.
Jason pleaded, “Give us a chance, Maddy! Don’t throw your life away!”
“I heard you, all of you! You’re dead to me.” Max’s eyes landed on Maddy. “I think I just found my new best friend.”
“And just like that, it looks like Colt’s back in the game,” Jason laughed.
“TRICKERY!” Max roared and then bowed. “Thy name is Jason. You have my respect — but you’re still going to Vegas.”
“Thought so,” Jason grumbled, just as Milo reached her hand into the cake, grabbed a piece, then called his name and threw.
What followed was absolute chaos where Max convinced everyone he was suffocating from chocolate inhalation, and something about Reid having a reaction to Gummy Bears, which earned Max more cake down the throat and up the nose.
While Jason and I sipped champagne under the tree — the one that held our tree house — and watched. Me in my white dress. Him in his tux. And a light summer breeze kissing our skin, swirling around us, like a blessing.