Ghost Writer (Raven Maxim Book 1) (57 page)

“That’s one reason why I waited a few days before calling you. I knew once I took that step, there was no going back… You were the one for me but I needed to be sure I was strong enough to love again. Everything about my life in the past year has been about second chances, and you’re no different. I didn’t realize how badly I needed you until after our first date, and I felt so empty and alone when you went back home. That was a changing point for me. Once you connect with someone on the level that we have, there is no way to forget that… so I want to thank you for being my best friend.”

“Uh! Wait a minute now. I never agreed to be replaced!” Mike interrupted, his finger in the air. Another wave of laughter carried on the air.

Sloan grinned, gave him a shoulder nudge, and continued.

“And thank you for putting up with my stubborn ways and loving me anyway. For being encouraging, for settin’ me straight when I needed it, and letting me just…
be
… when I needed that, too. I couldn’t have made a more perfect person for me. God exceeded my expectations when he made you, placed you in front of me and said, ‘Sloan, here is my gift to you.’ I love you, Emerald.”

He kissed her forehead as tears streamed down her cheeks and applause broke out from their family and friends. Then, they both turned back to the minister and finished the ceremony.

“I now pronounce you, husband and wife! Mr. Steele, you may kiss your bride!”

Sloan took Emerald into his arms but before he could press his lips against hers, the woman rose on her tippy toes, squeezing his cheeks and dragging him close. Her soft, plush lips pressed against his, practically knocking him off his feet. They lit each other’s fires, their hands roaming along each other’s backs in a frenzy of bursting passion. He savored the sweet taste of her kiss as she slowly pulled away from him, sporting a naughty twinkle in her eye. Everyone got to their feet and applauded them.

“My stomach is growlin’ like a wolf at the moon! I’m famished!” he whispered in her ear over all the noise and commotion.

“We have to first shake everyone’s hands, Sloan, and take some photos,” she reminded as people began to line up.

“Awww, man! We’ve done all of this before!” His brows furrowed in annoyance. “Can’t we just have ’em meet us at the reception hall?”

“Sloan, do you have any home training whatsoever? Were you at the wedding rehearsal or was that just your stunt double?”

“Well, yes, I was there, but I—”

“Ya or Na?” Her brow rose in frustration.

“…Ya…” He grimaced.

“Well then, relax. This won’t take long and there are some snacks in the limo, actually.”

“Like what?” Like a robot moving on cue, he began to shake people’s hands as they marched up one by one, offering congratulatory words.

“All of your favorites: cold beer, beef jerky, peanut butter and cheese crackers, fried Twinkies and—”

“Fried Twinkies?! You got the fried Twinkies?! I know for
sure
now that I married the right girl! I was second guessing it when you gave Sugar the tambourine, but you redeemed yourself.”

His excitement sent him through the roof, but Emerald simply rolled her eyes and continued to act her typical gracious self with the guests. He was filled with such happiness, believing his excitement was earned and would never end. That is, until someone he’d forgotten about just seeing made her way through the line.

“Hello, Sloan… you look so handsome. Congratulations.” He looked down at the all too familiar porcelain fingers of the woman, noting a slight coldness in her silky touch.

“Thank you.” He didn’t smile. Didn’t blink.

“Hello.” Emerald leaned forward, her shoulder brushing against him. He wasn’t convinced it was an accident. “You must be Katherine, but you go by Katie, right?” Emerald took the woman’s hand into her own and shook it…all while wearing a big, beautiful smile on her face. Worst of all, it appeared sincere.

“Yes, yes I am!” Katie’s blue eyes sparkled right before she took Emerald in a tight embrace.

What tha hell is going on here?!

“You’re such a beautiful bride!”

“Thank you!”

“I’m so happy for you and Sloan. Our daughter Michelle has spoken so highly of you, and I look forward to getting to know you, Emerald.”

Before his wife could respond to the madness playing out before him, he interrupted their little sorority meet-and-greet. “Why would you need to get to know my wife, Katie? She’s not your friend and neither am I. Our kids are grown. Can you leave, please? Nobody wants you here.” He said the shit so rudely, and meant every damn word of it.

“Sloan!” Emerald stomped her foot. “That’s no way to talk to somebody!”

“She’s not somebody…”

Emerald rolled her eyes. “Katie, you stay, okay? Join us at the reception. I insist.”

His ex-wife tossed him a hateful glance, threw on a big award-winning Botox smile, and marched away.

“Boy, that was ridiculous! Embarrassing me like that! What the hell is the matter with you?!” Emerald nudged him in the shoulder, her face all twisted and tight like a wadded up newspaper.

“Ridiculous? What’s ridiculous is that she is here at our wedding in the first damn place, uninvited I might add! You just summoned a demon to come and play! I hope you’re happy!”

“I thought you didn’t believe in demons?” She smirked before turning away and giving someone he didn’t know a big hug.

“How could I not after being married to her?! The better question is, how would you like it if your ex husband was here and I did that, huh?!” He shoved an accusatory finger in her direction. He couldn’t believe they were having an argument on their wedding day, and worse yet, in front of all of their guests, despite people trying to pretend they weren’t witnessing the tiff. He was certain the press was going to have a field day.

Leave it to Katie to stir up some shit! At least she’s consistent.

“My ex husband could have come if he wanted but we rarely talk. As you know, we’re not on bad terms. We’re not on any terms actually unless it pertains to Nikki.” She shrugged. “And we’re both fine with that. Anyway, whether you like it or not, we’re a blended family now. I’m going to be courteous to her because she is the mother of your children! Disrespecting her would also be disrespecting them!” Her voice drew lower, the tone more stern.

“I didn’t ask you to insult her, just not beg her to move into our guest bedroom, then offer to serve her breakfast in bed is all. You rolled out the red carpet!”

Emerald sighed and turned away from him as if he’d said nothing at all. They went through the motions, greeting and thanking their guests, smiles wide that proved painful as he put on a show. The song and dance seemed to never end. Sloan fell into some strange matrix that included pretending they couldn’t wait to open the blenders and coffee makers that some of the guests proudly stated they’d purchased for them.

Sloan merely hoped the receipts were included in the carefully wrapped, glossy wrapping paper so he could get the cash instead, but he kept that little plan to himself. After they’d taken a few more photos and he’d laughed at some jokes he didn’t find very funny, he took the woman into his arms and planted a firm kiss on her lips. Every muscle in his body tensed as he deeply inhaled her heavenly, sweet scent. Eyes closed, he rested his chin on her head.

“I apologize for how I acted, baby. She just threw me off guard is all. I didn’t expect her here. I’ll be nice for the rest of the evening.” He slowly released her and looked into her eyes, hoping she realized he was sincere.

Emerald nodded in understanding and ran her fingers through his hair, brushing it back into place.

“It’s all right.” Her lips lifted in a half smile. “You’re allowed to be human, even on your wedding day. Look.” She sighed heavily. “I need to go check on Aunt Sugar. She’s quiet—that means something horrible might be happening. I’ll be right back, okay?” He nodded and gave her a friendly little wave as he watched her saunter away, her ass so cute in the sexy dress that had been created by one of the top local designers.

“You
definitely
have a type.” He almost bit his tongue in half as a voice he dreaded gang busted against his eardrum. On a dime, he turned to find Katie standing to his right, her arms crossed and her all too familiar kitschy smirk on her face.

“You and her are absolutely
nothing
alike.”

“I doubt that…” She widened her smile. “And anyway, our features are similar… same eye shape, high cheek bones, our hair styles even … and our body type is definitely the same. I remember seeing photos of some of the girlfriends you had before you and I made it official, too. Yeah, you have a type.”

“Is this your version of an icebreaker?” He shrugged. “Let’s say it’s true—so what? You’re lucky, Katie. I just promised my wife I’d be good tonight. Don’t make me have to renege on that guarantee to her only five minutes in.”

On a sigh, the woman inched a bit closer to him. Her platinum blond, shoulder length hair was bone straight, parted down the middle and flipped over one shoulder. She looked her usual picture perfect self in a pale pink jacket and matching skirt, her jewelry a cluster of diamonds and pearls sparkling under the ceiling lights.

“So, tell me, Katie… why’d you come?”

“I’m here to show support.”

“But you weren’t invited. I don’t want ya here and I don’t need your support, your blessing, none of that, okay?”

“For your information, Mr. Steele, Michelle invited me and since Emerald told her she could invite anyone she wanted, she chose
me
.” She pointed to herself. “I’m really surprised you’re still so angry with me after all of this time. Jesus! You’re a pro at holding a grudge.” She grimaced, a mixture of hurt and anger spread in her expression now.

“I’m not angry with you, Katie. I just don’t
like
you.” He took a deep breath and remembered what he’d promised Emerald. “Look, I’m just going to let it go, all right? It’s a beautiful night. My wedding was great and in a few minutes, we’ll be leaving to have a blast at the reception party. So with that said,” he said, his smile tight as he linked his hands, “since you’re here, you might as well stay. I didn’t know Michelle had invited you, so now that I do, it’s fine.”

“Well, I didn’t think you’d object and I assumed she’d told you. I guess I should’ve asked first.”

“It’s all right, seriously.” He waved her off as if not giving a shit. A part of him didn’t care at all anymore, but another part of him did. Something about her mere presence smeared dirt on the day… but maybe the smudges were all in his mind. It was hard to deal with Katie at times, as she never seemed truly sorry for her transgressions. Perhaps he sought closure where none would ever exist. But that was life, and besides, he’d made his own closure, and it would simply have to suffice. He hated waving that damn olive branch, trying to make peace, keep quiet, but Emerald would be cross if he continued to take petty swats at the woman and now, what difference did it make? What was done was done, and he’d mulled this enough. Letting the dust of his thoughts settle, he came to a final decision.

“See you at the reception,” Katie said. She turned to walk away, then paused, glancing at him from over her shoulder, perfectly shaped brow arched in question. “Hey, did you get my email?”

He simply glared at her, not wanting to kick up mud again with a snarky remark.

“You got it but didn’t read it…” She smirked and shook her head, knowing him all too well. “Read it, Sloan… seriously.” He looked about the big place, surprised to find himself all alone. Not physically, but a sense of alienation overcame him. In some strange, offbeat way, it was comforting. Voices and sounds abounded, his friends and family milling about, some making their way through the front doors of the church to their parked cars, to drive away to the reception venue. He stood there thinking about all that had transpired, the incidents that allowed him to have such a day, the psychological and transcendent transformation he’d undergone.

The dead flower shop suddenly made sense to him at that moment, too…

The dearly departed could live again in some capacity after all, even if their continued existence lay wedged between the pages of a book. He turned to the large, gold crucifix hanging high on the wall and bowed his head before it.

“Thank you, God. I’ve got a lot to be grateful for. Please forgive me for the terrible thoughts I just had concerning my ex-wife… I’m sure you didn’t appreciate the ‘B’ word that entered my mind when I first saw her tonight.”

Emerald made her way back towards him, this time with Aunt Sugar in tow. The old woman’s face was turned upside down, as if someone had stepped on her baby toe. The tight, hideous scowl somehow seemed tinged with amusement—at least on Emerald’s part. They got close. It was then that he noticed the wiry, white hair poking out of her chin.

“Are you ready, baby?” Emerald turned to him. “The limo is waiting for us outside.”

“A limo?!” Aunt Sugar squealed. “Well, I can’t wait tuh—”

“No, no, Sugar,” Emerald’s cheeks deepened with an embarrassed blush. “It’s just for Sloan and me. You’re ridin’ with Nikki and Mya.”

The old woman’s jaw dropped and her eyes grew big. “I don’t wanna ride wit’ Nikki and that silly little girl!”

“Sugar, this is not the time and place for this mess!” Emerald put her hand on her hip. “I’m not about to argue with you up in here. Nikki drove you here, so what’s wrong with riding with her again to the reception hall?”

“What’s wrong with it? I’ll tell you what’s wrong with it! She had all that crazy music playin’ in the car, songs ’bout spinners ’nd rims ’nd shit! All the windows were down and the wind was blowin’ so hard I had to put my hand on my head to keep my damn wig from whooshin’ away! I paid almost ten dollahs for dis wig, I ain’t got money to burn, and you know I ain’t got no damn hair, Emerald. I would have been sittin’ up here in this church lookin’ like a black roll on deodorant and her wife so damn goofy! Mya be laughin’ all the time and makin’ googly eyes at Nikki like she ain’t never seen no breasts befo’e! One mo’e minute with them two and I’ll go crazy. Why don’t you and big Sloan ride with ’em and I take the limo? Seems only fair to me.”