Page 104 of Thick

“They are no longer two, but one flesh,” he said. “What God has joined, let no one put asunder.”

He exchanged looks between Crip and Peyton. “I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

Crip lifted her veil, and they embraced in a kiss.

“Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Navarro!”

The crowd erupted in catcalls and shrill whistles. They were the first of the remaining original six to be married, and I hoped they wouldn’t be the last.

As they walked up the red carpet toward Cholo’s house, I wiped a tear from my cheek. Two by two, the groomsmen and bridesmaids joined arms and walked behind them.

Pee Bee and Tegan.

Cholo and Lex.

Smokey and Sandy.

P-Nut and Joey.

And, last, but by no means any least, me and Tate.

After a series of photos, we shared a glass of celebratory champagne. A few deep sighs later, and Crip agreed that he was ready for the crowd. Wearing a proud smile and a new wedding ring, he took Peyton’s hand in his. “C’mon, Reporter.”

Everyone shared a laugh except me.

It must have been an inside joke.

We mingled amongst the many members of various MC’s, all gathered to pay their respects to the new bride and groom. I met Crip’s adorable mother, and his handsome but extremely stern father.

Cholo’s mother insisted on making tamales, and had prepared enough to feed the nation. Pee Bee’s mother couldn’t have been happier, while P-Nut’s mother nagged him and Joey to set a date. My father attended without hesitation, eager to meet the rest of the fellas and have a plate of homemade tamales.

After Crip and Peyton cut the cake, we gathered to share in their celebration. I hadn’t been at too many weddings, actually none that I could recall, but it seemed odd that Crip demanded that we all eat cake together.

Seated together at a long table, the twelve of us were served a plate filled with cake and ice cream. I’d already decided my diet was out the window. It allowed me to have fun without a guilty conscious during the wedding.

I savored each bite of the buttercream frosted cake. Despite standard wedding tradition, Crip insisted that his cake not be decorated with fondant. He said it tasted like shit.

As I spooned the last bite of my ice cream and cake into my watering mouth, I had to agree with him.

There was no substitute for buttercream.

I pushed my plate to the side. “That’s it, I’m done.”

Crip nudged me with his elbow. “Good shit, huh?”

“It was.”

Tate finished his and then looked at me. “I think I’m going to be sick.”

“It was sooo good.”

“Seriously, I feel awful.”

Cholo’s house backed up to its own private beach. The back yard, where the wedding was taking place, wasn’t walking distance from the beach, it was the beach. Steeping out of Cholo’s yard was stepping onto the sand.

“Are you going to barf?” I asked.

“I think I need to go for a walk.”