Jax Monroe—his friend and former SEAL teammate—always had liked doing things his own way. Apparently that included kissing his new wife when he was damn well good and ready, as opposed to waiting for the minister to finish giving the green light.
Some things never change.
A sudden, high-pitched whistle traveled with the cool mountain breeze, the sound courtesy of Declan King—Jax’s half-brother. Following his lead, the rest of the small crowd erupted, their whoops and hollers surprisingly loud for the intimate gathering that had come to honor the happy couple.
Even the bride’s parents—along with her two bridesmaids—were quick to join in the fun.
With a smile on his face and his hands still clapping together, Ivan couldn’t help but soak in the scene. Small and simple, the ceremony had taken place outside, behind Jax and Poppy’s mountain cabin. Despite there being less than thirty people in attendance, the fall air was filled to the rim with happiness and a sense of everlasting love.
Two things that had been noticeably absent during his own nuptials.
Probably helps that Jax and Poppy actually love each other.
Okay, so yeah. There was that. To be fair, Ivan and his ex’s relationship—if you could even call it that—had been doomed from the start. Just like the child they’d unexpectedly conceived.
Not. Now.
He schooled his expression in record time as a familiar pain sliced through his chest. It was the same as always, that jagged knife tearing into his scarred, jaded heart as it did every other time he traveled back to that heartbreaking day. But Ivan was stronger than the pain. Or at least, he pretended to be. So like always, he pushed it aside to focus on the present.
Today wasn’t about him and his baggage. It was about Jax and Poppy. A man who’d saved Ivan’s ass more times than he cared to remember, and the woman who’d given the former SEAL everything he never knew he needed.
So Ivan regrouped, keeping his full attention solely on the fact that his friend had just gotten married. And the sly bastard wasstillkissing the bride.
Good for you, brother. Good for you.
Several seconds later, Jax finally finished sealing the lifelong commitment between husband and wife. Ivan watched with a grin as the newlyweds trailed back down an aisle made of fresh rose and sunflower petals.
His smile grew a smidge more. Even a guy like him could appreciate the beauty of a moment such as this.
Rather than turn their wedding into some huge, elaborate show for the elite, his friends had chosen to go small and simple. And who could forget the delicious food and open bar waiting for them back at Sin—the popular Denver nightclub Jax owned.
Yep, this was the exact kind of wedding Ivan had always imagined for himself. Unfortunately for him, it was the exact opposite of what he’d had to endure.
Don’t worry…the next one can always be more like this.
Ivan barely resisted the urge to physically recoil as he escorted Poppy’s cousin back down the aisle. Praying no one picked up on the what-the-fuck expression he knew damn well had just flashed across his face, he swung his gaze to the woman beside him.
Thankfully the tall, curvy, blonde seemed completely oblivious to his current mental turmoil. Staring back at him all doe-eyed and swoony, her ruby red lips spread into a wide toothy smile.
Ivan flashed her a quick grin of his own for good measure.
Jesus, Petrov. Get your shit together for fuck’s sake.
Using the self-induced mental slap as motive to do just that, he and the blonde bridesmaid—whose name had uncharacteristically escaped him—followed the best man and maid of honor through the center of the small crowd. With her hand gripping him tightly to keep her heeled steps steady, Poppy’s cousin spoke wistfully about things like weddings, flowers, and the gorgeous mountain view.
But Ivan only half-listened, his mind still hung up on why the hell his subconscious would evenconsidermarrying a second time. Once was more than enough for him, thank you very much.
Been there, done that, and I don’t ever want to go through that shit again.
“You’re going to the reception, aren’t you?” Poppy’s cousin asked as they reached the large stone patio behind Jax’s cabin.
Ivan blinked as he quickly processed the simple question. “Oh, uh...” He cleared his throat. “Yeah. Of course.”
Laura! Her name is Laura!
Hit by a sudden wave of forgotten intel, he instantly recalled everything he knew about the pretty blonde…
Laura Crawford. Twenty-six. Born and raised in Atchison, Kansas. Graduated in the top half of her class before attending a nearby technical school to become a dental hygienist.