Her face twisted in horror. “Shut up! Really?”

“Yeah, it was bad, and I stopped talking to them over it.”

“Wow,” she said slowly, her eyes still wide. “And I’m guessing…plus, I might have heard…that since you and Mekena are back together, you don’t want them being mean to her again.”

He rolled his eyes. “So that made it through the grapevine?”

She nodded with a big grin. “It’s very hit or miss, this Sinclair grapevine.”

Exhaling with annoyance, he said, “Yeah, I can tell. But anyway, yeah. I mean, we aren’t official, but I want us to be.”

“Okay, what do you want? Do you want them there?”

“I think so. I miss them, I do. It’s hard not talking to them, but they were so mean. So not who I want to surround myself with, and I refuse to allow them to treat Mekena like shit.”

“This is true. So why don’t you tell them that? I told my dad he wasn’t going to treat anyone I love like shit or I wouldn’t speak to him, and we all know how wonderful he’s been. I mean, he’s paid for a lot of this wedding, and he’s even walking me down the aisle to Benji. He’s been great, which is nice. I’m sure, while you’ll have Mom and River at the game, you want your family too.”

“I do,” he agreed. “I just worry for Mekena. Should I ask her?”

“I mean, you can, but I would just warn them. One more time, and if they can’t respect her, you’re done.”

“True,” he said, glancing out into the field to find that now Avery and Baylor were being chased by Angie. “She means a lot to me.”

“Angie? I know, she’s my baby. Greatest kid ever.”

“No. Mekena,” he said, looking back to find her laughing. “Jerk.”

“I know you do,” she said, reaching for him and cupping his shoulder. “I hope it works out.”

She didn’t seem so sure. “You don’t think we will?”

She scoffed. “Of course, I do. You’re stubborn as hell. You’ll make it work.”

“This is true.”

“I just worry you’re using this relationship to cover up the pain of what happened with that cunt.”

He paused, his heart stopping in his chest. Shaking his head, his face twisted. “I’m not. I’ve always loved Mekena.”

“I know, and please don’t think I don’t think it’s great y’all are back together—you love her, I know this—but I worry about you. You’re letting go of what happened, which is excellent, but what happens if the pain comes back? That scares me, which is why I suggested therapy.” She turned her body to look at him. He went to comment, but she held up her hand. “Remember how quick Baylor was to compartmentalize the attempted rape with that guy in college? We all thought she was strong, that she had it. And two months later, Jayden finds her in a ball on the floor, unable to breathe from a panic attack in the Assassins’ locker room. I don’t want that to happen to you.”

“I told you, I’m going.”

“I know,” she said, her face turning up in a small smile. “And I believe you. I just worry, and I feel if I tell you my worry, it’ll give you more of a push to go.”

He nodded as his heart exploded with love. He’d never gotten the chance to have an older sibling, or a sister for that matter, but Lucy was a great stand-in. She might be a little hostile from time to time, and people might be scared of her—Markus included—but she was by far one of the most amazing women he knew. “I love you, Lucy Paxton.”

She smiled. “I love you, Markus Reeves, and I love that you’re happy. Please stay that way.”

“I plan on it,” he said, standing up and slapping his hands together. “I am planning to make sure we beat your ass this time! Even if I have to kick all the men off the field but me.”

She laughed at that, rolling her eyes as she stood. “Bring it, Reeves.”

Determined, he said, “Let’s go, ladies. Game two!” He looked at the guys. “If you guys suck, you’re out.”

They all rolled their eyes, flipping him off as he walked back out onto the field. His mind was heavy with what to do about his parents, with what Lucy had said, and of course, with thoughts of Mekena. In theory, it all seemed easy. Be together. But that wasn’t how the world worked, and he knew that. So much could go wrong, so much could happen, but like Lucy had said, he was stubborn, and he wasn’t going to let anything come between them.

Distance: nope.

Crazy sister: nope.

Crazy parents: nope.

Life: nope.

He was ready for anything because Mekena Preston was his.

…Well, as soon as he asked her to be she would be.

“Why are you so dressed up?”

Mekena looked down at her red dress and quirked her brow. She hadn’t meant to stand out, but it was a black-tie rehearsal dinner. While she knew she was only to stand in the background taking pictures, she wanted to look pretty.

For him.

Markus.

She hadn’t intended for Libby to notice, though. But then, what did she expect when she wore a red satin dress that flared at her thigh and was made entirely of lace at the top, with an open back. She had paired it with black Converse in the hopes of toning it down, but apparently, it didn’t tone it down enough.

“I hadn’t realized I had,” she said innocently, and Libby’s face didn’t change. She didn’t believe a thing coming out of Mekena’s mouth.

“Sure.”

Mekena looked away, holding her camera as she studied the room. For a rehearsal dinner with only family, the place was done up like it was the actual reception. Benji wasn’t holding back on anything, and the room was gorgeous. A long table was situated in the middle of the room, illuminated by softly lit hanging lanterns. The tables had beautiful place settings of white mums wrapped in light purple fabric. Hanging across the top of the room were pictures of Benji and Lucy growing up and then as they grew together. It was beautiful and so tastefully done.

When Mekena got married, she was hiring Grace.

With a quick intake of breath, she could actually see her groom.

Markus.

Such a crazy thought, but it was there, clear as the day was long. She was too young and in no way ready for marriage, but she knew she was ready to be with Markus. And if forever was in the game plan, she was there. She would be there as long as he wanted her. With a small smile, she looked down at her camera, knowing that he would want her forever. That wasn’t something to question. She knew she meant something to him, just from the sweet look in his eyes every time he saw her.