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  Leaning her head on my shoulder, she lets out a breath. “I know, baby, but we have to trust that she knows what she’s doing. And if it all comes crashing down in a heap of hell, then you know what? We will be there to catch her and help mend her wounds.”

  “And then we kill him.”

  “You’re damn right, we will,” she says, and I laugh as I wrap my arms around her.

  “I can’t wait to marry you tomorrow,” I whisper against her hair as I watch as Claire’s hands cup that kid’s face.

  “Me neither. Are you sure you want to marry me?”

  I scoff, tipping her chin up so she’s facing me. “I’ve waited my whole life to hear you say ‘I do’ when the preacher asks if you want to be my wife, so yeah, I think I am sure.”

  Grinning up at me, she runs her fingers along the hair on my jaw and I’m breathless, getting lost in her brown eyes. “Good,” she whispers. “’Cause I really don’t want to be left at the altar.”

  “No worries, sweet cakes. I’ll be the hot one in the tux.”

  “Good to know. I might have missed you,” she teases. “Marry Erik or something.”

  “Cold day in hell, lady,” I say sternly and she laughs.

  As she cuddles into me, I kiss her temple and whisper how much I love her. She giggles, running her nose along my jaw, basically making me the happiest man in the world. When Claire kisses the schmuck, I cringe and look down to find Reese watching me.

  “Don’t worry about her,” she says quietly. “I know it’s hard, and I know you want to jump in and tell her to take it slow, but did we take it slow the first time we met?”

  I chuckle as I shake my head. “No, we were at it like rabbits, which does not make me feel better, Reese.”

  She laughs as she shakes her head. “I meant that no, we didn’t take it slow, but our love was real. You never know. It could be real for them.”

  “Or it could be a train wreck.”

  She nods slowly. “You’re right, but let’s hope she’s found her true love.”

  “Why would we hope that?” I ask.

  “Because we want her to be happy.”

  “You’re right,” I concede, and she smiles.

  “I know, now make sure to remember that ’cause I’ll be right this whole marriage.”

  I scoff and shake my head before glancing back at where Claire stands wrapped up tightly in that kid’s arms. She’s looking up at him like he is her world, and the smile on her face is indescribable. She’s completely in love with him, and that scares the living shit out of me because, while I want her to be happy, I want her to be safe, and I don’t know if giving her heart to this kid is the safe route.

  Can I trust him?

  Chapter 37

  Claire

  “You ready?” I ask as Phillip paces in the room across the hall from Reese. I should be in there helping Reese get ready, but she has her mom, Harper, and Piper fussing over her. I was completely dressed in my long blue dress that hugs every curve when something inside me told me to check on Phillip. I’m glad I did. He’s sweating bullets and is white as a sheet.

  “Yeah. I got this.”

  “Then why do you look like you’re about to pass out?”

  He cuts me a look and expels a long breath. “Because I’m nervous. What if she decides she doesn’t want to do this and runs out? She’s unpredictable! You know that.”

  I smile as I lace my fingers and lean on my elbows. “You’re right, but I know she loves you and she wants this. I’m pretty sure she didn’t put us through all this wedding crap to bail on ya.”

  “Yeah, true,” he says, wiping his face for the tenth time with a towel. “You look beautiful, by the way,” he says when he glances up at me. “So beautiful.”

  I smile, my face cheek warming with color as I shrug. “Thanks. Wait till you see Reese. She’s stunning.”

  A goofy grin comes across his face. “I can’t wait.”

  I love how much he loves her. His love for Reese is soul-deep and so beautiful. I’m lucky to be on the receiving end of his love too because Phillip loves hard and with all his heart.

  He lets out another breath and says, “Aren’t you supposed to be helping her get ready or something?”

  “She has help. Figured I’d sit in here with you for a minute.”

  “Making sure I don’t pass out?”

  “Yeah, told you you’re looking a little white.”

  He scoffs as he nods. “I didn’t think I’d be this nervous.”

  “This is a huge deal. You finally got her to commit to only you.”

  He smiles. “She’s always been mine, just hardheaded as all hell and didn’t want to admit it.”

  “Very true,” I agree and he smiles.

  “You’re a good kid, Claire. You know that?”

  I grin as I squeeze my fingers together. “I was raised by the greatest parents in the world.”

  Closing the distance between us, he hugs me tightly, squeezing me so hard that I can’t breathe. With his lips at my ear, he says, “I love you, Claire, so much, and I am so proud of you.”

  “I love you too, Phillip.”

  “And remember when we’re in the Hunger Games, I’ll die for you.”

  “Thanks,” I say and then I start to laugh so hard it hurts, but I don’t let him go. There was a time when I declared that I would kill him in the Hunger Games, but I think we both knew that wasn’t true. I continue to hold him tight, fighting away the tears because I don’t want to mess up the makeup that took forever to apply. I also know that if I start crying, he probably will too, and I can’t handle his tears. I’ll come undone, and I already don’t think I’ll be able to hold it together during the wedding. There is something about a man crying that guts me, so I’m going to pray that Phillip doesn’t lose it.

  Pulling away, he kisses my cheek and says, “You like that kid, don’t you?”

  I smile. “Yeah, I do.”

  He lets out a long breath, his eyes locked on mine. He’s giving me that “I don’t want to accept you have boobs” look, and I don’t know what to make of it. “The main thing I have to remember is that I want you to be happy, and because of that, I’m gonna be nice to him.”

  A grin cracks across my face. “Oh, how sweet of you.”

  He sets me with a look. “But the moment he hurts you, Claire, he’s dead.”

  I laugh again, nodding my head. “I wouldn’t expect anything else.”

  “I hope it doesn’t happen though,” he admits.

  “Me neither,” I say, letting out a long breath. “I love him a lot.”

  “Just be careful, kiddo.”

  “I know,” I say and a knock comes at the door.

  Looking over at it, Phillip says, “Come in.”

  The door opens and in comes a man about the same height as Phillip. He looks a lot like Phillip – the same blue eyes, blond hair, and bone structure – but I have never seen him before. Looking at Phillip, confused, I’m about to ask who it is, but Phillip’s face is white again, shocked.

  “Miles? What are you doing here?” he says, letting me go and walking toward the man.

  “Came for the wedding. Reese invited me.”

  “Oh shit, it’s great to see you,” he says and then they hug, awkwardly, I might add. “I’m so glad you could make it.”

  “Yeah, me too. I didn’t know if I should come. My dad – our dad – wasn’t too happy about it.”

  Our dad? What the hell?

  “Phillip?” I ask, and they both look at me.

  “Oh, um, Miles, this is my niece, Claire. She was my sister Rochelle’s daughter,” Phillip says, bringing me toward them. “Claire, this is my half brother, Miles.”

  Shocked, I meet his gaze and he gives me a half smile. “So are you my uncle?”

  “No, he’s my half brother. We have the same dad, not the same mom,” Phillip says, a grimace on his face.

  “Oh,” I say, looking back at Miles.

  “It’s nice to meet you,