He's My Brother's Best Friend and My Enemy, This Can't Be Good!

My parents had surprised us all by showing up a week early. Their original flight plan had them flying in the morning of the rehearsal dinner, but mom said she couldn’t do that to poor Casssadee. Another bullshit lie if you ask me. Mom just wanted to control the final details of the wedding. Cass was pleased at first until she realized what mom was trying to do.

Cass and Brittany, her maid of honor, had been finishing up the center pieces when mom and dad showed up to the house. The minute mom saw what they were doing she started complaining about the arrangements the girls had just spent a week putting together. Luckily, Cass was never the person to change something because someone else didn’t like it. She simply dismissed my mom’s rude comments and continued on.

I wasn’t home when they first arrived. Coach had called a mandatory Saturday practice for everyone. After the practice Parker, Max and I went out to eat after picking up Ava. No one had told me mom and dad were home, I had no warning text that day. There was no unordinary car sitting in the driveway considering they took a taxi from the airport. I didn’t expect anything to be waiting inside that shouldn’t be. With that said Parker and I walked into our home hands intertwined, only to be met by the faces of my parents sitting on our couch.

“There’s our new football team captain,” my dad smiled. Clearly he hadn’t taken notice the whole fingers interlocked thing that was going on.

“Hey dad,” I said cheerfully, letting go of Parker’s hand to go hug him. After greeting my dad I walked over to hug my mom. She was eyeing me with so much suspicion in her eyes. “Hi mom.”

“Are you with Parker?” she whispered into my ear. No hi Josylne, no sorry we missed your birthday nope just are you with Parker. And this is why my mother was getting on my nerves lately. I simply nodded before pulling away from the hug to see her face. At first it looked like confusion but it soon turned to bliss. “Did you hear that honey,” my mom said to my dad, “the kids are dating!”

Parker looked at me quickly. Before this surprise visit Parker and I had made a deal to sit both of our parents down after the wedding to tell them. I mouthed sorry to him before looking to face my parents. The two of them were immersed in a conversation about how soon they’d be giving all their children away for marriage. I almost puked. I ran upstairs to get away from the scene that was taking place downstairs.

“Woah Jos slow down,” Cass said stopping me from running into my room.

“I’m so so so sorry Cass!”

“Wh-what do you mean?” Cass asked confused.

“I might just have ruined all of your glory by walking into the house holding Parker’s hand but in my defense I didn’t know mom was coming today and I didn’t think she’d be so happy and god I’m such an idiot I’m so so-”

“Jos breathe!” Cass said cutting me off. She pulled me into Lex’s room and that’s when she told me how the morning had started. Cass was relieved that some of mom’s attention was diverted from her.

The rest of the week followed a similar pace. By day two mom had managed to get on everyone’s nerves in the house, including Lexis who was so fed up with mom trying to control her game of make believe she sat her self in the corner of the room. Mom of course didn’t tell anyone about this exchange so when I found Lexis an hour later staring at a blank wall I was a bit irritated. I ended up taking Lexis to get ice cream with Miranda tagging along because she herself had a run in with my mother.

***

“You guys, we need to leave or we’re going to be late!” Trevor’s voice boomed from downstairs.

“We’re coming!” I yelled back, swiping one more pass of lipstick across my lips before descending the stairs Miranda in tow.

Once everyone was downstairs we headed out the door and piled into our cars. We needed to head over to the wedding venue to practice the ceremony before heading out to dinner. Since we were all going to the same place, we didn’t all have to drive. Instead the four of us piled into Parker’s truck, while Cass and Trev took Lex in their car and our sets of parents followed.

Parker and Miranda’s parents flew in this morning, like my parents were supposed to. Before I was even up out of bed my mother had told his that we were a thing. Thankfully Parker’s mother wasn’t as high strong as mine and didn’t press the issue. At least there was one normal adult woman in my life.

We pulled into the parking lot of the venue entrance. Cass and Trevor weren’t very religious so it was only suiting that they get married somewhere other than a church. Cass had been dreaming about getting married in this quite garden that was owned by this small tea house. Once everyone was out of the car we headed inside to the area where the ceremony would be occurring.

We ran through the precession a couple of times, changing aisle partners and all that kind of stuff. Despite Cassadee’s major planning for this wedding she hadn’t thought about how she wanted everyone to walk down yet. It was decided that Trevor would walk down with his parents first, followed by Cass’s maid of honor and Trevor’s brother who was serving as his best man. The rest of the wedding party followed suit leaving ten second gaps between couples, she didn’t want a long drawn out wedding march. After a few trial and errors it was decided that Miranda would walk with Jayden and I would walk with Parker, not that either of us were complaining. Parker and I ended up being the last couple to march down. Lexis was obviously the flower girl and Cassadee didn’t want her waiting in the wings all by herself. After Parker and I were halfway down the aisle Lexis would follow suit, followed by Cass.

The rehearsal wasn’t too long. Cassadee was adamant on having a short ceremony so the rest of the time could be spent at the reception which was taking place in a hotel banquet room not too far from here. After we had finished we headed over to the restaurant for dinner. Cass and Trevor only wanted the wedding party at the rehearsal so the rest of their families were meeting them at the restaurant. The restaurant had one giant table set up for the entire family in a private room, I could only imagine how much it must have cost but Cassadee deserved it all. Cass and Trevor sat at the head of the table with everyone’s families mixed together. Somehow I ended up with Lexis seated next to me with Parker on the other side. I ended up switching with her so she cold sit in the middle of the two of us.

Most of the adults were busy in conversations. I tried to keep up with all of them but honestly I really didn’t care what they were saying. I could hear my mother’s voice clearly though as she bragged about her and my father’s accomplishments, not mentioning Cassadee once. Cass didn’t seem to mind, she was so caught up in the wedding mood that mom could have insulted her and she wouldn’t have heard. She kept looking at Trevor with this look of disbelief on her face it was so adorable.

Lexis was good for the first hour but as the dinner continued on she became bored. Parker and I tried to entertain her as best we could. We were doing a good job at it, until she got a little too excited and ended up knocking over her cup of water to climb into Parker’s lap, the water of course landed on my dress.

“Lex,” I whined quickly grabbing the cloth napkin to try to dry myself off.

“Sorry Josy,” she said while her eyes grew wide. She let go of Parker to climb into my lap and put her tiny arms around my neck.

I couldn’t help but smile. How was I suppose to stay mad at her? “It’s okay Lex,” I said placing a kiss on her cheek. I passed her back to Parker who was smiling at me before excusing myself to the bathroom to attempt to clean myself up.

“What are you doing in here?” I asked. Miranda had both hands on the counter top leaning over the sink.

“Trying to get some air,” she stated.

“Uh oh. Boyfriend troubles?” I asked. I hadn’t noticed anything different between Miranda and Jayden but I had been preoccupied taking care of the three year old.

“More like boyfriend’s parents trouble,” she sighed looking up at me.

“What did my mom do now?” I asked.

Miranda just shook her head. My mom had an act for making snide comments. She thought they were compliments but the receiver never did. In other words my mom was a class a bitch sometimes.

“Let me guess, she said something about how you look in your outfit?” I asked. Miranda simply nodded before going back to staring at herself in the reflection of the mirror. Miranda wasn’t the most confident girl in the world but since she’s started dating my brother she had grown to act like she was. “Mir don’t listen to her. You look so damn good in that dress. Plus, who cares what my mom says you’re not here to please her.”

“Thanks Jos,” she said hugging me. She took one last look in the mirror before heading to the door. She was almost out when she stopped and turned to me. “Parker hasn’t stopped looking at you all night,” she said smiling before leaving for good.

I returned to the table shortly after to find both seats next to mine vacant. It took a moment for me to realize that Parker was holding Lexis and talking to Cass. Cass handed him Lex’s bag before he walked over to where I was sitting.

“Cass wants us to take Lexis home,” he said. He carried Lexis to Trevor’s parents so she could say goodbye before heading towards the exit of the room. I quickly said bye to the people at the table before following him out of the restaurant and towards his car.

Parker handed the sleepy Lex to me before walking over to Cass’s car to get her car seat. He placed it in his truck before running back inside to give Trevor the keys of the car. While he did that I got Lex situated in the seat before climbing into mine. When we returned home Parker carried Lexis up to her room and put her to bed. I changed into my pajamas and cleaned my face before heading towards Parker’s room where I knew I would find him. His bathroom light was on indicating he was changing, I took this time to get myself comfortable in his bed once again.

“Your mom is going to murder you,” he said chuckling coming out of the bathroom. He climbed into the bed leaving me stuck between him and the wall his bed was pushed up against.

“I’m not sleeping in here. Don’t worry,” I stated.

“What ever you say babe,” he said pulling my close to him so that my head was resting on his shoulder.

Parker flicked on the television leaving it on whatever station it was previously on. We let the sound of the television fill the void in the room.

“Did Lexis go straight to bed?” I asked. Parker nodded before focusing his attention back on the television.

I couldn’t help but think that this could be Parker and I’s future in twenty years. Curled up in one bed watching television as our child sleeps in the room next door. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t excite me. To think that I could have a simple life like that, like the one Cassadee has, would be a dream come true.

“You know Lexis has you wrapped around her finger?” Parker questioned breaking the silence. I figured he was referring to the events at the restaurants which lead my dress to get soaked in water.

“Look who’s talking!” I joked back. Hoping to jog his memory that shortly before that she was climbing all over him, drawing crayons marks all over his hands.

Parker chuckled briefly before smiling at me. “You’re going to be the kind of mom that gives her children everything,” he said laughing.

“I only spoil Lex cause she’s my niece. I don’t have to be the authority figure,” I defended myself.

“So your saying you aren’t going to spoil your children?” he asked.

I just shrugged my shoulders in response. Of course I was going to spoil my children one day if I could. What kind of parent would you be if you didn’t give your children the world? They were little pieces of you.

“You’d be the best mom,” Parker said placing a kiss on my forehead. It didn’t take long for his forehead kiss to move to my cheek and then to my lips before finally landing on my neck.

“Don’t get any ideas,” I said pulling away from Parker. Things were getting a little to heated for my liking. Especially when my parents could be home any moment.

“Sorry,” he said before attacking my lips again. This time they stayed there as his hands ran up and down my back.

“Parker,” I warned again pulling away from him. Instead of staying where I was I climbed over him to get to the other side of the bed, the side that gave me direct access to his bedroom door. “Don’t make me leave,” I said guilting him into behaving.

“Fine,” he said pouting. It’s not that I didn’t like having Parker make out with me, it was just that I really didn’t want to show up to the wedding with something I couldn’t hide.

“You know you make a pretty good dad yourself,” I said trying to change the subject. Parker was always telling me how good of an aunt I was or how good of a mother I would make but I’d never returned the compliment.

“Dammit Josylne!” Parker exclaimed.

“What?” I flinched. Parker usually didn’t yell at my for no reason. In fact, he hadn’t yelled at me since we got back together.

“Sorry I didn’t meant to yell at you,” he said lowering his voice to a reasonable level. “It’s just...Lexis might have you wrapped around her finger but fuck...you have me wrapped around yours.”

I was caught off guard. I knew I meant a lot to Parker, he never failed to tell me how much he loved me. To hear Parker say that I had him wrapped around my finger was different. It made me feel, even more important. This was Parker we were talking about. Parker was usually the one who had girls wrapped around his finger.

“You’re such an idiot,” I said before kissing him. This time I retrained control over our lips.

***

The morning of the wedding was a bit chaotic. By nine in the morning our house was full of Cass’s bridesmaids, which wouldn’t have been so bad if the boys of the house had already left to go to where they were all supposed to meet. Thankfully Trevor, Jayden and Parker left shortly before the hair and makeup stylist came to get us ready.

Cassadee had wanted all her bridesmaids to be comfortable. The dress she ended up decided on for us was a mid length, strapless, cranberry colored dress. It was gorgeous. Cassadee, being her typical self, demanded that we all wear converse instead of heels. The only demand she had for us was to keep our hair simple. We all ended up wearing our hair down with slight curls. Miss Lexis had a dress in a similar style to ours, along with her very own converse.

Cassadee’s dress was magnificent. It was on off white dress with black accents across her chest down her torso and across the bottom of the dress. The top was form fitting before releasing out into a tame princess type gown below her waist. It was as if the dress was designed just for her. Cassadee paired her dress with converse that she had custom made with the wedding date on them.

By the time we reached the venue Cassadee was a basket case of nerves. There was still about an hour before the wedding but she wanted to be there in case anything happened. Thankfully the tea house had closed for the day allowing them to rent out two rooms one for the bride and one for groom before the ceremony started. Cassadee wanted to keep some typical wedding traditions so she refused to see Trevor in her dress. She had only seen him briefly that morning before he left to get ready.

By default I became the message goer between our room and the boys room, leaving Brittany in charge of keeping Cassadee’s emotions under control. Lexis ended up tagging along with me most of the day. There was a small window in the hallway that connected the two rooms that looked out onto the garden terrace. At first it had just been empty chairs as the guests hadn’t arrived yet. As the date got closer though the chairs filled up. They were soon completely filled.

With five minutes left until the wedding precession started Cassadee began to grow emotional. She attempted to give a speech before giving us our bridesmaids gifts but failed. Brittany had to fan Cass’s eyes for the next two minutes to assure that no tears would fall ruining her make up before Trevor could see her. Before we knew it the coordinator lady was getting us all lined up in the hallway leading out toward the terrace. Cass stayed in the room, only popping her head out when Trevor had began to walk down the aisle towards the front of the terrace.

By this point even I was nervous and a bit emotional. Brittany and Lucas began walking down the aisle and soon the next couple would follow suit. After three more couples it would be mine and Parker’s turn. Miranda and Jayden were the couple in front of us so currently the four of us were distracting each other. Before I knew it the two of them were heading down the aisle, giving Parker and I ten-seconds before we had to follow suit. I turned back quickly to reassure Lexis that she could walk down the aisle by herself before walking out of the door and into the terrace with my arm hooked around Parker’s. I couldn’t help but smile as I walked down the aisle. As Parker and I reached the end of the aisle we split apart going to our respective side of the stage.

Lexis was halfway down the aisle when I saw her. She was throwing the rose petals in an organized fashion, surely Cassadee had reminded her to make it look nice before she walked down the aisle. She reached the end of the aisle and headed towards Trevor before he hugged her and told her to go towards me. I bent down briefly to tell her how well she did before standing back up, holding my bouquet in one hand and Lexis’s hand in the other.

Cassadee walked down the aisle shortly after. She had been very adamant about walking herself down by herself, something my mom fought her on until the first step was taken. I couldn’t help but feel tears building behind my eyes looking at my older sister. She was finally getting her fairytale. Trevor’s face was priceless.

The ceremony was quick with each of them reading their own vows before bringing Lexis into the mix, acknowledging that she was a big part of the wedding. Soon the newly married couple and Lexis walked off down the aisle, the rest of us followed. The rest of the guest headed over to the reception area while the bridal party and parents stayed behind to take photographs. Once that was done we all piled into the cars and drove over to the reception location. We assumed our positions at the bridal party table and awaited for Trevor and Cassadee to make their grand entrance. Once inside they opened the night up with their first dance before dinner was served.

After that the wedding turned on to a full fledged dance party, just like Cassadee wanted. Cassadee and Trevor hadn’t left the dance floor once. Her smile never left her face. It was the cutest thing ever. Of course both of their parents were quite emotional as well. A little while later into the ceremony the toasts began. Brittany's was hilarious as was Lucas’s. Each of the parents spoke and that was heart wrenching but nothing could have killed me more than hearing little Lexis say that she loved her parents and was happy they were finally having a party. It was the cutest damn thing.

The night continued with typical wedding traditions. The tossing of the bouquet and garter, the money dance, and all the other fun games and things like that. The cutting of the cake was entertaining as both of them shoved their pieces into each others faces.

I didn’t dance too much throughout the day as I was preoccupied with watching Lexis. Trevor’s parents ended up coming and getting her from me as the night was approaching an end so I could have fun. Of course Miranda pulled me onto the dance floor and her and I and even Cass jumped around to songs, being our typical selves. I hadn’t danced with Parker all night so when a slow song came on Parker wasted no time in stealing me away from his sister to dance with him.

“You look rather handsome tonight,” I said, placing my hands around his neck as we swayed back and forth to the music.

“And you look gorgeous as usual,” he said back which earned a slight slap from me.

Parker’s arms were wrapped tightly around my waist as we swayed back and forth to the sound of the music. I had lessened the grip of my arms around him so I could focus on his face. He was just so handsome. Standing up on my tiptoes I placed a kiss on his lips.

“Don’t you want to get married?” he asked.

I had to use my hands to steady my balance since I was still on my tip toes when he asked. I wasn’t sure why he was asking this question. I use to play pretend wedding all the time as a child. It wasn’t a surprise.

“Of course I do, but not at 17,” I said.

“Well, obviously,” Parker added, “I don’t think I could handle seeing you walk down the aisle in a gorgeous dress without crying like Trev did.”

If Parker wasn’t holding me so tight I would have ended up on the floor. For a moment I though I had heard him wrong. There was no way Parker had just phrased that. Surely he said he would cry when his bride walked down the aisle. Not me. But then he said it again when I uttered a faint ‘what’ and I knew that I had heard him right. Parker had said he would marry me and not only that but would cry when it happened. I had no idea how I wasn’t crying.

“You’d marry me?” I managed to stutter out in disbelief.

“Is that so hard to believe?” He asked. I shrugged my shoulders not sure of what to say. “Josylne there’s no one else on this planet that I would want to marry,” he said looking at me with those damn blue eyes.

“I really do have you wrapped around my finger,” I smirked before kissing him.