Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 106839 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106839 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
He comes over to me, placing his hands on my hips, looking down at me like I might really be his bride. “It’s not stupid, Rosie. And it’s only as fake as we let it be. I mean, Simon is a real preacher. If we say the vows and mean them, then is it fake?”
I was holding my breath for that and now it comes out in a rush. “I don’t know.”
He leans down and kisses me. “Come on, let’s get ready. I’ve never been so excited to get to a Revival in all my life.”
“Wait! What about Cross? Oh, my God, we have to go get him or he’ll miss it!”
“Nah. You’re crazy. Collin’s bringing him. Lowyn’s coming too.”
“You knew this was a wedding?”
“I didn’t. But I got a text from Collin this morning before we left the Dixie Yonder and he said he and Lowyn would be there and bring Cross.”
I relax and my whole body gets warm. It’s not real. Amon never asked me to marry him and anyway, it’s just a show. But I agree, it’s as real as we make it. And maybe we won’t be signing no marriage license when we’re done, but I’m sold on this man. I’m in.
Amon and I are barely dressed and ready when the call to Revival sounds. And then, a moment later, he’s got my hand and he’s leading me out the door. As soon as we get outside a horn honks and I about lose my mind when I see Collin and Lowyn sitting in Old Man Hunt’s 1933 Rolls Royce Phantom II.
Again, this is the car we always use for special scenes like this so it shouldn’t feel special. But it does. Because all of this fuss is being made over Amon and me. And I have never ridden in the Phantom as the star, only as a friend of the star.
Amon laughs. “Well, this looks familiar.”
Collin winks at him. “Doesn’t it though?”
Amon looks around. “Where’s Ryan and Nash? They didn’t wanna come?”
“I told them about the little problem with the mine,” Collin says. “And Ryan’s eager to tear that thing apart. So he’s on that today and Nash is helping.”
“Perfect.” Then Amon opens the back door of the car and beckons me to get in with a flourish of his hand. “Your chariot, my bride.”
“Oh, Rosie!” Lowyn exclaims. “You look amazing in the dress. A Revival wedding. We haven’t had one of these in years!” She winks at me. “I’m jealous.”
I get in the car and scoot over to make room for Amon, but I wink at Lowyn. “Now you know how I felt when you had your big day.”
Lowyn lets out one of those blissful sighs, like she’s picturing her big day right now. “What a lovely time we had. Didn’t we, Collin?”
I catch a side view of Collin smirking as he looks back at Amon. “I hope you’ve got your dancin’ shoes on.”
Amon just puts his arm around me and tugs me a little closer to him, whisperin’ in my ear, “This is gonna be a great day.”
“Oh! Where’s Cross?”
“I dropped him off earlier,” Collin says. “He needed a costume. But don’t worry, he’ll be there, Rosie. He wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“I hope he hasn’t been giving you any trouble out at the compound,” I say.
Lowyn turns in her seat to look at me. “Oh, he’s such a nice boy. And he’s been outside the whole time, doing things with the men and the dogs. I think he really likes it out there, Rosie.”
I let out a sigh of relief. “I imagine he does.”
The next thing I know we’re pulling into the special parking space outside of the security tent and everything starts happening at once.
All my girls are waiting for me, and they rush the car. April, Taylor—who is probably extra relieved that she is not the bride today—MaisieLee, MacyLynn, Bryn, and all of Amon’s sisters, Eden, Angel, Vangie, and Halo.
On the men’s side it’s Grimm—also probably relieved that he is not the groom—Ethan Sardis, Jacob Wonder, Cross, and all my brothers, Pate, Rush, Ash, and Lecter.
Amon grabs hold of my hand just as the girls open my door and start tugging on me and his men open his door and start tugging on him. But Amon and I lock eyes and hold tight to each other for as long as we can.
Then we break apart, laughing. And we are ushered into our respective spaces for some pre-wedding antics.
Revival weddings are a big deal and if you’re lucky enough to be a guest at one, then you get all the bells and whistles that come with it. This includes the reception, of course, but also the bride and groom parties. Which is just a little celebration before the main event so all the ladies can see my dress up close and all the men can toast Amon while gently chiding him on the new ball and chain.