"He’s back. I'm not messing around. He just turned up at the house like nothing has happened," Allie hisses, fixing Elliot's tie as I walk into the room, holding my tablet and looking around for the bride and wondering what Allie is going on about. Izzy looks frantic, pacing up and down by the window. Allie and Elliot look ridiculously stressed as they talk with each other, and I look over as the door opens. Maisy and Sebastian walk in, and Sebastian slams the door shut. What the hell happened while I was checking on the piano player? I’m sure the situation was much calmer when I called to check on Izzy half an hour ago, and they said they were just waiting for the limo. I have no clue what Allie is going on about, but surely gossip can wait until after the wedding. This is my twenty-seventh wedding, and one thing I have learnt is that weddings attract drama. My weekend job is far less stressful.

"Luke is back. Seriously?" Sebastian says, and I freeze. The tablet slides out of my hands, and the world just seems to pause as I stare at Sebastian. He can't be right. Luke is gone. He disappeared from his cell one night, and everyone just assumed he was dead. We only found out last year that he was alive because one of Harley's spies found a photo of him on the internet at some club kissing some half-naked famous woman. We all just assumed he hated his brothers for leaving him in jail and guessed we would never see him again. I always secretly hoped he'd come back to us, but after a while, I just buried my head into my daily life. To my most important task of all- being a mum. Luke is my past, and even if he is really here, he is still that. The past. No matter what.

"Emmy?" Allie gently says, picking up my tablet and holding my hand. "You alright?" she asks, knowing what this means to me. My son's father is here, and that risks everything. Every single one of the people in this room knows the truth about who Parker's father is, but Parker doesn't. My husband doesn't. Thank god Eric isn’t here today at least. That fishing trip was a good plan to send him on. The Kings aren’t the biggest fans of Eric, but Luke, he would start a war that he couldn’t finish.

"I-I'm okay," I stutter, taking the tablet as everyone stares at me. "He doesn't know about Parker, and no one is going to say anything, right?" They all mumble agreements, except Elliot who looks away.

"Why did he come back now?" Elliot asks. “He best have a good fucking excuse.”

"He said he couldn't miss my wedding," Izzy adds in.

"I think we should kidnap him at the after-party while everyone is busy. I can get the rope from my car, don't worry it's the strong kind that no one is escaping. Then we can tie him to a chair and find out where the hell he has been this entire time," Allie calmly suggests.

"I think that's illegal, Allie," Maisy points out, and everyone can't help but chuckle as Allie shrugs her shoulders. "Also, why do you have rope in your car?"

"For extra sexy activities, of course," Allie states, and Elliot just groans. Always the honest one, Allie.

"Anyways, I think cornering him and asking might get us the answers we want," Maisy suggests. “He wouldn’t have come back if he didn’t expect to answer some questions on where he has been. Why he hasn’t said a word to us.”

"No, let him come to us. I mean it. This is my wedding, and I want all my family here. I didn't think I'd ever get lucky enough to have Luke here, but here we are. I’m marrying Blake, and he needs his best men. So, go, and behave," Izzy demands, her hands on her hips as she glares at us all. Elliot and Sebastian quickly make their way out of the room, and I try to sneakily follow.

"Stay, Emilia," Maisy gently demands, and I look over my shoulder, seeing them all staring at me before I reluctantly agree and shut the door.

"I should go and get in my spot before-"

"Emilia, come on. It's us. Your friends," Izzy says, coming over to me and resting her hands on my shoulders. Though I'm a little taller than her, even in her high heels and she has to look up at me. My own heels aren't high today, not after all the running around to get this wedding just right. There are so many people here, and this is one hell of a big wedding to plan on my own. I really need to get an assistant. I keep running over every little silly thing in my mind to try and avoid any thoughts of Luke. What does he look like now? Does he still have that cheeky smile? Is his hair still ridiculously soft? Can he still make me lose my mind like no one else can with just one kiss? Does it still feel like home when I'm near him?

"I'm really okay. It's been five years, and I'm sure I'm nothing but a distant memory to him," I say after clearing my throat.

"Yeah...but-" Maisy starts, but I interrupt her.

"No buts; I'm going to get things ready. That’s my job today, and you are going to get married to the love of your life. You have waited years, passed college and bought your own home before getting married. This day is about you. I can freak the hell out tomorrow," I tell Izzy, and she comes over, pulling me into a tight hug and rubbing my back before stepping away.

"Emmy is right. You get your ass married to that hunky fella of yours and then go on that honeymoon to Hawaii. We’ll handle everything, including Luke's return and text you updates," Allie demands. “If he tries to leave, we have plan B: the rope.” I can’t help but chuckle at the idea of Allie getting out rope and trying to kidnap Luke. He was a muscular guy five years ago, and if he still looks the same, it wouldn’t be easy.

"Okay," Izzy finally agrees, a big smile lighting up her face. "I can't wait to marry him. It feels like I've waited forever."

"You guys have taken a long time. Even Elliot and I got married first," Allie says, reminding us all of that big surprise.

"In Vegas, while you were both drunk. I still can’t believe you two did that without me there," Maisy says, pouting her lips.

"Still counts as the best wedding. I never wanted the big wedding, neither did Elliot, but it was perfect for us," Allie says, which makes a lot of sense. Elliot isn't the kind of guy that likes a lot of attention from the little I know of him. The girls start talking more as my watch buzzes, reminding me I have a job to do. I quickly make my escape through the doors and into the corridor. I pause, lifting my head high and taking a deep breath. Luke King is back.