Page 114 of His to Keep
Damn, who knew weddings were so lethal?It’s a paper-thin excuse, because let’s be real, I’m so fucking gone for this woman it’s unreal. I’d do anything for her, because somehow, inwhat feels like both an eternity and barely any time at all, she’s become my everything.
She bites her lip and shrugs. “I hope so.”
I'mabout to tell herI'llwork every damn day to prove to her it can be. But the DJ announcesit'stime tosend the happy couple off.
“That's our cue,”Scarlet murmurs.“We’re officially on baby duty.”
Kid’s already blocking me and we haven’t even left the venue,I think, putting a mental pin in this topic to revisit it laterbecause as wild and sudden as it seems, Iabsolutelysee myself wanting to spend the rest of my life with her.
Here'sto hoping she feels the same.?
“So, how hard do you think this will be?”Scarlet asks as we gather along thestepping stonepath to see the happy couple out.?
“What?”?I ask, knowing I was only halfway paying attention.
She raises a brow as she pops the lid on her bubbles, dipping the wand into the liquid.“Nora saying goodbye to James.”?
“Oh,”I snort, doing thesame. Scarlet originally suggestedsparklers, but Nora was worried about James getting burned and instead opted forbubbles“What's harder than hard?”?
She giggles.“I wonder if I'll be like that if I'm a mom.”?
“When?”The thought of her with her belly rounded pops into my mindunbidden.There'snot a single part of me that hates it...
She laughs again, but this time it's cautious... guarded. “Not when...if.”?
“I'm good with when,”I say with a roguish grin.“Just so you know.”?
Her eyes flare wider than the fineChina plates our dinner was served on.“We are not discussing procreating at our best friends' wedding.”?
“Seems like as good a time as any,”I fire back, winking to let her knowI'monly joking.“But seriously,maybe weshouldtalk about this. One day...”?
“One day,”she agrees, craning forward when the music starts.“Oh, here they come!”?
We all watch on as the happy couple and James make their way down the pathway through amyriadofiridescentbubbles.There'sa pep in theirsteps,their smiles brighter than the moon as they make their way toward us.?
Notgonnalie, happiness looks good on them, and even though their path to it was crooked and hard, I knowthey'rebetter for it. Stronger. They have the kind of love others can only hope to have one day.?
“Congrats, man,”I say when they stop in front of us.“Happy for y'all.”?
Atlas grips my hand and draws me into a hug.“Appreciate it, man.”?
“You want to come to me or Ellis?”Scarlet asks.?
To no one's surprise, James says, “Scar!” as he makes grabby hands at her.?
She reaches to take him from Nora, but she steps back, twisting out of reach.“Not so fast,”she says, cuddling her squirmy toddler to her chest.“Mama's not ready.”?
“Mama!”James yells, smacking his hands against her cheeks before leaning in for what is undoubtedly a sticky kiss.“Wub ooh.”?
“I love you, too, sweet boy.”She peppers kisses all over his face.“I'mgonnamiss you so, so much.”?
“We will send lots of pics and video chat every day,”Scarlet promises.?
“Maybe we should...”Nora starts, only for Atlas to shut her down.“Absolutely not.We'regoing on our honeymoon. James will be loved, spoiled, and well cared for with Ellis and Scarlet.”?
My girl preens. “That might be the nicest thing you'veeversaid to me.”?
“Way to set the bar low, Scarlet.”?Swear, if itwasn’this wedding day,I’dpop him in the mouth for being such a dick to her.
