Rocked (Rock & Romance II.)

Chapter 49. - Happily Ever After

A/N: Welcome back! This chapter is dedicated to all the first responders, hospital workers, emergency workers, grocery store associates, maintenance people, security and all other real essential workers who make the rest of our lives easier during these hard times! I hope you are all staying strong, healthy, distancing as much as you can, and are thankful every day to what is not canceled even now - love. xx

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*Gia*

The ride to the airport was a nightmare. The greater Los Angeles area is the home of nearly twenty million people, and it appeared that every single one of them was headed to LAX this morning. After an unfiltered night of drinking and feeling at Lukas' birthday party, my date and I were running late to my father's wedding.

We fought our way through security and ran all the way from the TSA check to our gate, just to be the last ones on the plane. We must've looked entirely too disheveled - or perhaps too aggravated - because not a single person stopped us for photos or questions.

"I feel last night's shots right in my throat!" London groaned, collapsing into her seat on the plane. "I haven't seen Mick in ages, and now that silver fox will think I'm always this much of a mess!"

I huffed. My father had a full head of bright red hair, and nearly see-through white skin, covered in freckles. He systematically took care of his health, had great nutrition and exercised regularly, but given his glasses, bookish charm and overall lack of social skills, he could not have been called a 'silver fox' in any sense of the word.

Lucky for London, I was too exhausted to respond.

"Do you think Jesse is dead?" London pressed as I took my seat next to her and buckled my safety belt.

Jesse was supposed to be my date for my father's wedding, but given that he most likely drank his body weight in tequila last night, he was still out cold by the time we had to leave in the morning. London, lucky for me, was already up and cleaning up the mess her guests have left behind. She offered to toss a few essentials into a suitcase and accompany me to what was supposed to be a new chapter in our family's life, up to the Bay Area.

"Judging by the fact that I was up all night because of his snoring, I highly doubt it," I remarked sarcastically. "But I do hope he wakes up with the world's most painful headache. I can't believe he not only tricked me into playing a stupid game and to let him sleep in my bed, but also ditched me at this wedding! Is this what it feels to be stood up at the altar?!"

London laughed, the sound coming out rather painful. "Don't be ridiculous! That feels much much worse."

"How would you know?"

Her smile faltered. "I don't. And at this rate, I'm not sure that I'll ever find out the joys of being a bride."

I rolled my eyes. "You and Lukas have only been together for a year and a half - and I'm saying that generously because you did take like six months off from each other. It's not like you're in one of those old couples that have been together since the Vietnam war and the guy still hasn't popped the question."

"I know, I know..." London trailed off. "But it just feels so solid with him now. Like what else could he possibly be waiting for?!"

I shrugged. "I'm not a relationship expert, Londie-bug. But you know that not everyone gets married. And besides, if you're happy, what does the title matter? It's just a piece of paper."

"A piece of paper that guarantees that he will be mine forever!" She shot back.

"A marriage license doesn't guarantee that!" I snorted sarcastically. "There's still divorce! There are absolutely no guarantees in life, it's not like getting married would shackle him to your bedframe."