Her Reckless Rockstar by Gena Snow

Chapter 23

 

Tristan

 

Three months later

 

“I wouldn’t have for the life of me guessed my baby brother would get married before I did,” Nick, my brother jokes with envy on my wedding day.

The venue is a vacation resort by the beach and the Alton Group owns it. We’re standing next to the wedding arbor, waiting for the wedding guests to take their seats. Nick, Jared, Dylan, Brian, Max are my groomsmen. Harper and Hailey are the bridesmaids.

“I didn’t know you were planning ever to get married,” I tease Nick. He is famous for being a playboy in town. He started dating in high school, although his relationships never lasted long. I can’t blame him because although I hate to admit, the guy is good-looking and charming, not to mention talented in making money.

“What do you mean?” he grumbles. “I don’t plan to be a bachelor all my life! I just haven’t found the right woman.”

“Okay. Perhaps you should lower your standard and be less picky. There’s only one woman that’s beautiful, sexy, smart, thoughtful, caring, loving, and kind on earth, and she is my wife,” I say smugly.

My brother and I like to compete although we love each other. Ever since our school days, we show off our accomplishments in front of our mom for approval. Even though we’re grownups, we still can’t help our sibling rivalry tendency.

Nick rolls his eyes. “Don’t be so full of yourself. You just got lucky his once.”

“Once is enough!” I wriggle my eyebrows.

I’m going to say something more, but stop when I see my bride in an elegant wedding dress walking down the aisle, accompanied by Jamie, who has completed his treatment at the rehab and is recovering. My God! She’s so beautiful!  My breath catches in my throat, and I forget to breathe for a second.

At the same time, I hear my own voice singing through the speaker. Avery chose You Are My Dream to be our wedding song. Not to be conceited, but it does sound like the best song ever written, especially at the moment when I watch the dream of my life walking toward me, looking like a goddess descended from heaven.

I don’t remember when it was the last time I cried, but tears smear my face at the moment, and I have trouble stopping them. I know the audience must be smitten by my bride as well because I hear constant murmurs. My attention is focused on the goddess in front of me, whose bright eyes are also fixed on me. As soon as she nears me, I hold her hands and pull her to me, dabbing a kiss on her lips before the marriage officiant, Mr. Larson, starts talking.

I hardly hear anything from his speech. All I know is this is it. Avery is officially mine. Well, she has been for a while, but the Vegas wedding isn’t good enough. When it comes to my turn to say my vows, I can’t wait to start.

“Avery, I knew we belonged with each other the first time I saw you.  The fierce little girl who tried to protect her brother stole my heart just like that, and I wanted nothing more than to protect her. I’m thankful for my dream coming true, and I vow from this day forward, I’ll always be on your side, and you’ll never have to fight alone.”

Avery sniffs before she starts her own. “Tristan, I never cared for metal music until I met you because it seemed just too chaotic and loud. But you made me realize I’d missed so much fun. Now, I can’t live without the intense and liberating sensation the music brings me. I promise I’ll always be your most loyal fan and faithful wife.”

“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride,” says Mr. Larson. And that’s music to my ear.

 

At the wedding reception, after all the photo taking and wedding toasts, I reluctantly let go of my bride so she can dance with my dad. Nick is standing next to me, watching the dance floor as well. His eyes are on Harper, who’s dancing with Dylan.

“How old is Avery’s sister?” Nick asks.

“I’m not sure. She’s in her college junior year, so I guess she’s about twenty?”

“Oh,” Nick nods.

“She’s too young for you, Bro,” I remind him. Although Nick is a womanizer, he dates mostly mature women at least as old as him.

“Exactly,” he says, but he doesn’t take his eyes off Harper.

Harper is a fine girl, not as beautiful as Avery, in my eyes, that is, but pretty all the same. And she’s as smart and feisty as her sister, and the two are as thick as thieves. I have the duty to protect my wife’s little sister as well from my brother, the big bad wolf.

“You stay away from the girl,” I warn him again.

He lifts an eyebrow. “Why should I?”

“Avery will kill me if you harm a hair of her sister.”

“Who says I’m going to harm her?” he rolls his eyes. “I have no interest in women under thirty, okay? I just think she might make a great store manager. She does a great job organizing and overseeing the wedding.”

True. Avery hired her sister to be our wedding planner because it was one of Harper’s aspirations. I was reluctant at first because it would be Harper’s first time. But Avery convinced me.  Now I’m glad I trusted my wife’s decision because Harper worked very hard. She met with every vendor to make sure they knew what they were doing, and she maintained a reasonable budget. She even made us go through a rehearsal the day before the wedding.

As much as I’m wary of Nick’s intentions, I see the merit in his comment. “She’s a business major, and Avery says she’s a talented salesgirl. You’ve got any job openings?”

“I can always find something for her,” Nick says.

I regret making that suggestion. I suddenly don’t trust my brother. He’s gazing at the girl way too often, and certainly not the way he looks at a potential employee.

But I have no time to dwell on the thought because, my bride is back, and it’s time for our final dance.