“Oh, Mom,” I crow, tears coming to my eyes as she steps out of the dressing room in her wedding gown, her arms held out wide. She looks glorious. The beautiful white gown hugs her figure, all lace and classy design that makes her look elegant. The full train scrapes the floor, and she looks like she’s walking on a cloud as she crosses the polished hardwood. Tears cloud my eyes as I search for the words to tell her how she looks, but I can’t. “You’re beautiful. Absolutely radiant.”

It’s hard to believe that it’s already Friday afternoon. After missing breakfast and sleeping in with Oliver, it’s been pedal to the floor the whole time. Doing rehearsals, getting last-minute adjustments to our dresses, and checking that Sam and the other staff are on the spot with bringing in dozens of people from both sides of the family.

Now, we’re all dressed in our gowns for the wedding, doing the last dress rehearsal and fit, making sure things look good. Aunt Rita, Layla, Roxy, and Grandma are all together with us, sitting around the room, and all of us are amazed at Mom as she comes out.

“Beautiful is right,” Rita says, putting a hand on her chest. “I can't wait to walk you down the aisle tomorrow.”

Grandma cackles lightly. “Yeah, my baby is beautiful, but my word, Mary Jo, your butt looks like it grew three sizes.”

Leave it to Grandma to work in a wisecrack. Mom waves it off, knowing it’s the design of the dress itself, and of course, Roxy puts her own two cents in.

“Yeah, Mom. You got so much booty in that dress you’re gonna be making John holler tonight,” Roxy adds, thinking she’s funny. It’s definitely not something I want to think about, and I doubt I’m alone. Roxy looks cute though in her white knee-length Valentino dress, flirty but still sexy at the same time. It hugs her upper body before flaring itself at her waist but doesn’t go full party dress mode and keeps the poof under control. It’s perfect for her.

“Oh he’ll be hollering all right,” I say with a grin, “hollering for her to shut up about where they’re going for the honeymoon. You thought about where you’re going yet?”

“Probably Hedonism, where they can get their freak on right there on the beach,” Roxy says before Mom can answer. It’s been one of the only secrets left . . . where they’re actually going on their honeymoon.

“Oh, stop it,” Mom says, laughing. “You two are such a riot. I love you both.”

Roxy and I go over to Mom, the three of us doing a group hug, and I can’t help but tear up a little at it. “We love you too, Mom.”

We walk out of the dressing room for rehearsals after Mom lectures all of us about what she wants. I can tell Grandma wants to tell her to shut up a few times, but we all just listen, knowing it’s her show. It’s crowded in the chapel near the reception hall, with staff going around everywhere. There are family members I haven’t seen in ages, and I know that tomorrow’s going to be all playing catch-up with them. Some of them, like my cousin Jamie, I’m looking forward to. Others, not so much.

“Hey, check it out,” Roxy says, jostling my elbow. “Stud alert.”

My breath catches in my throat as I follow Roxy’s guiding hand. I see Oliver standing with the group of men, talking like he’s part of the family. He’s just come out of the dressing rooms, and the rest of the room fades away as I look at him.

He’s gorgeous dressed in his tux. It fits him in a way that makes him look debonair, relaxed, and powerfully seductive. More than ever, he looks like the devil in a tuxedo. My heart is doing back flips. He is so damn handsome. He sees me and blinks for a moment before giving me a smile and a nod.

“You’d better be careful,” Roxy jokes, nudging me again. “I think John’s niece is eyeing Oli.”

I look around, and Roxy’s right. She’s practically ogling him.

Bitch better stay away from my man, I say to myself.

Is he my man?

“Wow, you look so handsome,” I tell him as I come up. He grins and takes my hand, another thrill running through me at his touch.

“And you look beautiful yourself,” he says, delivering a soft kiss to my cheek. My chest gets fuzzy as emotions start running through my body, a mix of panic and arousal and confusion that makes me both smile and want to scream at the same time. He places a hand on my hip, and now desire’s added to the mix. When we first came here, it felt weird being on his arm. But now I wear that badge proudly, excited and happy to be here with him.

“I wish there weren’t so many people . . .” he says quietly, his voice dripping with need. I know he’s not trying to seduce me. He’s just being honest. But he’s making my blood boil, and I bite my lip. I want to melt into him, to find the nearest empty room and ignore the rest of the world. I want to turn the entire universe into a bedroom, a space where Oliver and I can indulge in each other’s bodies and maybe our hearts too. But not here right now. It’s too much, and we both know it.

“Later,” I promise him, hoping there is a later. I hope there’s more than a later, but that’s a foolish hope. “By the way, Mom wants us to sit in the front row during the ceremony.”

“She didn’t want you to walk her down?” Oliver asks, slightly surprised. “Why?”

I shake my head. “I told her to let Rita do it. Grandma was gonna do it but she was scared about falling in front of everyone. I didn’t want her to have to pick between me and Roxy. Besides, Rita and her . . . they’ve always been pretty close.”

“I see,” Oliver says, looking around as we reach the front of the chapel area. “This is pretty nice.”

I nod. “I’m loving it. It’s gonna be clear weather tomorrow too. So it’s going to be a gorgeous day.”

“Well, I know it’s only been a few days, but I’m glad. Mary Jo deserves as perfect a wedding as she can get.”

We sit down, taking in the whole chapel. “I bet this place looks a lot different in daylight.”

Oliver shifts around, pulling his arm around my shoulders as he gets a better view. “I think so. Those windows are going to look out on the ocean, and we’ll get a lot more open light. Not that it isn’t nice now, but tomorrow, it should look fantastic. The sort of place . . .”

Oliver goes quiet, turning back around, and I lean in. “What?”

“Nothing,” he says, giving me a nervous smile. “Just fantasy running away from me.”

Before I can push the issue, Roxy walks up, sliding over to find her seat next to me. “Hey, you two lovebirds, I wanted to know if y’all will come to Trixie's with me tonight? I’m gonna be singing and it will be fun to have a few drinks. Just a little non-wedding fun, ya know?”

“It’s up to Mindy,” Oliver says diplomatically, giving me a look. He wants to, I can tell, although I’m not sure why.

I don’t know. I’d love to hear Roxy sing, but what would being out with Oliver outside the fantasy be like? Going with him to Trixie’s isn’t part of the wedding charade.

“Come on, Mindy, it will be our last night of fun together. What can it hurt?” Roxy asks. “Be a big sis.”

“All right,” I agree, worried.

* * *

The bass of the music is bumping as we walk up to the club doors. The line’s long, but as soon as the bouncer sees us with Roxy, he waves us through no problem at all. “Hey, Roxy Rox.”

“Thanks, Enrique,” Roxy says, giving me and Oliver a wink. We go inside, and I have to say, Trixie’s is a nice place. The lights are dim, so I can’t tell too much about the decorations, but there’s lots of mellow blue under-lighting that gives the tiles on the floor a shiny tint. There are flashing lights and lasers, but they’re restricted to the stage area in the back of the room and dance floor. It’s about three-quarters filled right now, a couple of gay couples but mostly pairs of men and women dancing, grinding on each other as the house DJ spins some sexy club tunes. “So what do you all think?”

I nod, looking at Roxy, who’s dressed in a sparkling red halter dress that makes her look cute and sexy. She’s totally ready to perform. Oliver is easily the hottest man in here in his fitted black jeans, gray t-shirt, and blazer. I feel sexy myself, dressed in a tight black dress that Roxy said made me look hot.

A guy with blonde hair and the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen approaches us. He’s a handsome guy, about six feet tall. He’s dressed in some dark pants and a dark vest over top of his skintight white shirt, but he’s clearly not interested in women. Not with the way his eyes crawl over Oliver before he turns his attention to Roxy.

“Hey, Roxy-girl!” he says with a totally put-on lisp, pulling her in for a hug and air-kissing noisily around her face. “You singing tonight?”

“You bet your ass I am. Hey, Brad,” she says, gesturing at us both, “this is my sister, Mindy, and her fiancé, Oliver.”

“Oh, my gawd!” he says, bringing his hands to his lips, his eyes passing over me and going wide as he takes in Oliver again. “Have I met you before?”

Oliver chuckles, shaking his head no. “Not that I know of.”

“Honey, you look like Brad Pitt, with a mix of Chris Pratt and a little bit of Henry Cavill with a side of whip cream and a cherry on top.”

We all three laugh, even Oliver, who looks surprisingly relaxed after just being hit on by a man. He just takes it in stride. “Well, Mindy seems to like me.”

Brad looks at me, nodding in approval. “Congratulations.”

“Thank you . . . I think,” I say with a laugh. “So, how long have you known Roxy?”

Right then, the music changes and Freekaleek comes on, Petey Pablo’s classic earning a cheer throughout the club.

“Oh, hell-o, bitch, this is my song!” Brad yells, bobbing his head and raising his hand while moving his body like an eel. “Sorry. Gotta go!”

He grabs the nearest guy and moves into the crowd and starts twerking. He’s dropping it low to the floor and jumping back up again with surprising quickness for a man his size.

“Yaaas, bitch! You better work it!” Roxy yells. “Shake dat ass, bitch!”

Looking at him, I can't help but laugh. “This place is fun.”

Roxy smiles, turning her attention back to Oliver and me. “See? I told you. You guys needed to get out. You’ve been cooped up with us crazy people for five days. It’s just not healthy. You needed some relaxing fun.”

“Thanks, Roxy,” Oliver says, grinning. “Been a long time since I’ve been in a place like this.”

“Come on, I have a table reserved,” Roxy says. We go over and sit down, and the music cranks up another notch, making it hard to be heard.

“So when do you go on?” Oliver yells, and Roxy checks her watch.

“About thirty minutes!” she yells back. “You gonna dance?” she asks me.

“Dance?” I ask, shocked. “You’ve seen me dance!”

“Yeah, but Oli here hasn’t!” Roxy teases. “He hasn’t seen your Spaz Special yet!”

“I bet she’s a great dancer!” Oliver retorts. “I know she can move!”

“Yeah, well, let me see you two tear up the floor,” Roxy says. She checks her watch again, shaking her head. “Okay, I’ve got to prepare. Y’all have fun.”

She slides out of her chair, gives me a kiss on the cheek, and leaves. My eyes are immediately drawn to Oliver, who’s looking back at me with intensity in his eyes. “Well, let’s get some drinks.”

The music quiets down for a moment, and he calls a waitress over. “Grey Goose martini for me, and Mindy . . .?”

“Stoli and soda,” I order. “Twist of lemon?”

The drinks come quickly, and Freekaleek is still playing when I take my first sip. Off in the crowd, I still see Brad getting his groove on. Filled with excitement, the bass of the music is pumping my blood, and I throw back the rest of my drink quickly, deciding to run with it.

“Can you dance?” I ask Oliver suddenly. “I might be bad, but I’m not as bad as Roxy makes it sound.”

I think he’s gonna tell me no, but then a grin comes on his face. “I might have a few moves.”

“Wanna go?” I ask.

He climbs to his feet and my heart soars. “Sure, why not? It’ll be a warmup before Roxy gets on stage.”

We make our way to the now crowded dance floor, moving into the hot undulating bodies, the bass of the music bumping us as much as the people we’re weaving around. Freekaleek is still thumping, the extended club mix obviously a Trixie’s favorite.

I’m glad. With all this tension in me, I need to let it all out. I’ve been holding on too tightly, and Oliver notices it as we start dancing. “Relax,” he says, grinding against me. “Just have fun.”

He places his hands on the small of my back, gyrating against me like he’s Channing Tatum and we’re in Magic Mike. The heat inside my body only rises as he uses it like it’s his personal playground, his hands moving down to grip my ass, his intense gaze burning into me.

Watching him, feeling him, I’m fucking shocked. He can move. What can this man not do? He can turn me on with a wink of an eye, fucks like a bull, can tame wild dogs, and now I find out he can move that incredibly hot body of his like nobody's business. And work mine like it is his business.

I’m hot and wet between my legs, and it has nothing to do with the temperature in the club.

If I could get him to fetch me Funyuns and make a macchiato, he’d be perfect.

“Wow!” I say, wiping sweat off my brow once the song is over. The way he worked me was fucking hot, and I’m glad the song wasn’t longer or else I might not have my skirt on anymore. Seriously, I’m so fucking hot I almost feel like having him take me down the hallway and fuck me. “You can really move!”

He grins. “I’m glad you liked it.”

Another song comes on and we dance. Not as hot, but that’s mostly because of the song, and then we have to go sit down. The music ratchets down a notch too, and I can see the stage crew getting a mic in place for Roxy.

“Shoot, you wore me out,” I say. We sit down, and Oliver orders another round. “Next round is no alcohol for me, okay?”

Oliver nods and sips at his martini. “Just wait until after Roxy’s done and we get back to John’s.”

His words warm my cheeks, and I down about half of my Stoli and soda, needing to cool off.

Brad comes over to the table with his friend just as Roxy climbs up on stage, grabbing the mic out of the stand and waving to the applauding crowd. “What’s up, Trixie’s?”

“Go, Roxy!” I yell, supporting her. “Work it!”

Roxy laughs, and she begins singing several songs, all pop. Taylor Swift, some Selena Gomez, and a few other pop standards. I cheer through each one. Even Oliver gives her a shout out.

“She can really sing,” he says, impressed. “There’s no way she can give up on this.”

“Yeah, that’s my baby sister,” I say proudly. I haven’t heard her sing in a long time and it’s really great. I love hearing her. She was right. I needed this.”

After her third song, she takes a moment to pause to address the crowd.

“Hey, everybody. I’m glad y’all are enjoying my set, but I’d like to share something with you. Tonight, I have two very special guests . . . my sister, Mindy, and her fiancé, Oliver. Can y’all give them a round of applause?”

A spotlight opens on us, and everyone is suddenly looking at us and applauding us, and my cheeks burn. Roxy, I’m gonna fucking kill you! I say In my head while I bow my head stupidly. Meanwhile, Oliver looks less disturbed, and he just smiles and nods his head at people, giving a little wave.

Up on stage, Roxy laughs. “Ain’t her man the best? The past week, we’ve spent time together, and I’ve been so inspired by their love. I want something like that one day. So I’m gonna mix it up a bit and dedicate my next song, I Wanna Love You Forever by Jessica Simpson, to them both. Because they make me want to have my own forever love.”

She clears her throat and a serious expression goes over her face. No, Roxy. Not this. I can’t handle this. I glance over at Oliver, who also looks uncomfortable, but then he looks at me, and I can see pain in his eyes. A pain that mirrors mine.

You set my soul . . .

Each word is like a stab in my heart as I force myself to listen. The emotion in Roxy’s voice rings out. It’s so strong. So real. So raw. She really cares about me and my relationship. How in the hell am I supposed to tell her that it’s a lie?

I’m gonna love . . .

She hits the high note, and tears come to my eyes as Brad jumps out of his seat while the crowd goes wild. “YASSS, honey!” he yells, leading the cheers. “SING, BITCH, SAAAAAANG!”

I climb to my feet, clapping as Oliver rises as well, and we both exchange awkward glances.

Tears are streaming down my face and I’m unable to speak over the lump in my throat. I’m crying, but not for the reason I should be. Even Oliver’s looking choked up, and I wish I could feel worthy of what Roxy just gave me.

“How’d I do?” Roxy says to me after she gets off stage, dabbing at the tears in her eyes with a napkin. “I hope I didn’t fuck it up too much.”

The tender, vulnerable look in her eyes just adds to the tears streaming down my face. But it isn’t because of happiness or gratitude. It’s because I feel like an absolute fucking fraud.

As I take her in for a hug, I can only tell her the truth.

“Baby, you were absolutely amazing.”