Chapter Twenty-Four
The morning of the wedding was hectic. Vince was glad. Once again, it kept his mind occupied. He heated what he could ahead of time, prepped for later, helped set up, and met up with Stone and the guys in time for pre-wedding photos.
Afterward, Brick ushered them all into the office and locked the door. “We only have about eight minutes.” The guy rushed over to the filing cabinet, removed a bottle of scotch and six glasses, and set them on the desk.
Stone’s eyes bulged. “Better hope Jovy doesn’t find that in the filing cabinet.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll remove it by Monday,” Brick said, spilling a little scotch in each glass. He handed them out, then turned back around and raised his glass to the sixth one sitting untouched on the desk. “To Drew.”
A ritual. The first toast was always in honor of their fallen friend. The rest of them automatically raised their glasses and echoed Brick before drinking. Once finished, they set their glasses back on the desk and Brick repeated the process.
“To my brother, Stone,” he said this time. “The first of our Ranger Rifle Squad to tie the knot.”
“To Stone,” they echoed, holding their drinks high, then tossing them back.
Vince was grateful Brick had the sense to only spill a little in the glasses, or the whole ceremony could take an interesting turn. One, he suspected, the women would not appreciate.
“Brick? Where are you?” Beth’s voice echoed down the hall.
The men made a mad scramble to shove the booze and glasses back into the filing cabinet, and unlocked the door just as Beth twisted the knob.
“Oh, there you are.” She blinked. “There you all are.” Narrowing her gaze, she sniffed the air, then shook her head. “Here.” Ever the prepared event planner, she pulled a bunch of mints from her purse and handed them out. “Eat this quick before Jovy finds out you’re in here toasting.”
“Thanks,” Vince said, and they all did as directed.
Beth nodded. “Now get your handsome tuxedoed butts out back to the gazebo. The ceremony starts in fifteen minutes. You gentlemen need to start seating guests.”
Nodding and saluting, they obeyed and headed out back. They were tasked with ushering people to the rows of chairs divided down the middle by a white runner that ran to the gazebo that Stone’s grandfather had made his grandmother. The whole space was decked out in white fabric and lights and flowers, and several misting fans flanked the whole area, keeping the air tolerable. The reverend stood at the front of it all, waiting for them.
Vince took his place between Leo and Cord. Brick, the best man, stood next to the groom. Anticipation ruled Stone’s features as he stared at the house, waiting for his bride to arrive.
The music started, and two of Jovy’s childhood friends, along with Beth and Haley, began to walk single file down the aisle, looking pretty in fancy light-blue dresses, with their hair up and smiles on their faces.
Intense pain tore through Vince’s chest. He missed Emma. Missed how she looked at him the way Beth and Haley were smiling at his buddies, with their entire heart in their eyes.
Why hadn’t he realized she’d felt so strongly for him? Christ. His leaving must’ve hurt her bad. He rubbed at the ache in his chest. Tomorrow, he’d do whatever it took to patch things up with her.
As the last bridesmaid took her place across from the men, the second most important female of the day began her walk down the aisle.
Lula Belle.
The lovestruck cow wore a flower necklace Beth had fashioned to match the bridesmaids’ bouquets. Since the neighbor’s cow was in love with Stone and would’ve crashed the wedding anyway, Jovy decided to include her by making her the token flower girl.
Catching site of Stone standing at the altar, Lula Belle upped her pace and jogged to him, mooing all the way. Laughter broke out. Stone was still scratching the cow’s neck when the music changed and Jovy stepped out of the house.
Stone straightened, and Vince was pretty sure everyone felt his buddy suck in a breath at the sight of his bride. Beautiful in a long white gown, the bride smiled adoringly at her groom, until she got to the end of the runner and her grandfather couldn’t set her hand in Stone’s…because there was a cow in the way that wouldn’t budge.
After several amusing seconds, Stone persuaded Lula Belle to move to his other side and the ceremony continued.
As the two professed their love and commitment to each other, Vince felt the familiar pang of envy. And hope.
Those two had a similar relationship to him and Emma. If they could work it out, then surely he and Emma would.
“I, Jovy Larson, take you, Stone Mitchum, to be my lawfully wedded husband,” Jovy said, gazing into Stone’s eyes. “And Lula Belle to be my awfully, dreaded cow.”
Lula Belle mooed.
The guests chuckled.
Before long, rings were exchanged, and after slipping a ring on Stone’s finger, Jovy dug in the pocket of his tux and pulled out a carrot that she placed in the palm of her hand and held in front of the cow.
Lula Belle sniffed it, looked at Jovy, then turned around.
“Oh, sweetheart.” Jovy shook her head. “You do not want to show me that end of you while I’m holding a carrot.”
Snickers went through the guests.
Stone snatched the carrot from his bride and shoved it back in his pocket.
When it got to the part where the bride and groom kissed, everyone clapped. Then the reverend had them turn to face the crowd.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
The guests cheered.
Lula Belle mooed.
“And cow,” the reverend added with a grin.
Then, with a huge smile on Stone’s face, he walked down the aisle, new bride on one arm, and cow under his other hand. Chuckling, Vince escorted a smiling Beth to the back. That was definitely not your typical wedding ceremony, but it’d been the perfect one for his friends.
Two hours later, after everyone had eaten, and the bride and groom were mingling, Vince checked to make sure there was still enough food in the trays and Sterno cans in the heaters should anyone want seconds or thirds.
“All packed for tomorrow?” Leo asked him.
Vince smirked. “Haven’t really unpacked.” He hadn’t had the time…or the heart.
“Or called her yet?” Jovy drew near with her arm around her new husband, but minus the cow, who was banned to the outside of the tent. “You do know women love phone calls, right?”
“Especially from men who apologize,” Beth said, joining them with her arm around Brick.
Haley and Cord rounded out the gang. “And tell you they love you,” she said.
Many times over the past two days, Vince had stared at his phone, finger hovering over Emma’s number, but he always shoved it back in his pocket. “The things I want to say should be said in person,” he reminded them.
Jovy quirked a brow. “Remember the ‘women love phone calls’ part?”
“Yeah.” Beth nodded. “Especially if it shortens our grief.”
“And I’m betting with you leaving like you did, Emma’s hurting,” Haley said.
His gut twisted. He didn’t want Emma hurting. That was the last thing he ever wanted. Prolonging their talk so he could do it in person was also prolonging her pain.
Dammit. He was such an idiot.
Determined to put an end to it right now, Vince pulled out his phone and hit Emma’s number. Better to do things over the phone—to explain himself—than to have her hurting any longer.
If she was indeed hurting.
It started ringing…and echoed behind him.
His heart slammed to the ground. That sounded close. As if she was… He stiffened and slowly turned around. “Emma?”