AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Crusty,” I repeated with a pained smirk, helping her push the boat the rest of the way into the water. “Did you enjoy the ceremony?” I asked, trying to read her expression.
“It was lovely,” she answered in her usual diplomatic way.
“That’s not what he asked,” Lincoln pointed out, and Mylee laughed.
“It was fine,” she insisted. “I mean… would I do that for my wedding? Probably not.”
The swan made its way toward the center of the lake, and I sat back to inhale the fresh breeze. “Oh, no? What would you do?”
Intrigued, I turned toward her, interested in her answer.
“Well, first, I wouldn’t waste hundreds of thousands of dollars on people I don’t even know,” Mylee replied. “Think of what that money could do for the people at the City Mirror.”
“Such a waste of money,” Kai conceded.
“But that’s the entire point of a wedding,” I argued. “To show off to your friends and family.”
“Wow, that is cynical, Pax,” Lincoln snorted. “That’s not the point of a wedding.”
“No? Then why else would you stress out for months, agonize over trivial details like plates and flowers, only to pray for it all to be over the day of?”
Mylee’s dark eyes bored into me. “You sound like you’re speaking from experience,” she said softly.
“Not at all,” I countered. “I’ve never been married. But I’ve been to my fair share of weddings. They’re only for showing off. Especially for people who have money.”
Mylee frowned, and I leaned forward.
“What do you think they’re for if not for showing off?”
She shook her head, the silky strands falling out of her intricate chignon like always. “Oh, no. You’re not going to drag me into an argument,” she insisted. “I’d only ever been to one wedding before I met you guys.”
“No argument! I honestly want to know what you think,” I said, holding up a hand. “Scout’s honor.”
She shrugged and looked at Kai and Lincoln, who seemed to be hanging off her every word now.
“I don’t know…” she muttered, staring down at her hands. “I mean… yes, there is an element of ‘showing off,’ but not in the way you mean, Pax… at least that’s not the way I see it.”
“Enlighten me,” I insisted.
Her eyes narrowed, and Kai scowled at me. “Don’t be an asshole, Pax,” he warned me.
I balked. “I’m not trying to be. I genuinely want to know what she thinks.”
“I just mean… I don’t know. It’s a time to share in the love you’ve found with your family and friends. So yeah, there’s a gloating aspect of it, I guess, but it’s mostly about sharing your happiness.”
I scoffed so loudly, a duck squawked on the lake.
“Yeah, we’ve definitely been to different weddings,” I informed her.
Mylee turned away, embarrassed, and I suddenly felt like an ass. I hadn’t meant to downplay her take, but she didn’t knowmyfamily.
“I’m sorry,” I said quickly. “I’m jaded.”
“Clearly,” Kai and Lincoln intoned sharply.
Mylee cast me a sad look, but I flashed her a smile.
“Let’s head back,” Kai suggested. “Before someone sees us out here.”
