I adjusted the cuff of my social shirt as the sleek ck car pulled up to the entrance of the wedding venue. The December night air was cool but not cold, the kind of crispness that hinted at the holiday season.

    We stepped out—me, Paige, Mom, Cam, and Mitchell—heading for the entrance. I turned to them and said, "Carter will be with us."

    Carter, my personal bodyguard, followed a few steps behind. He was the strongest among my bodyguads—not that it really mattered, since everyone in our security detail carried real guns and stun guns. Still, Carter''s presence was always reassuring.

    He leaned in, whispering in a voice low enough that only Paige and I could hear. "We have six more inside—four disguised as waitstaff. Plus the eight positioned outside."

    What I valued the most was my safety and my family''s. I didn''t take chances.

    As we approached the entrance, I spotted Jay standing at the front, greeting guests with a rare mix of calm and excitement. Gramma, Dad, and Uncle Charlie were already there, chatting andughing with him (only Gramma, to be more precise). They must''ve arrived earlier than we did.

    Jay gave us a nod as we approached, his eyes scanning over each of us,nding for a second longer on Paige. "d you made it," he said, shaking my hand firmly.

    "Wouldn''t miss it," I replied with a small grin.

    He leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Who is she again?" he asked, nodding subtly toward Paige.

    "Kinda like a sister to me. I don''t know why she was invited either," I whispered back.

    Jay chuckled and said, "Everyone''s wee."

    Well, with the wedding gifts we gave to Jay and Gloria, it''s not hard to understand him treating us better than Gloria''s family…

    Just then, I spotted two familiar figures weaving through the arriving guests. "Hey, it''s the Dunphy sisters," I called out, shing a wide smile as Alex and Haley approached.

    "How you doing, Haley?" I asked, greeting the one who stepped forward first.

    "Jake, it''s so good to see you again," she said, wrapping me in a warm hug and nting a kiss on my cheek. "You look great in that suit," she added, giving me an appreciative once-over.

    "You look gorgeous in this red dress too, Haley," Iplimented back. This little minx sure has her charm.

    Alex made a pointed ''hun hun'' sound with her mouth, clearly unimpressed.

    "You look very cute too, Alex, in your green dress," I said, making her blush and look slightly frustrated.

    "It was not meant for that," she tried awkwardly to exin.

    I gave Alex a quick hug as well. "Still, it''s nice to see you here."

    "So Jake," Haley began, nudging Alex aside, "are you seeing anyone?"

    "Not really," I replied.

    Haley squealed, looping her arm through mine. "We need to make the best of this party," she said brightly, then leaned in to whisper, "I already have ideas how to get drinks for ourselves."

    "Sure thing," I smirked back. If themb jumped onto my te, I wouldn''t say no.

    "You haven''t even stepped into the wedding yet and you''re already..." Paige said, stepping up to us—she had just finished greeting my family: Evelyn, Dad, and Charlie. "...with a girl," she finished, eyeing Haley and me with our arms linked. Then she turned to the girls and greeted them with a polite smile.

    We finally started heading inside to take our seats for the ceremony when ire appeared with Phil.

    ire made a ire''s famous face as she spotted us and walked over, giving me a hug and gently nudging Haley aside in the process. "I loved your movie, Annabelle. And good to see you again, Jake."

    "It was a good movie," Phil added with a slightly awkward smile as he shook hands with me and then with Paige.

    Paige and I both greeted them back politely, and I couldn''t help but notice ire was still holding Haley...

    Paige and I decided to sit. She made a mocking ''ha-ha'' and said, "Mama bear took your prey away."

    I just gave her an unimpressed nce.

    The ceremony went on. Gloria looked stunning in her wedding dress. Everything proceeded smoothly and beautifully.

    After the ceremony, we all made our way to the dinner venue.

    I took my seat at the table, nked by Paige, Alex, and Haley. Across from me sat Manny, already reaching for another empanada.

    "Me gusta estas empanadas," I said with a grin, catching Manny''s eye.

    "?Has espa?ol?" Manny asked, surprised.

    "Sí," I replied, then switched back to English upon noticing Haley''s confused expression (figures). "I speak Spanish fluently. I can even sing and have a few songs in Spanish."

    "Wow, that is incredible," said Haley.

    After a little while, Uncle Charlie appeared with two drinks in hand. "Hey kid, taste this," he said, handing me one of the cups.

    I took a sip. "It''s good. What is it?"

    ""They call it Horny Colombians," he answered with augh. "Now, excuse me, I''m off to find a real one for myself," he added, strolling toward another table—one with a particrly beautiful Latina seated there.

    "Your family lets you drink?" Haley asked, eyes wide open.

    "They made a blind eye," I replied. "But it''s not like I''m drinking all the time. I''m not an alcoholic. Only do it socially and very asionally." I pushed Paige''s face away as she tried sneaking a sip of the drink.

    I know how hypocritical it is to be all against drugs but somehow lenient about drinks. But hey, it''s 2001—underage drinking is even moremon now than it will be in the future. I once read that around one in six people between 14 and 15 consume alcohol. Still, I drink very asionally.

    But something pulled me out of my thoughts. One of Gloria''s uncles just patted ire''s butt, making her ufortable

    I made a very unamused face.

    ------

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