Page 295 of One Winter Knight
There were even areas where people could camp, or stay in yurts and pop-up cabins. We were staying in one of the luxury villa communities.
Ava was here. Baby Meatloaf had grown considerably since the last time I saw her. Vixen Underground was also at the festival, as was Remington Skylark.
The whole pack was here, too. Our pack application has been submitted. Everything was in order. All we were waiting for was the notice that the paperwork had been accepted.
Today I was marrying Mi Cielo. Our song, the one that we firstsang at Winter-Fest, had become a huge sensation. The kind of sensation where her grandpa learned to use the Internet, so he could simply say,That’s my girl.
I went into the kitchen to make a smoothie. Carlos walked in, sunburned and wearing a wool fishing hat with a blinking lure in it.
“How was fishing?” I asked. A bunch of his teammates chartered a yacht and had been casually fishing the Mediterranean with occasional visits to rivers in the mainland. This was entirely to keep an eye on the girls’ trip to Europe, which currently had stopped here at Feral Ratville.
As was the yacht. I’d helped them get a dock pass and tickets, though the ladies had sorted themselves. Fiona and Saoirse were with them now.
“We had a lot of fun.” Carlos leaned against the counter. “Wow, you did it. We’re at Feral Ratville.”
“I’m here because of you,” I told him honestly. “I’m here because you told me to fucking ignore what Mrs. Johnson said and record anyway. It was your unwavering support that helped me get here.”
Carlos gave me a hug. “I just cheered you on. That’s what not-husbands do.”
“Should we call them?” I looked at my phone again, as I made a smoothie for Saoirse.
“I’m here.” Saoirse joined us, wearing a long, flowing dress and carrying a straw tote. “Fiona is still with the ladies, but Hale is trailing them with a couple of the other guys. Though some of them are pretty vicious and have been throwing things when the guys get too close.” She chuckled. “I like this group of friends.”
Gwen, Mercy, and Dimitri’s sister were part of the group, among others.
“Give me a moment to change,” she said. “Tyrell already has everything for my wardrobe change and is bringing it backstage.I’m really excited.” She took my hands, the ring from the wedding we couldn't entirely remember, gleaming on her finger as sun streamed in through the villa window.
“Me, too.” I leaned in and kissed her.
She’d stopped hiding her bump, which wasn’t huge yet. We’d had lots of tests, scans, and checkups. Baby Lovely was doing just fine, and the announcement had been a hit.
“I made you a smoothie.” I handed her one.
“Thank you.” She took a sip and leaned into me.
I put an arm around her. “Do you want one, Lalo?”
He shook his head and checked his phone. “Hale is bringing me meat on a stick.”
We had a bit of time. I was the second to the last act tonight on the main stage. Vixen Underground was the headliner.
Ava wasn’t doing a set. This wasn’t her sort of festival. She’d come for me, to marry us tonight. Though Ava had been invited by a number of people to drop by their sets, and was having a great time.
I drank my smoothie and finished getting ready in my room. Saoirse came out of the bathroom, wearing an incredible festival outfit that showed off her baby bump.
“Tyrell chose it. But I feel ridiculous. If you were performing in the daytime, I would get incredibly sunburned no matter what SPF I wore,” she told me.
“You look so fucking hot.” I took her gorgeous pregnant body and planted a big kiss on her belly. “Hey, Baby Lovely. Tonight is a huge night for Daddy and Mommy, and we’re so glad you’ll be there with us.” I looked at her. “If you don’t want to wear it, don’t. I’ll deal with Tyrell.”
She looked down at herself. “He did an excellent job. I just feel very obvious.”
“As much as you’d like to think that you weren’t obvious running around in your suits and heels all the time, there weredefinitely instances where you were,” I told her.
She gave me a defiant look. “I looked like somebody’s personal security.”
“You looked like you were from a spy movie full of hot people.” I grinned.
She pushed her palm against my forehead. “Stop.”
