Joel

I've known Lucas fucking Kennedy since we had matching light up space ranger shoes on the playground. We weren't always best friends, because he had all the kids in class following him around, while I was mostly in the corner on my own.

One day, he came over and sat next to me at lunch. His mom was sick in the hospital and he didn't want to be around his little gang. Even so young, I think he just needed a moment of peace and quiet. He saw my tortillas with beans and rice and helped himself to my food while holding his lunchbox open to me, offering whatever I wanted. I took his pudding, and he took my fruit cup.

We've been close ever since.

He's been there for me through a lot of shit in my life and I could never ask for a better friend than Lucas Kennedy. When he sets his mind to something, he goes for it. Our friendship was one of those things he set his mind to, and I'm glad he did.

Everyone always thinks he's lucky. It's not luck. He's just positive everything will work out no matter what, and even when there's an obstacle in the way of whatever he wants, Lucas finds his way through it or around it.

It truly is a small world where he met Allie and things turned out this way. Small, because of the connection. Still, I don't know about luck. Might be fate or just coincidence. He was hung up on her for weeks, trying to figure out who she was. What a dumbass. He never got her name. Guaranteed if he asked and found out who her dad was, Lucas would have found himself at Tom's doorstep asking to take his daughter out a lot sooner. He'd be the first and only one with the balls to stand up to Tom.

If I remember correctly, it was Kat that convinced him to get over her. Graduation hit, that summer went by, and Lucas went off to do his own thing. He was different then. He didn't care that much about anything, and just blended into the crowds as best he could. Kept that smile on his face.

He doesn't realize how much Allie has had a hold on him the way he has her. Lucas never cared about Kat or anyone really, after he met Allie. Allie was always the one, even if she was only in the back of his mind.

I'll just keep that little observation to myself since things worked out for them.

It's a happy day for him and this asshole didn't sleep last night until Tom slipped him melatonin and knocked him out so the rest of us could sleep. He was nervous and excited and if Lucas Kennedy could better handle his liquor, he'd be more relaxed about the whole thing. Lucas has been desperate to see her all day, looking for an excuse to go to her room just to see her.

He was the first one up, made breakfast for everyone, and that was at five this morning. We had to go for a run just to get some energy out. It's no big deal, since we're going to work on his shoulder together in the mornings now.

"She's going to be late, isn't she?" He says. We're standing at the front near Charity's father, Clyde, while greeting people that are here for the wedding.

"They're always late. She's got some big ass dress dragging her down and I'm sure Charity isn't making things any easier on her."

Charity. Now there's a story no one needs to know. It's one of those ancient history things and she pretends like I'm the evil son of a bitch when, in reality, it's my fault for being...

Never mind, it's just stupid and there's no point there. All I can do is ruffle her feathers a little and then she goes and dyes her hair a new color.

"Are you ever going to tell me what all happened between you two?"

I will take it to my grave because even I don't understand why she went nuclear.

"It's nothing, Lucas. Where's your boy?"

He's so damn proud of Jadon, and Lucas loves him more than anything.

"He's with Allie."

Tom opens the door at the end of the aisle and holds up his hand, letting me know she'll be down in five. She's only two minutes late, which is better than I expected. Everyone is seated and ready, and Lucas may be just as nervous as I'm sure Allie is.

Not for each other, no. They could have done this in the courthouse with a judge and a witness and still be just as crazy about one another. It's an excited but nervous feeling for them. They're simple and apart from the accidental pregnancy and years apart, they come together easily. He pushes, she giggles, and sometimes Allie snaps back at him.

"So, where are you taking her tonight?" He's been tight-lipped about his plans for their honeymoon, but I figured it was because he didn't come up with something until the last minute.

Lucas smirks and chuckles to himself. "Santa Marta. I got some vacation rental for the week on the beach. It looks cozy."

What the hell? "Why there?" Santa Marta is a college town on the coast. It's about a four-hour drive from here and other than the beach parties in the summer, it has some shopping and some sites, but for their honeymoon? There's nothing too exciting there this time of the year.

Lucas lowers his voice to an almost whisper and murmurs, "Allie gets her view from the house and I'll take her to the beach if she wants, but we're not leaving that property unless she really needs to eat. If I'm taking her to some destination spot wherever, we're taking our kids." Lucas straightens out his shoulders and dusts off his sleeves. "I'm not wasting money on a vacation when all I plan to do is stay indoors and naked with my wife."

I notice he said kids. Plural. "Is she pregnant?"

Lucas scoffs. "No. I'll be damned if I'm not going to try to convince her for another soon."

Well, he's just full steam ahead already. "Enjoy marriage and the one kid for a little while, at least, Lucas."

He won't listen, I already know.

Tom opens the door again and waves me down. She's ready.

I put my hands on my best friend's shoulders and the color in his face is already draining. I knew it would at the last minute. That's why I'm here. "You're going to be great. She's funny and sweet, Lucas. You guys are lucky to have one another. Allie loves you, and you guys are perfect. I'll be back in a minute, bro. Gonna see your woman. Give her one last chance to run off with me."

"Do it, and see what happens."

"Threatening an officer, are you?"

Lucas is big game, but he gets nervous last minute, like he is now. I make my way down the aisle and toward the back before Tom lets me in. For a small wedding, they made this shit fancy as fuck. Red roses everywhere, and I get it. Valentine's Day. They played it up. Lucas said it was her dream wedding, and when I see the dress, I can't see this thing going any other way.

It's perfect.

"Allie." She smiles, and she's clearly been emotional today. She hugs my neck in what looks like a dress made of diamonds. "You look stunning."

She sobs. "Thank you, Joel."

"Oh, for fuck's sake. You made her cry again, Joel. Thanks a lot."

Allie glares over my shoulder while Jadon giggles. "Charity!"

"The kid's heard enough, plus it's not like you and Lucas don't say it. Right, Jadon?"

Allie huffs and takes a step back from me. "Sorry. She still needs to learn some manners."

"If he waits any longer, Lucas might piss himself, so you take your time, but also hurry up." The music starts outside in the garden, and I kiss Allie's cheek before taking Charity's arm.

"You wanna be my valentine, Cherry?" Fitting, since she's wearing red, on top of everything else. Her platinum hair looks like a blank canvas. She's still beautiful as ever. I think she looks best in pink hair, though.

"Wow, Joel, you come up with that one all by yourself? You must be proud."

I whisper in her ear, "I'm so glad you're back, Cherry. Guess we'll be seeing a lot more of each other. If you need a room, I have a spare in my house. Free rent and the water pressure in the shower is the best. I get lonely sometimes, but then I smile to myself just thinking about that night." The doors open with the sound of Stephen Sanchez's voice and "Until I Found You" fills the room.

Charity and I take the rehearsed steps down the aisle. I may have purposely screwed up the rehearsal a few times last night just to piss her off.

"We never made it to that date, Cherry." I notice Lucas standing at the edge of the garden, watching us. He's barely keeping his shit together. He'll be fine once Allie is up there. I already know that. "Maybe you'll quit your bitching and we can get to the restaurant. I'll even take you to make out point like we talked about."

Charity smiles and somehow spits back at me in the process. "You'd have to tie me up and drag me by the ankle to a date with you."

"Oh, I plan to." I'm just waiting for the right moment. "Got the rope in my trunk just for you, and I've been working on my knots."

She sputters, but doesn't respond after that. We make our way to the front, and Charity stands on the bride's side while I stand beside Lucas. The garden here is maintained well, but it's the stone pathway and the strings of lights that make this the romantic setting Allie was gunning for. The view of the sunset behind where Charity stands makes this the perfect spot.

It's my favorite view.

Jadon comes through next, carrying the rings for his parents with extreme caution. Lucas smiles down at him with pride and I take the rings from Jadon before tossing the small pillow over to Lucas' dad.

Lucas kneels down and hugs Jadon. The small crowd oohs and ahhs at the gesture, and I know it's genuine between Lucas and his son when they hold each other. "Go sit with grandpa, buddy, okay?"

Jadon hops over to sit rather than stand with us. There's no flower girl here, so everyone stands just waiting for Allie and Tom to walk through last.

"There she is, man."

I know what Allie looks like, so I watch Lucas instead. It's like he sees nothing else when he finds her. She and that kid have him wrapped around their fingers, and Allie is just seeing it.

His mouth falls open, and she hypnotized Lucas just by the slow walk toward him.

"She's beautiful, man."

He doesn't even respond to me.

Albeit, I never pictured Allie the kind to show off her legs and a bit of cleavage in her wedding gown. The girl seemed more like she would have everything covered or less standout, but Allie pulls it off like she was made for the spotlight she's never stepped into. Lucas, who has always been in the spotlight, looks more like a deer caught in the headlights.

It's funny watching his life stop just because he found her. She's already knocked him off his game, but Allie has only just started to change his world.

Tom hands Allie over and takes his seat after telling both Allie and Lucas he loves them. Ever the perfect father.

With a shaky voice, Lucas tries to choke out a hello and trips over his own tongue, trying to tell her how beautiful she is. Allie sobs a little and no one can understand what the fuck language she used just to say hi back.

Clyde smiles and carries on with the proceedings. Lucas lies about allergies twice while wiping his eyes, and Allie manages to not fuck up her makeup.

Both of them say "I do" a little too enthusiastically, but it's so disgustingly sweet and them.

"I pronounce you husband and wife." Clyde sighs and smiles at them both. "You may kiss your bride."

Lucas takes Allie in his arms, bends her backward so he's the one balancing them, and kisses her. Allie's foot lifts and toes point toward me. I never took her for the spiked heel type, either. She's just full of surprises today.

I glance up at Charity at the same time that she looks up at me. For a second, the malice is nonexistent. I don't know what I did to piss her off this bad, but I wish I could take it back.

Everyone claps for Lucas and Allie as they stand back up with puffy lips and euphoria in their faces. They both have stupid grins and my cheeks hurt just watching them smile.

Clyde chimes in from behind them. "May I present to you all for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Lucas Kennedy."

Nah.

It wouldn't be me if I didn't do this. At the top of my lungs, and with my hands cupped around my mouth, I shout what everyone is thinking. "That's Mr. and Mrs. Lucas and Allie freaking Kennedy!"

Lucas elbows me in the stomach and sweeps up his wife, rushing Allie down the pathway toward the doors. Everyone files out to follow them into the reception. Although, the reception was to the left, and the newlyweds veer to the right, so I'm guessing he's got other plans for the moment.

Desperate fucker. I don't blame him, though.

"Come on, Cherry, I'll escort you to the reception. I'll even dance with you, girl, and I'll be respectful for the first one." I wink and wiggle my brows at her. "Come on, señorita, you show me your moves, I'll show you mine."

She rolls her eyes and walks off in front of me. More like a saunter. Before I head in behind her, I make a quick call to check on my mom. She doesn't get out much. She's settled for the evening, and I don't have to stop by, so I'm free to do me tonight.

Charity won't bite, so I'll swing by the open bar inside and scroll through my contacts to see if any of my regulars are free tonight.

"Lovely couple, aren't they?" A black suit steps out from the shadows. Clean haircut, shaven face. Dark red hair. Angular jaw. Middle-aged, probably near fifty. No wedding ring, but that means nothing. He looks like a family man to me. His appearance and demeanor scream East Coast, and his soft, watered down accent gives it away.

Boston.

He holds a hand out to me. "Lawrence Baker."

"Joel," I say, taking his hand. "You with the bride's family?" I know every single person here, and I know for a fact there isn't a Lawrence Baker on the guest list.

I may look stupid, and that's fine. I know I'm anything but.

"I'm actually here for you." He maintains eye contact and holds that air around him. A stale aura of bureaucracy.

He's no civilian.

"Does the name Santiago Ortíz mean anything to you?"

Fuck. There went my night.

My heart damn near stops in my chest, but otherwise I know not to react on the outside. I haven't heard that name in a long time. I drop my voice low, almost dark, which is not my life anymore.

"Who do you work for?" He knows I'm a cop if he's asking me that name and if he sought me out. This man's affiliation could go either way. I have a gun on me, and a bag ready to run if I need to, but he's not threatening me.

Not yet, anyway.

Lawrence Baker nods and shows me his badge. "I work for my country, son." He pauses and clicks his tongue.

Charity's laugh carries through the door and I catch her walking around under some guy's arm. Lawrence follows my line of sight right to her and then turns back to me. He would have seen our interaction a moment ago, so there's no hiding that.

I should have known I couldn't run from this. I wonder how much this guy knows about me and my past.

One word—a name—from his lips and I know he knows everything about me.

"Julio, how would you like to serve your country?"