I laughed as we took our seats.
Her father reached his hand out. “I’m William Beaumont. You’re Violet’s boyfriend?”
Harper moved over to where Violet’s brothers were sitting when they pulled out a deck of cards and asked her if she wanted to see their magic trick.
“Yep. I’m Charlie Huxley. This is my daughter, Harper.” I shook his hand. It was on the tip of my tongue to tell him it was nice to meet him, but I wasn’t going to lie to the man.
He’d treated the woman I love like shit, and I wasn’t on board with that.
“How long have you two been together?” he asked me, like he and Violet were casual acquaintances.
“Long enough to be in love with her, which was as easy as breathing,” I said, my tone coming out harsh.
This guy didn’t deserve any details.
If Violet wanted to share more with him, that would come from her.
He hadn’t even taken a few minutes to go see her new home.
The man was a selfish bastard in my book, and I wasn’t looking for a new buddy.
He nodded. “Have you met her mother? She’s a real piece of work.”
The fucking nerve of this guy.
“I guess you have a type,” I said, leaving him to dissect those words all on his own.
He gave me a questioning look just as his wife came walking over in a huff. She glanced from me to Harper and then looked at her husband. “This is Violet’s date?”
“Yes. It’s her boyfriend and his daughter.”
“Well,” she said, turning to look at me. “Your girlfriend promised a smooth wedding, and this has been anything but. We’ve had beestings and rain. I don’t think anyone would call this wedding smooth.”
I narrowed my gaze. “I don’t know any wedding planner who can control the rain. Perhaps if you’d listened to her advice about moving the ceremony inside the tent earlier on, you would have avoided the mass chaos of the downpour. And as far as the beesting, I hope you thanked your daughter for saving your new son-in-law’s mother’s life. She should be commended for how quickly she reacted.”
Missy’s eyes widened, as if she wasn’t used to anyone standing up to her.
Her husband nodded. “It was impressive the way she administered that EpiPen without hesitation.”
“Yeah, Vi’s a badass.” Huntington pulled a card from his sleeve and slapped it down on the table as Harper gasped.
“She’s always been someone who just gets the job done,” Brenton said. “Remember when she came to my college dorm room after Mom and Dad left, and she turned my room into the coolest room on campus?” Huntington said, glancing at his parents.
Missy’s shoulders stiffened, and she glanced at me.
I nodded. “Sounds like my girl.”
She cleared her throat as the DJ, who already appeared to be several cocktails deep, by the way his words were slurring, made an announcement through the speaker system.
“It’s DJ Daddy O, bitches!” he shouted, and I glanced at my daughter, who thankfully was hyperfocused on the magic trick. “We’re getting ready to introduce the wedding party, and let me tell you, there are somehot-tayyyyysin the house.”
“What did he just say?” Missy gaped at her husband. “Who allowed this man to be here? Did Violet choose him? He must be a local?”
“He’s your son-in-law’s old fraternity brother,” I said before Violet’s father could say he didn’t know, because that appeared to be his go-to. A shrug with a clueless look. “Violet didn’t approve, but it’s ultimately up to the bride and groom.”
Violet had shared her concerns about this jackass having a microphone after her Zoom call with him.
“Oh,” Missy sniffed and then turned her chin up as he started announcing the wedding party.
