Page 46 of Time Served in New York
“Paula’s a tiny little psycho. I didn’t say any of those things.”
“You started it, Frankie,” Paula said with an evil laugh. “Don’t fuck with the short people, they’ll take you out at the knees.”
“Isn’t that the fucking truth?”
???
“I feel like a princess,” Matalie said as she stepped back from the full-length mirror and turned around to look at the back of her dress. She reached up and touched the earrings that matched the delicate necklace I’d given her and grinned at me in the reflection. “You look stunning, Jenn. Boss isn’t going to know what to do with himself.”
“There will be no sneaking away to your room untilaftermy brothers give their speeches,” I warned.
“We’re not going to have much choice,” Brea argued as she leaned closer to the mirror and studied her painted lips. “When Marques sees me, he’s gonna put me over his shoulder and sprint back to the room.”
“I’ve made accommodations that might stop that from happening,” Bernadette said from the chair where the woman was putting the finishing touches on her hair. “They’re going to meet us in the foyer outside of the ballroom. We’re going to get off the elevator about two seconds before we’re escorted into the room.”
“So it’s going to be like a grand reveal?” August asked.
“I’m so excited,” Hannah squealed. “Mom, come take a picture of us looking so fancy.”
I watched as the girls posed for some selfies with their mom, and then a few of the other girls posed together after one of the ladies who’d done our makeup offered to take a group shot.
“Ladies, just in case I forget to thank you later, I’ll say it now. I’m so glad I have all of you in my life, and I can’t imagine having anyone else here with me on my big day. I didn’t realize what a lonely life Paula and I led until one by one, we met all of you. Now I can’t imagine not having umpteen nosy women up in my business, day and night, for the rest of my life.”
“You know what, Big City?” Blue started and then grinned when I scowled at her for using the nickname her brother still occasionally used. “Only you could say ‘thank you’ without really saying it and end with an insult but still make me love you anyway.”
“I love you, too, Blue. I know all of you have my back if I need you and would do absolutely anything for me just like I’d do for you.
“You did get some of them into dresses, and I thought there was no way in hell that would ever happen,” Maylee admitted. “They must love you very much to even consider it, let alone go through with it. Since you know dressing up doesn’t bother me at all, I’ll just say that for you, I’d go braless into a grocery store wearing knock-off sandals with rubber heels, a three-day-old messy bun, and a shirt that advertised lawn care products with a stain across the front and a hole in the sleeve.”
“Oh my. The horror,” Jenn said drolly. “That’s what half of us wore on the flight here.”
The room erupted into laughter, and I interrupted them with a big smile. “From my heart, ladies. Braless or not, Jimmy Choos or bare feet, Texas or Manhattan, you ladies are part of my heart and soul, and I love you dearly.”
“If you make me cry,I’llpunch you,” Jenn said with a sniff. “You know I’m not a crier.”
“I can see that,” Bernadette said with a sniff. “I’m not either.”
“It’s time to go downstairs, Ms. Romano,” Cassandra, the woman in charge of making sure all of mine and Bernadette’s plans had run smoothly while we were here, said from the doorway. “The men have convened in the foyer of the ballroom.”
“Let’s go wow our men,” I suggested.
“You were worried about the men carrying us off to the nearest secluded spot to muss our hair and makeup, but I have a feeling that when I see Boss all dressed up, I’m going to be the one out of control,” Jenn admitted. “I make no guarantees that I’ll be able to resist.”
???
BOSS
“I swear this fucking thing gets tighter around my neck the longer I stand here,” Soda complained from where he was leaning against the wall between Rodeo and Chef. “This isnotwhat I signed up for.”
“You look good, brother. Sis is gonna shit when she sees you,” Captain assured him. “Now stop fucking with it. You’re gonna make it crooked.”
“Dammit, son,” Preacher grumbled. “Let me fix you again.” He walked over in front of Soda and adjusted his tie and then smoothed the lapels of his suit before he stepped back. “Stop fidgeting and act like you belong here.”
“Fake it till you make it,” Santa suggested. “God knows that’s what I have to do when Frankie drags me to shit like this.”
“Ten years ago, I’d have never imagined I’d be standing in a swanky hotel in Manhattan dressed up in a suit that probably cost more than the house where I grew up, waiting to go into a room packed full of strangers and eat tiny food creations that wouldn’t keep an ant alive. It’s all your fucking fault, Santa.”
Santa looked at Hook like he was nuts. “Myfault? You’re the one that hooked up with Doc. She brought Frankie around in the first place.”
