Chapter 7

I shifted my weight again and glanced up as the little girls made their way down the aisle. Addy and Blair tossed the flower petals up in the air, letting them rain down like snow as they twirled, giggling. I bit back a chuckle. Those two were going to be good friends.

Maia, on the other hand, stomped her way down, unable to even muster more than a glare. She apparently hated the baby blue frilly dress she was forced to wear. Ivy had to promise Maia she wouldn't have to smile just to get Maia to agree to wear it.

"Are you just not going back to Phoenix?" My brother stood next to me, yapping in my ear continuously. "What exactly is your plan here?"

I was trying my best to tune out his incessant grumbling.

"How did this even happen? I don't understand. We hear through the grapevine that you're getting married, and you want us to just accept it?"

He was just as supportive now as when he first found out.

I sighed. "Does it seem out of character?"

Diesel pulled Kai forward as he struggled to hold his leash, and I cringed. I probably should have kept the leash myself instead of passing it over to Kai. I don't know how I let him talk me into bringing the damn dog. But his big, sad, brown eyes and begging swayed me. I could only hope Diesel wouldn't get away during the ceremony. But maybe that would be on brand for my new group. Chaos seemed to follow wherever they went.

"It's not like you're buying another house. You're marrying someone who has five kids," Declan whispered-yelled.

"Yeah, and you married someone who had a kid, too. And then you had another one." I shot him a sideways glance as Natalie walked toward us with their daughter, Sam on her hip. "Are you really judging me right now?"

Chris and Jayden stood off to the side of Declan, and movement from them caught my eye. They were currently using the pillows with the rings tied to them like they were paddles with a bouncy ball attached.

I shook my head. Another two best friends in the making. The sparkle of the gold metal reflected in the light as it bounced roughly against the pillow. Hopefully, Shane's promise of tying them on tight held. Otherwise, we'd be crawling on the ground looking for rings.

Kai bumped into me again, and I glanced down. "Are you wearing two different shoes?"

"Yeah, the ghost took them."

I huffed. Enough was enough with the damn ghost. "We're going to figure that out," I promised.

Chris's head popped up, looking at his dad. "Can we get a ghost?"

"No, we cannot." Declan rolled his eyes. "Finn, come on, you gotta think this through. This is your last chance to change your mind."

Finally, I spun toward him, glaring. "Dude, you fell in love with your wife over the course of a week. So maybe those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. Now get on board and accept my wife or leave."

"So, you love her?" He pointed down the aisle.

I looked up and swallowed as Ivy stepped into the doorway, holding onto her dad's elbow. Damn, she was gorgeous. Her hair hung on her bare shoulders in soft waves, almost brushing the lace around the sweetheart neckline of her tight dress. "Look at her, man." I cleared the husk from my voice. "How could I not fall head over heels for her?"

Declan grunted.

The music shifted from a song I hadn't known to the thundering chords at the start of Here comes the Bride. For one second, I almost panicked. Seeing this beautiful woman in white headed my way felt almost too real. Then I pulled myself back to reality and remembered this was just for show, just for now, nothing more.

My heart pounded faster the closer she got. And from the second her father placed her hand in mine, everything seemed like a blur. A welcome, a few vows, and luckily no objections, and then it was time for the rings.

"One sec, I got scissors." Shane pulled a pair from his pocket and snipped the strings holding the rings to the boys' pillows before he passed them to the priest. "Had to think ahead," he assured the man, who simply nodded and handed both Ivy and me rings with white satin strings still dangling from each.

"With this ring, I thee wed," Ivy said softly as she slipped the ring on my finger. "Welcome to chaos."

And I had to chuckle as I repeated the same words, sliding her band on her tiny finger. My heart stuttered, looking at her hand, and that bubble of panic worked its way up my throat.

But before it could even set in, something caught Diesel's attention. He went nuts, barking and yanking hard on his leash, desperate to get to one of the many windows in the church.

"Diesel, NO!" Kai yelled. The first yank he held tight, but the second left him flailing forward and he dropped the leash. As he crashed into Jayden, who banged into Chris, the boys fell to the floor in a heap. Diesel bolted across the church, knocking Addy and toppling her over into Blair, who screamed as she fell down the step.

The shriek started with poor little Sam, who wailed on her mom's hip.

Between the boys fighting, Sam's wails, and Diesel barking, I could hardly hear my niece crying on the floor next to Blair.

The minister glanced around. "Should I stop?" he asked, wide-eyed.

"No, just speak up," Ivy yelled. "It'll be fine."

"For crap's sake," Declan muttered before heading over to grab the dog.

Daisy jumped up, separating the boys and getting them calmed down while Maia and my mother helped Addy and Blair up. They were doing their best to soothe my niece as Natalie attempted to quiet the baby.

The minister didn't miss a beat as he cupped his hands over his mouth. "I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

I hesitated for a second before leaning toward her. Our lips brushed and my body tightened from the connection. For one second, the noise seemed to just pause, and all the world only existed in soft lips.

She pulled back quickly, and I was shocked to want to lean back in. Kiss her again. Because that quick moment wasn't nearly long enough. And somehow, I found myself in a room of chaos, smiling at the woman who was now my wife.

Ivy shook her head with a chuckle. "Sorry."

"Don't be," I assured her and wrapped my hand around hers. Her soft skin felt warm against my own. "Come on, let's get these hyper kids out of this place."

She giggled again. "Good idea."

After a round of congratulations, and assurances from everyone that they did not want to come back to the house with us, we were waving goodbye. I couldn't blame anyone for not wanting to make the three-hour drive back. Even I wasn't thrilled as we got into the car and I drove Ivy's Nissan away from the church with two kids fighting, one singing, and an overly excited dog.

"Back to the boot we go!" Kai called from the way back.

"The dog is drooling on me. Get it away from me," Maia whined.

"Don't be mean to my dog," Kai scolded her.

"Ooops. Wait, that was the turn, Ivy yelled over the chaos as I flew past the road I was supposed to be on.

"Guess we're taking a detour," Shane sighed.

Yeah, a detour, that was for sure. My life had taken one this past week.