Page 88 of You Fall First

“Nope.” Noah’s dark eyes widen in faux concern. “I haven’t seen him for a while.”

I walk over to the TV. “Could he be behind the flatscreen?”

“Nah. He’s too big.”

“What about under the couch cushions?” I lift them one at a time to check. “No. Not here either. Huh.”

“He could be hiding in the bathroom,” Noah says.

“But where?” I grin. “In the … toilet?”

The giggle turns into a cackle.

“Wait.” I gasp. “What’s that noise?”

Dutton pops up from behind the armchair dressed in a little-boy polo shirt and khakis. “I’m not in the toilet!” he hoots.

“There you are!” Noah crosses the room and throws Dutton over his shoulder. “You’ll never escape Uncle Noah!”

Dutton shrieks with laughter, and Noah lets out a pretend monster growl, then carries him over to the couch for a round of tickling.

“Come on, goofballs,” I laugh. “We’re gonna be late.”

Noah freezes and grins down at Dutton. “Dude. You got me all wrinkled.”

Dutton snorts. “No, YOU did, dude.”

If I sleep at all tonight, I will definitely dream of this.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Jo

Here are some things you should know about a wedding rehearsal in the Michaels family.

Not five, though, because we’ve already established five is boring.

We will be instructed to not lock our knees at the altar approximately five hundred times.

During the practice vows, my dad will crack corny jokes about farts or whittling or both.

My mom will ugly-cry when the pastor says, “You may kiss the bride,” even though they’re only pretending.

One of my siblings will snark, “Man. Can’t take us anywhere.”

This was my exact experience when both Kendal and Dex got married. Landry’s rehearsal is no different, except for how often my eyes drift to Noah Stadler. He wasn’t there when Tim and Dex got to practice kissing their brides, but he’s sure here now, and I’ve got a straight shot of him through the glass doors into the lobby.

That’s where he and Tim have been for the past hour, wrangling all the kids. Everyone else, as part of the bridal party, has been up by the altar.

“If I didn’t know better,” Kendal whispers to me, “I’d think Tim bribed Brock to get Noah an invite.”

“Why?”

“Good childcare help like that is expensive,” she smirks.

After we bridesmaids have a chance to work on our walks down the aisle (slow, one step at a time, no slower!), and Landry and Brock have blown through their fake vows (we’re saving the real ones for tomorrow), and they’ve quickly kissed while my mom sobs in the front row, the pastor pronounces us ready for dinner.

The Gilded Dish awaits.