Downstairs, where we all gather by the door and wait for the cars toe around to the front of the pce, is the best kind of chaos. I''m beaming ear-to-ear, a cheeseburger in one hand and a ss of champagne in the other, as I chat with my family, greeting everyone and exchangingpliments.


    None of thepliments are false, actually, because everyone looks amazing. All the men are in tuxes, and while my dad and Rafe wear tuxedos like they were born for them, nobody outdoes Uncle Roger and Jesse for re. Jesse''s suitcoat tonight is made out of an incredibly gorgeous wine-colored velvet with ckpels. It would swallow anyone else, but Jesse''s personality can handle it. "Hello, gorgeous cousin," he murmurs, pulling me close to give me a kiss on the cheek as he smirks at my cropped fur jacket. " What are you hiding under there?"


    "Oh, weapons," I I say, grinning and taking a big bite of my cheeseburger. "Vials of poison, a very small sniper rifle." I put my fingers up close to my face, pinched together, indicating the rifle''s approximate size.


    "Not a crossbow?" he asks, raising an eyebrow, his hands slipped into his pockets.


    "No, I''m kind of over those at the moment," I say with a sigh, tilting my head to the side. "Though I can''t imagine why." Jesseughs and pats me on the shoulder before moving over to the little buffet mom had set up by the door she always does this, wanting us to each have a bunch of greasy food before we go out to a party or an event so no one''s drinking on an empty stomach. And, despite being practical, it''s delicious.


    I continue to eat my burger and sip my champagne, letting my eyes drift over my family. I grin to see Markie standing with my dad and Rafe, pleased as hell to finally be allowed toe along to a big grown-up event like this. Ben and Daphne are raiding the buffet, I think a little shocked by it but enjoying it nheless. Juniper, meanwhile, is being extravagantly admired by Aunt Cora, who is stunning in an elegant navy-blue jumpsuit with wide-red legs that almost give the impression of a dress until you see her move.


    I''m suffused with happiness, thrilled to be here with everyone, except...


    Well, except my eyes keep moving to the door. Because there''s one person missing, and he''s precisely the one I''m waiting for.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    A bell rings by the pce''s main doors, letting us know that the cars are here, and my dad looks over at me with his mouth drawn into a thin line, a little worried. Because it''s time to go, and he''s well aware that Jackson''s missing.


    I wave to my dad, swallowing myst bite of cheeseburger, and head immediately for the door to the hall, intending to check Jackson''s guest suite to see if he''s ready-


    But there''s no need, because before I''ve even taken three steps, Jackson appears.


    And, as it so frequently does these days when I see him, my mouth drops open.


    But this time, it''s not a good thing.


    "Jacks!" I gasp, quickly closing the distance between un and looking worriedly over his jeans, his casual nnel button-down, the brown jacket draped over his arms. I mean, he looks good, but... "Why - where''s your tux!? Didn''t mom get you one!?" I look anxiously over my shoulder at the waiting crowd, some of whom have noticed Jackson''s appearance and look worriedly over at us, and some of whom are still oblivious.


    "Ariel," Jackson says, putting a hand out on my shoulder and smiling down at me. "No, she did, I just "


    "Well, why aren''t you wearing it!?"


    Jackson sighs, and holds my gaze, but he doesn''t say anything. It only takes me half a second to figure out the answer to my own question.


    "You''re noting?" I whisper, stepping closer to him so that the fur of my coat brushes against his chest, so that I''m staring up into his sapphire eyes.


    "Ariel," he murmurs, raising a hand to tuck my hair back behind my ears, gazing down at me, his expression sorry to see me so dismayed. "I''ll just be a distraction -"


    "No, you won''t!" I insist, meaning it and shaking my head. Anger starts to roll in me, a bit, because Jackson - he always thinks he''s an imposition, but I always want him by my side. Why does he keep insisting he''ll be a bother? "Jacks, I want you toe! We all want you toe!" I gesture vehemently back towards my family, nearly spilling what''s left of the champagne from the ss still in my hand.