Miles shoots me one of those sly smiles. "Not sure how you managed it, Sticks, but it looks like it's really happening."

Meg nudges him. Her expression is more sincere. "You seem happy. We're happy for you."

"He still has twelve hours to fuck it up." Miles winks at me. "I have faith in you."

"You're terrible," she mumbles.

"Mhmmm." He slides his hands to her ass and pulls her into a deep kiss.

Don't fucking need to see that.

"Thanks for the advice." All these years and I'm still not sure if Miles is saying he's got faith in me to fuck it up or faith in me to make it happen.

I know he's happy for us. Even if—

No, he is.

He and Meg nod goodbye and take their leave. The door slams shut behind them.

It's just me and Willow in Drew and Kara's hotel room.

Kara has her arms around Drew's waist. She's staring at him like she's desperate to rip his clothes off.

Scratch that. There's no fucking like.

She is desperate to rip his clothes off.

She turns to us and forces a smile. Any other night, Kara would tell me to fuck off. She's not shy about that. She's certainly not shy about demanding alone time with her favorite brooding guitarist.

But tonight is the night before our wedding.

Everybody is doing everything we want.

Drew leans down to whisper in her ear.

She lets out a needy sigh.

Willow steps out of the bathroom. Her eyes go straight to her brother. She scrunches her nose ew, I don't need to see my brother making out. "You know we're about to leave."

"Yeah." Drew pulls away from Kara. "You had something to ask Willow. About your dress. Right?"

She catches on fast. "Yeah." Kara grabs her purse and slings it over her shoulder. She motions to Willow then to the door. "How about I walk you back to your hotel room."

Willow shoots me a sly look. You buying this?

Hell no. But she should pretend. This must be important if Drew is making a point of talking to me alone. We don't exactly have an easy relationship. "I'll meet you in the room, kid."

"Okay." Willow grabs her hoodie off the back of the couch and slides it on. She runs her fingers through her short, pink-tipped hair. "Let's go."

"I'll be back soon, baby." Kara plants a goodbye kiss on Drew's lips then the ladies take their leave.

This is the main room of a suite. It's decked in tropical colors and floral print. It doesn't suit Drew. At all.

He runs a hand through his dark hair. It's exactly the same way Willow does.

It shouldn't be this weird thinking of them sharing gestures. They are brother and sister.

He motions to the mini bar against the wall to my left. "You want a drink?"

"Nah." I don't want a fucking drop until after the ceremony. I want to remember every fucking moment of it with perfect lucidity.

Drew clears his throat.

I shift my weight from one foot to another.

I'm not sure who's more uncomfortable—me or him. It's tough competition. Neither of us is the family bonding type.

And we haven't really talked about me marrying his sister.

We haven't really talked about me being with Willow.

Well, besides when he caught us post-fuck and threatened to deck me. I don't blame the man for thinking I'm no good. I get the urge to protect Willow. I get why Drew would believe I'm not worthy of her love or affection.

Fuck, at the time, I still thought it.

I slide my hands into the front pockets of my jeans.

He stares at his shoes.

Slowly, he forces himself to look me in the eyes. "I know we've been through a lot of shit. I know we've hated each other at times."

I can't deny that. I nod.

"This isn't going change anything with Sinful Serenade. I'm still gonna fight you every time you try that sell out shit."

"God forbid I keep making you millions."

He chuckles. "It's more the shitty, generic riffs I object to." He runs his hand through his hair. "I… I'm glad you and Willow are getting married."

It's written all over his still supremely uncomfortable face. Drew's sincere. He really wants me marrying his sister.

He should.

I love her more than fucking anything.

But Drew's never seen it that way. He's never really been my biggest fan. Or my fan. Period.

"Don't give me that look," he says.

I cock a brow.

"It took a while to get used to the idea of you as a devoted boyfriend. But you… you make her happy. That's what matters." His voice is as sincere as his expression.

"Thanks." Any other night, I'd be pissed at his incredulity. Even if it's warranted. But my heart is too full for that shit.

"I know you won't, but it has to be said—if you ever hurt her like that asshole did, I'll fucking kill you."

"Good."

"I know you won't, but-"

"It has to be said," I agree.

"Yeah." His eyes go to the window, to the miles and miles of deep blue ocean. He's thinking something.

The guy is the introspective type. He's always thinking something and he's never sharing it. I don't know how Kara can stand all that brooding and stoicism. And he's not even as bad as Pete is.

I really am surrounded by moody fuckers.

It must be that asshole. Willow's high school boyfriend was abusive. The night Drew found out he went to kill Bradley. I'm still not sure how he stopped himself from actually doing it.

I've seen the photos.

I'd have killed that asshole.

If I ever come across him, I will.

Drew looks me in the eyes, dead serious. "You're a good guy, Tom."

"I am?" I don't mean to sound so shocked, but I can't help it. Since when does Drew think of me as anything but an obnoxious, bossy sell out?

Not that I'd really deny any of the labels.

He should be glad I'm over-involved. He was doing everything he could to fuck things up with Kara. Without my help, there's no fucking way he'd be as happy as he is now.

Or as rich.

Drew may claim he'd rather have epic riffs than money, but he sure likes his expensive place in Santa Monica.

Though I can admit he doesn't really spend money on anything but his place and flying Kara out to visit.

"It shocks me too." Drew lets out an uneasy laugh. He shifts his weight to his other leg. "I'm trusting you with her."

I nod. It's not like she's his property or some shit, but I get how and why Drew feels responsible for Willow. Both of us would die to protect her.

As annoying as Drew can be, I'm glad he's looking out for Willow the way he is.

Hell, I'm even glad he's gonna be my brother in law.

But I'd rather he not know that.

"Take care of her, alright?" he says.

I nod. "I will."

His lips curl into a half smile. "Now, go. Make the most of your last night as a single man."

"I'm going to spend it sleeping with my fiancee."

"I don't want hear about that." He moves towards me and walks me to the door.

And he fucking hugs me goodbye.

It's weird.

But not bad.

Just fucking weird.

"You two belong together," he says.

I can't argue with that.

* * *

Kara's voice carries through our hotel room's door. She's laughing about something.

Willow too.

I shouldn't eavesdrop on my wife-to-be, but I can't help myself.

"Did Drew ever realize you were keeping it from him?" Willow asks.

Kara's voice is sure. "I told him that night he walked in on you and Tom. After he calmed down. He was pissed at first, but he gets it now. You're my friend. Anything you tell me is between you and me."

"Same goes for me," Willow says.

"Tom couldn't pry it out of you?"

"He'd try." Willow laughs. "He does have ways of making me talk. But I can resist."

"You can resist that piercing?"

"Definitely… maybe…"

"Sounds like a no."

"I'll find the resolve."

I slide my keycard into the door. It beeps as it unlocks. Even so, I knock. "I hope you two are decent."

Kara laughs as I open the door. "Really? No fantasies of your fiancee and another woman?"

I cock a brow. "I look like a stereotype to you?"

Kara gives me a long once-over. "No. You look like… like Tom."

"You defy stereotypes." Willow nods. Her eyes meet mine. They plead us. Alone. Now.

Kara takes the hint. She leans in to hug Willow goodbye.

She gives me the same tight hug. "Take care of her. She's a sweet girl."

"You think I don't realize that?" I try to sound annoyed, but I can't sell it. I'm glad all our friends are protective of Willow. She needs that in her life.

"Everyone realizes it. But… I know it means a lot to Drew to see her happy. It means a lot to me too." She steps back with a smile. "I'm happy for both of you." She waves one last goodbye to Willow. "I'll let you guys sleep." She winks on her way out the door.

"Mmm. Good thinking." Willow shrugs her hoodie off her shoulders and tosses it on our couch. Our room has the exact same layout as Drew's.

I move towards her and wrap my arms around her.

She leans into my touch, purring as I pull her closer. "I had this thought of waiting until after the wedding, but it's not making sense right now." She looks up at me, her hazel eyes full of need and affection.

Fuck, I want to be inside her.

And not for the release.

Not even because I want to watch her come.

I do.

But it's more than that.

I want our bodies joining as one.

I want to make love to her.

It's cheesy shit, but I don't give a fuck.

This time tomorrow, Willow is going to be my wife.

It's fucking amazing.

It's fucking everything.

As much as I want to drag her to that bed— "I like your idea."

Her hazel eyes bore into mine. "You sure?" She slides her hands into the back pockets of my jeans and palms my ass. "I also like the idea of unzipping your skinny jeans."

"You can unzip them either way. I'm not sleeping in them."

"Tease."

My lips curl into a smile. "You're insatiable, kid."

"You do something to me." She rests her head on my shoulder and melts into my body. "Are you scared?"

"No."

"Nervous?"

I hate admitting it, but I can't hide shit from her. "Yeah."

"Me too." She rises to her tip toes to press her lips to mine.

Fuck, she tastes good.

Like Willow and like home.

Like we're both exactly where we belong.

I didn't realize how empty I was until she filled the hole in my heart.

I didn't know it was possible to feel this complete.

And now I don't care that I'm a cheesy fucker.

I think this kinda shit all the time.

She completes me.

I can say it with a straight face.

Having my arms around Willow, my lips on her lips, my body against hers—it's fucking everything.