Juicy Rebound (IceCats 1)

I look across the floor to where Chandler is talking with some of the guys from college who flew in for the wedding. He’s laughing and joking, his face so magnificent. In one of his hands is my Sherpa coat, and in the other is my bouquet. I thought he would be embarrassed to carry them around, but he’s not. He still stands tall, manly, and gorgeous.

When I feel a hand on my back, I turn to find Shelli. “Beautiful wedding.”

“It was,” I say softly, bringing my wineglass to my lips. “I’m surprised you came alone.”

She snorts. “Who was I supposed to come with?”

“Nico would have flown in.”

She rolls her eyes. “I broke that off.”

My jaw drops as I look over at her. “Seriously?”

“Yeah. I’m about to go back into show mode, and I don’t have time to entertain him. We had some fun. It’s all good. He isn’t heartbroken, I swear.”

I shake my head. “You two were good together.”

“No, we weren’t,” she insists. “We were hot for each other. You and that guy are good together.” She points her beer toward Chandler. “Y’all are the talk of the wedding.”

I cock my head in confusion. “How so? Ryan and Sofia are gorgeous.”

“Well, duh. But the way y’all look at each other could set the room on fire.”

At that moment, Chandler looks over his shoulder and sends me a grin. His eyes sparkle under the lights, and warmth spreads through me. He isn’t looking at anyone else but me.

“He wants to marry me.”

She grins. “Clearly. I’m surprised he hasn’t asked.”

I shrug. “It scares me.”

“Why?”

“I don’t want to fuck up again.”

“Then don’t. Follow your heart.”

“My heart leads to him,” I say, glancing up at her.

Shelli nods. “Well then, I think you have your answer.”

Before I can respond, my aunt Elli comes up beside me. “Lord almighty, that boy is totally in love with you.” She wraps her arms around my arm. “Like completely.”

My mom laughs. “You should have seen them at the house, all over each other. Reminds me of James and me or even you and Shea.”

Elli grins. “He’s so handsome.”

“He sure is,” Mom agrees. “And so kind.”

“Right? He pulled my chair out for me and poured me a glass of wine,” Elli gushes with the widest grin on her face.

My mom nods, grinning too. “He’s made me breakfast the whole time he’s been here. Yes, he burned the eggs and the toast, but he tried. It’s the thought that counts, and he wasn’t even upset when I remade everything.”

I snort at that, shaking my head. “He can’t cook for nothing.”

“But he sure does love you.”

Elli nods her head. “So much.”

“He’s basically obsessed,” Shelli adds. “In a good way. Like in a ‘you’re his world’ way.”

We all sigh at the same time as we watch him laugh with his friends.

“So, you’re next?” Elli asks, and I laugh.

“Please, I just got out of a marriage.”

“Over a year ago,” Shelli says with a dirty look. “He’s long gone. And in all honesty, you should have married Chandler in the first place.”

I shake my head at her to go with my side-eye. “No, we had to go through all that crap to find each other.”

“The best kind of love happens that way,” Mom says, kissing my temple. “You look beautiful, Amelia.”

I grin back at her. “Thanks, Mom.”

“Are you sure you’re not going to move back?”

I shake my head to my aunt Elli’s question. “Nope, I love it where I am. Plus, Chandler is there.”

“He’s coming up as a free agent, ya know,” she says, and I laugh.

“If he wants to go, I’ll follow.”

Wow, I didn’t even think that through before I said it. I just automatically know I’ll follow him anywhere.

“It’s a plan, then,” Elli says, and then she and my mom high-five.

They’re trouble for sure.

“And here they are, Mr. and Mrs. Ryan James Justice.”

Everyone turns as Ryan and Sofia enter the reception. They walk to the middle of the floor, and the acoustic version of “There Goes My Everything” by Kane Brown starts. My brother takes his bride in his arms, and they sway slowly to the music, their heads close. The photographer moves around them, snapping pictures as everyone watches, all in awe of their beauty.

Sofia looks like a princess, and Ryan is her gallant prince. I feel someone watching me, and when I look toward Chandler, I find it’s him. His eyes are soft as he holds my stuff in his hands, watching me instead of Ryan and Sofia. He can’t come to me since he’d have to walk across the dance floor, but I know he wants to. When the song ends, everyone claps, hoots, and hollers as Ryan and Sofia kiss deeply.

“And now we have a request by Chandler Moon, with the approval of the bride and groom. He said this song was for his queen.”