Melody of the Heart (Runaway Train #4)(60)

“Like we haven’t already seen you in a robe before,” Jake replied.

“I could have been naked, you know,” I protested.

Susan laughed as she corralled the boys and pushed them back out the door. “Give me two seconds to get her into her dress, and then you can come in.”

Susan unzipped the garment bag. All my life I had envisioned what my wedding dress would look like. I just didn’t imagine eloping and having to find a dress last minute. Luckily, I had managed to fall in love with a dress. The satin bottom was form fitted until it flowed out into a small train, and then the beaded bodice came around my neck like a halter top. I’d found it in a designer shop, and thankfully, I had Brayden’s credit card on me.

While I felt slightly embarrassed letting Susan see me in my underwear, it was nice having her get me into the dress and zip me up. Standing back from the mirror, tears once again filled my eyes. I truly felt like a bride—a very beautiful bride. “Don’t you look absolutely gorgeous!” Susan exclaimed.

“It’s because of you.”

Susan shook her head. “I just enhanced the overall package, honey. You would be drop dead gorgeous in a burlap sack!”

I laughed. “Thank you.”

The door burst open once again, and the guys tumbled in. Their chatter ceased at the sight of me. “Wow,” Rhys murmured.

AJ’s gaze dipped from my head down to my toes. “Holy shit, Lils! You’re f*cking stunning!” With a glance at Susan, his cheeks reddened a little. “Sorry, Susan.”

“Thank you,” I replied, my own cheeks warming because of their compliments and expressions.

Jake took a step toward me, and I couldn’t help holding my breath. For some reason, his opinion mattered the most to me. Maybe it had something to do with the rocky road we’d been on since the day he’d first met me. More than anything, I wanted him to acknowledge that what Brayden and I had was the real thing—something he’d never experienced but would one day aspire to.

He cocked his head at me before smiling. “You look beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. You’re gonna take Bray’s breath away when he sees you.”

“Thank you, Jake. It means a lot.”

With a wink, he replied, “You’re welcome.”

“So, are we ready to get this show on the road?” AJ asked, glancing around us. “Cause ol’ Bray looked a little shaky when we left him.”

“He was?”

AJ nodded. “Pale and pacing the floor.”

I swallowed hard. “Like he’s having second thoughts?”

A grin spread across AJ’s face. “No, it’s more like he’s scared as hell you’re going to jilt him at the altar.”

After exhaling the breath I’d been holding, I smacked his arm. “Easy, Bridezilla,” he teased.

“You’re lucky that Lily doesn’t do worse to you,” Susan chided.

“She should be used to me by now.” Looming over me, he said, “Aggravating people, especially beautiful women, is how I show love.”

I laughed. “You’re a mess. Always have been and always will be.” Standing up on my tip-toes, I bestowed a kiss on his cheek. “But I love you anyway.”

“Right back at you.”

Groaning, Jake said, “Okay, that’s enough of the love-fest. We need to get out there.”

“So what do we need to do?” Rhys asked.

Walking over to the table, Jake picked up a basket full of multicolored rose petals. He thrust it Rhys. “You can be the flower girl.”

Rhys’s dark eyes widened. “Oh hell no, I won’t.”

“Look man, you were the last one in the band, so you draw the short end of the stick.” Jake shrugged. “That’s just the way it is.”

Considering how hard Rhys was glaring at Jake, I expected at any moment for Rhys to throw the basket at him. But he didn’t. Instead, he gripped the handle of the basket tighter. “This blows.”

AJ thumped Rhys on the back. “Aw, but you’re such a pretty flower girl.”

“Bite me,” Rhys snapped.

“So what are you two going to be doing while Rhys is being the flower girl?” I asked.

Clapping his hands together, Jake replied, “Well, I figured AJ would be the ring bearer, and I would give you away.”

“Oh hell no. I’m not carrying some pansy ass pillow down the aisle!” AJ exclaimed.

Rhys snorted. “It could be worse—you could be carrying this fruity basket.”

AJ shook his head. “Besides, I’m the oldest, so I’m the one who should be giving her away.”

Jake rolled his baby blues. “Oh please, you’re only three months older than me. I hardly think that gives you any rights.”

As Jake and AJ stood toe to toe arguing about their roles, I cleared my throat. They both snapped their gazes over to me. “Listen guys, I’m really flattered that you both want to give me away, but I was thinking I would just walk alone. You know, as a way to honor my dad.”

Jake and AJ mulled over my words for a moment. Then they both shook their heads.  “Nope, not happening,” AJ said.

“Excuse me?”

AJ closed the distance between us. Placing his hands on my shoulders, he sighed. “If you walk down that aisle alone, all you will be doing is thinking how much you wish your dad could be there and how much you miss him. You won’t honor him because you’ll be letting his death ruin an amazing moment in your life.” One of his hands came to cup my cheek. “He wouldn’t want that.”