Page 84 of Broken
Next to the dress is a matching set of lace thigh-highs and garter. Asher has a bit of an obsession with those, which I am happy to oblige him.
“Thank you isn’t enough,” I whisper, staring at her.
“Thank you is never needed.” She kisses my cheek and puts her hands on my shoulders. “Okay, time to get beautiful.”
I grab my underwear and lotion up all my skin before pulling on the tights. Jordan holds out the dress for me to step into and zips it up. It fits like a dream. How did he get it so right? The silk is cold on my skin for a moment, and I love when it warms. There’s a slit up my leg to mid-thigh that shows off the tights, and I smile to myself knowing it will drive Asher crazy.
Jordan curls her hair and pins it back away from her face. Her makeup is lighter than her concert look, but still striking and beautiful with winged black liner and lashes. Her dress is a teal blue with gray underneath that swirls around her knees when she moves, and she has one fishnet fingerless glove. She looks beautiful.
Her teal flip-flops make me raise an eyebrow.
“Really? Flip-flops?” I ask.
“They’re just to get to the beach.”
We’re about ready to head down to the beach when there’s a knock on the door.
“Knock, knock, party people!” Brit announces, wearing light gray suit pants, a white button-up shirt that’s open at the throat with the collar popped, and teal suspenders. Turning toward the door, I’m caught off guard to see Brit and Aaron’s parents.
“Oh my god! What are you doing here?!” I hurry toward them, lifting my dress so I don’t trip over it, and wrap my arms around Mrs. Thomlyn.
“Oh, you sweet boy, like we would miss this?” Her arms come around me, holding me tight. “Absolutely not.”
Once again, my eyes fill, and I tell Jordan to grab some tissues because I know the day is going to be filled with waterworks.
Mrs. Thomlyn holds me at arms-length to get a look at me.
“Oh, honey, you look so beautiful.” She cups my cheek. “I have something for you to wear today.”
From the pocket of her teal flower-covered dress, she pulls out something wrapped in tissue paper and opens it.
Inside is a sapphire tennis bracelet. She puts it on my wrist at the same time Jordan drapes my favorite pearl necklace around my neck.
“Something old.” Mrs. Thomlyn touches the pearls. “Something new.” She taps on my dress.
“Something borrowed and something blue,” she touches the bracelet. “You’re all set.”
Mr. Thomlyn steps up in the same outfit as Brit to give me a big bear hug and squeezes more tears from me.
“You look lovely, and I would be honored to walk you down the aisle if you would like.”
My throat clamps closed, so all I can do is nod.
“All right, my guy, I need the ring.” Brit steps forward, palm open.
I force myself to swallow and manage a smile. “Are you the ring bearer?”
Brit bows, not moving their hand. “At your service.”
I slide the ring off my finger and watch them put it on their pointer finger and shove that hand in their pocket.
“Time to roll,” they announce, and we head outside after Jordan, and I find the white flip-flops Asher has supplied.
As a unit, we walk down the pier, across the beach to a little setup where Asher and Aaron are in matching outfits with Brit, except Asher doesn’t have suspenders. Asher looks sexy as hell, all dressed up and put together. Are they also barefoot in the sand? Something about that is enticing. A watery smile lifts my lips as I watch both of them. Asher put so much planning into this.
They are standing next to a man I’ve never met.
I stop when I see the strange man in blue jeans, cowboy boots, and a blue plaid shirt with snap buttons with the sleeves ripped off. I am so very confused.