For the Love of Dixie (Kings of Chaos 3)

“Not this time at least.” A sly grin spreads across Blue’s lips.

I laugh. “He’s so corrupting you.”

“Don’t sound so happy about it,” Blue grumbles.

“You’re freaking adorable, remember you’re marrying a scary motherfucker.”

“He’s not scary.”

“Spoken like a truly smitten woman,” I say.

“Because Echo is a teddy bear?” Blue counters.

“Bah, I wouldn’t want him if he was.”

“Exactly! We were destined to be resistant to the nine to fivers,” Blue jokes.

“We’re jamming, woman. Invites on their way, favors not too far behind. Now, we need to talk table settings and flower colors.”

“I’m not sure about the tables because I have no clue where they’ll be holding it, but I can make tentative plans. I want to do white with a touch of blue. That’ll keep it simple, fast, and very easy to DIY. We’ll do some of those vintage blue mason jars for centerpieces and then find something more masculine to pair with it. I’ll have a blue themed bouquet, and maybe I can have like…a KOC charm somehow incorporated.”

“What about your dress?” I ask.

“I want it to be blue. A white dress doesn’t seem right, not for me. At least not now.”

I frown. “Why?”

“Because I’m anything but innocent after all I’ve seen and been through. I want it to reflect who I am at this point in my life. The old Bluebell, she wanted all the bells and whistles with a princess gown and other frivolous shit, I couldn’t cares less about.”

“You know you’re more than what’s happened to you, right?” I ask gently.

“For the first time ever, I think I do. Before I felt I was trapped in a role, not realizing all along, I had the power to change things whenever I was ready to.” She sighs. “Live and learn, right?”

“Definitely. I think we both know a lot about that.”

“No, you were always braver. You got out and created the life you wanted away from all this madness,” Blue says suddenly pensive.

“I didn’t have a little boy depending on me. Apples and oranges, and trust me I had oceans of issues to wade through. We all have our scars. But that’s good, because it means we survived.”

“I like the way you look at things.” Blue nods.

“It’s that or lose my mind, which would be a real travesty, given my profession.”

Blue laughs and I grin. We get silly together for a little bit, but suddenly the doorknob turns and we glance over.

The door opens and Bolton walks in looking pale.

Shit.

“Is it true?” he asks.

“Bolty, why don’t you come in and sit down here with us?”

“No, Ma. Don’t sugarcoat it. Is that bitch trying to take over custody?”

I cringe.

“Yes, she is, but there’s no judge in his right mind that would listen to her and transfer custody. Shadow’s your father and you were fine under my care before he got out.”