Chapter 18
LAWSON
“Fuck.”
“That’s a pound in the swear jar, Uncle Lawson.”
I glance down at Cooper and quirk a brow. “If I put in an extra twenty, would you switch ties with me?”
He giggles. “Mine is too small!”
“I could make it work.”
He runs away cackling and I sigh. “How about fifty?” I yell after him.
I stare at my reflection, silently cursing the damned thing around my neck. I pull out my phone and text the only person I know won’t make a big deal of me not knowing how to do this.
Me:
SOS
Sunshine:
Oh my god, tell me Jace hasn’t been kidnapped.
Me:
What? No! Why would your mind immediately go there?
Sunshine:
SOS on a wedding day can only mean two things. Either the bride had slipped on her trainers and made a run for it. OR the groom has. But seeing as my brother has wanted to marry Kinsley since forever, then the only explanation for his absence would be that he’s been kidnapped.
Me:
Your mind is a very intense place.
Sunshine:
It is. Now where do we send the ransom?
Me:
Your brother is here. If it wouldn’t have wrinkled his suit, he would have slept in it.
The SOS is for me.
Sunshine:
Oh. Okay. Good.
I mean, not good that you need help but good that there isn’t any reason the wedding should be delayed.
Anyway! How can I help you?
Me:
There’s a room at the start of the bachelor’s hallway, just to the right of where you ladies are now. Meet me there?
Sunshine:
Cryptic. But okay.
Five minutes later, I’m pacing the small room when the door creaks open. Sydney pops her head in and smiles when she spots me.
“You know the best man and maid of honor are supposed to hook up after the wedding, right?” she teases and I stop dead in my tracks.
“What?”
“I’m joking.” She laughs and walks over to me. “What’s going on?”
“I need your help. It’s embarrassing and—”
“Lawson. What—”
“My tie.” Her eyes drop to my chest and I blow out a breath. “I don’t know how to tie it.”
She tilts her head back up and I relax when there’s no judgement there. She simply steps forward and takes the fabric in her hands.
I don’t look away from her as she gently secures the tie around my neck. Her fingers brush my skin when she fixes the collar of my shirt and I fight back a shiver.
“There,” she whispers. Her eyes meet mine and she smiles. “Handsome as ever.”
“Thank you.”
Her phone rings and she pulls it out of the pocket of her lounge pants. “It’s my turn to get all dressed up.” She tucks it away and looks up at me. “See you in a little bit?”
I nod. “I’ll be waiting.”
She smirks. “I’ll be the one in sparkles.”
I huff a laugh. “Wouldn’t expect anything less, sunshine.”
She’s gone in the next breath, casting one last glance of her shoulder before the door closes. I look in the mirror and run my hand over the perfectly set tie. Clearing my throat, I exit the room and head back towards the main suite.
I slip back into the room unnoticed just as Jace struts through the other doorway like he’s walking down the runway at New York Fashion Week. He passes by the lads lounging on the couch and stops at the other end of the room, flashing us a smoldering look over his shoulder.
Ryder barks out a laugh. “Give us a spin!”
“Down boy. I’m a happily taken man. You had your chance.”
“Oh yes, you’re the one that got away. How ever will I go on?” Ryder drawls.
Nikolai groans and Jace locks his sights on him. “You promised you would lock up daddy grump today.”
Hazel eyes harden. “And you promised you’d stop calling me that.”
“A grump?” A dark noise rumbles from Nikolai’s chest and Jace throws his hands up. “Sorry. I know I’m not short enough nor have the right shade of fiery hair that grants me immunity from your no ‘daddy’ rule.”
Nikolai glares, unspeaking.
“Dad, Beck’s tie keeps falling off.”
Jace escapes the unyielding force of Nik’s annoyance and crouches in front of his son. He rubs his hands up and down Beckham’s arms. “What’s wrong, my boy? Why the tears? It’s a happy day, remember?”
Beckham sniffs, wiping his cheeks. “Mummy got me this tie, but it won’t stay on like Cooper’s. It’s supposed to stay on so we look the same to carry the rings. I can’t carry my ring if I don’t have it.”
“You can still carry the ring if your tie doesn’t stay on, Beck.”
“I can take my tie off so we still match?” Cooper offers and his dad sends him a grateful look before dropping his attention to the small clip on tie in his hand.
“I don’t think that’ll be necessary. We can fix this.”
Beckham stands in front of him as Jace carefully fiddles with the clasp. Cooper glances at me over his brother’s shoulder and I give him a wink.
“Okay, I think we’ve defeated the blasted thing.” Jace grins, brushing off his son’s shoulders.
Beck’s beams at him, jumping into his arms for a tight hug. Jace’s face shutters and he buries his head in the little boy’s blond curls.
Stepping back, Beckham stands next to his brother and Jace places a hand on either of their shoulders. He gives them a single nod of approval. “Handsome, the two of you. Now can I ask you to do something for me?”
The boys nod and he grins. “Good lads. Can you go be with your mum, make sure she has whatever she or your aunts may need?”
“When can you see her?” Beckham asks.
“Not soon enough,” Jace laughs. “But that’s why I need you to do this for me. Since I can’t be the one to do it myself without breaking the rules.”
Cooper giggles. “Rule breakers are naughty.”
Jace scrunches his nose. “They are, aren’t they? So will you help me? There’s an evening full of sweets in it for you.”
“Yay!” they say excitedly in unison before racing for the door.
“Were you not already going to give them plenty?” I ask, a single brow rising.
He shushes me and pushes to stand before walking over to the floor length mirror. Pushing off the wall, I move to stand behind him and straighten the jacket of his suit on his shoulders.
His blue eyes meet mine and I tilt my head. “Nervous?”
He shakes his head and turns. “I’ve been ready to make this woman my wife for far longer than is probably considered appropriate. She’s it. Always has been.”
I nod and clap a hand on his shoulder. “Good man.”
“I just can’t wait to see her,” he whispers, bouncing on his toes.
An image of Sydney flashes in my mind and I drop my head as the corner of my lips tip up.
I haven’t been able to stop thinking about her lips on mine.
It was the tiniest bit of her lips, but if that little brush was all it took to hijack my thoughts for the last sixteen hours, I can only imagine what having all of them would do.
Ruined.
I’d be absolutely ruined.
More so than I am already, if that is even possible.
Clearing my throat, I turn and glance over my reflection in the mirror. The gold tie clip Jace gifted each of us shines under the setting sun slipping through the windows.
There isn’t a stitch of black covering my body today, well, aside from my tattoos peaking out over my hands and up my neck. My lips pinch and I fidget with my cufflinks one last time.
It’s the most important day for one of the most important people in my life. If that means I have to wear this monkey suit so that he’s happy, I’d do it every day.
Okay, maybe not every day, but I’ll do it this one time.
It’s his wedding day afterall.
There’s a knock on the door a second before the wedding planner pokes her head around. “Are we ready gentlemen?”
All eyes drift to the man in the center of the room, beaming like he never thought this moment would come and now it’s finally here. Blowing out a breath, he shares one last look with each of the lads before nodding.
“I’m more than ready.” He smiles and shakes out his arms before following the wedding planner out into the hallway.
Ryder, Nikolai, and I aren’t far behind, the four of us moving in sync as the wedding planner leads us towards the wooden French doors that open onto the small ceremony area being held in the outdoor garden.
The woman in charge turns and smiles at us before looking around. “Okay, we just need—oh, there she is.”
We turn as a short blonde in a glimmering black dress races into the room. “I am so sorry, I couldn’t find the book where I wrote everything for the ceremony down and then my heel broke so Harry had to go out to the car to get the spare pair I always have on hand—”
“Lily,” Jace jumps in, placing his hands on her upper arms. “It’s okay. You’re here just in time.”
Kinsley’s oldest friend empties her lungs and gives him a grateful look. “Thank you.”
He shrugs. “Not like we could do this without you anyway. You are the officiant and all.” He winks and she lets out a low laugh.
“I know I’ve said it plenty, but I’m truly honored to do this for you and Kinney.”
He shakes his head. “If it wasn’t for you, we never would have found her. None of this would be happening. So I should be the one thanking you.”
Her eyes glisten. “You’re really going to make me cry before the ceremony, aren’t you?”
“I’ve cried four times already today so it’s someone else’s turn.”
Our chuckles echo in the small area and Lily blows out a breath. “Let’s get you two your happily ever after, shall we?”
“I’m already there. This is just us making it official.”
“Okay, Romeo. Save it for your girl,” Ryder jokes.
The wedding planner steps up and quickly reminds us on how the ceremony will go. A few minutes later, low instrumental music filters into the space as the doors swing open. Lily gives Jace’s hand one last squeeze before disappearing through them and around the corner.
As instructed, Jace is the first of us to walk down the aisle, followed by me, then Ryder, and finally Nikolai. I stand next to my best friend and glance down at my feet as the music transitions to another romantic melody.
The sound of heels clicking draws my attention and I look up as Cassie walks down the aisle, a beaming smile on her face. I hear shifting to my left and I glance over just as Nikolai drops his eyes, noting the tick in his jaw.
Ryder blows out a breath and I focus back on the entrance just as Blake walks down the aisle next. He lays a hand over his heart, eliciting a soundless laugh from his wife.
There’s a slight pause before the last of the bridal party enters.
And my heart, that’s only just started beating, stops for the exact same reason it’s been brought back to life.
She was beautiful in her loungewear when I saw her not twenty minutes ago.
But now?
Now she’s radiant. Bewitching.
And I’m happily living under her spell.
Her golden hair is pinned back in soft curls that cascade down her back. The sparkling champagne-colored dress molds to her perfect body, a toned leg peeking out with each step through the slit that teases high up on her thigh.
She effortlessly struts down the aisle in her sky high heels and my back prickles with the thought of them digging into my flesh while I’d feast on her.
I drop my eyes to my feet to break the thoughts, but it doesn’t last. Like the unrelenting magnetic pull she’s had on me since that day all those years ago, my gaze strays back to her.
Our eyes connect and she gives me a soft smile that has my own threatening to break free. As always, when her attention is on me, the invisible weight that threatens to bury me lifts. I stand tall, eyes pinned on her every move until she’s standing across from me at the altar.
Everything fades and I lock my muscles to keep from closing the small distance. From taking her face in my hands and doing what I’ve been craving since our near kiss last night.
Showing not only her but all of our friends and family that she’s mine. That she always has been and always will be mine.
A throat clears and I quickly shake away the thoughts that are begging to become reality.
Jace gives me a look as his eyes bounce between me and his sister. Feeling like a child caught with their hand in the cookie jar, my cheeks tint and I drop his stare.
Beckham and Cooper make their way next and Jace gives each a brief kiss to their heads before they settle down in the front row alongside his parents. The music shifts once more and everyone faces forward as Kinsley, arm in arm with Rose, glides down the aisle.
Jace’s shoulders shake and I pat him on the back, handing him the tissue he swore he wouldn’t need. Sniffles ring out as Rose guides Kinsley’s hand in his before placing a soft kiss on his cheek. Once everyone settles into their spots, Lily begins the ceremony.
But I couldn’t tell you a single thing that happened.
Because as soon as I turned, my eyes found the enchanting blues across the aisle and nothing else mattered.
While our best friends vowed to love each other for eternity, I envisioned my own with her.
When they exchanged rings, I made the silent promise that one day I will finally open the small velvet box my mother left for me.
And as Jace kisses his wife, my eyes drop to her pink-painted lips as she tucks them and I hope with all that I am that she’s also wondering what I taste like.
Everyone cheers around us, breaking our spell and we watch as the happy couple practically skip back down the aisle.
I look back at Sydney as I step forward. She meets me in the middle and smiles when I offer her my hand. Tingles race up my arm as she slides her palm into mine and I take a grounding breath before wrapping it around my arm and guiding her down the aisle.
Her chest rises on quick breaths, her hand pulsing in my hold as we follow directions towards the courtyard where we will pose for pictures with everyone.
I glance down at her at the same time as she looks up at me. Our steps slow and I open my mouth, but before I can get any words out, loud cheers break out around us as the rest of the wedding party arrive.
Sydney giggles when Jace pops up next to us, holding Kinsley in his arms. “I’m sorry, have I introduced you to my wife yet? Because this is my wife, Kinsley.”
“Nice to meet you, Jace’s wife,” I deadpan.
“God, it sounds good when others call you my wife too. Come on, let’s go see who else we can get to say it.” He takes off with her before anyone can protest.
Not that we would.
It’s a good day. A happy one.
One full of love, laughter, and possibilities.
I look over at Sydney as she watches the photographer try to contain Jace’s excitement enough that they can get pictures before time runs out.
The setting sun glows against her blonde hair and with sparkling eyes, she catches me staring. Turning her head to face me, she smiles and I can’t help but match hers with a small one of my own.
Because like I said, today is a day for future possibilities.
And all of mine revolve around the sunshine girl who has yet to let go of my arm this entire time.