19. Tucker
Chapter 19
Tucker
“I think I’m going to pass out.” Mac tugged at the collar of his dress shirt. “Will you catch me if I do?”
“You’re not going to pass out,” I assured him, though he did look a little pale.
Not getting the sympathy he’d been hoping for from me, he leaned to peek at the man further down the line to the side of the makeshift outdoor altar, where we awaited the start of the ceremony. “Colt, buddy, you’re happily married. Tell me something that’ll help ease my nerves.”
Colt grunted. “The wedding is the easy part. Marriage is hard; you gotta put in the work every day. If you can’t hack it, best to get out now before you let that girl down.”
Mac’s jaw dropped, and his gaze shifted to me as he mouthed, What the fuck?
I shrugged. “He’s got a point.”
“Still, you don’t say that to a guy about to tie the knot. It’s enough to spook him.”
“You spooked?” I arched an eyebrow .
He scoffed. “Of course not.”
“Then there’s no problem with Colt shooting you straight, is there? Because you should have considered that was the type of answer you’d get before asking for his advice.”
Mac’s forehead wrinkled as he thought that logic over. “Dammit. I hate it when you’re right.” His hands fanned his face. “Okay, let’s try a new tactic. I need a distraction. Tell me about last night with Bex.”
I shot him a side-eye. “I don’t kiss and tell.”
“You kissed her?” He bounced on the balls of his feet.
“Judgin’ from how she walked into the house this morning in his clothes, they did a lot more than kiss.”
Mac’s head whipped around to find the owner of that voice to be a smirking Betsy Sullivan seated in the front row.
The man was lucky he didn’t give himself whiplash with how fast he turned back to me. “What?!”
My lips thinned as my gaze slid to Betsy. “Thank you for that.”
Unapologetically, she lifted a shoulder. “The boy needed a distraction. I provided one.”
Betsy was a firecracker, known for stirring things up, much to her son’s dismay. So I knew I could push back without it being viewed as disrespecting an elder.
“By all means, please tell Mac what happened between me and Bex last night.”
There was a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. “Since I don’t have a firsthand account of the events, I’ll be forced to take creative liberties. But I need a little background information before I do. Tell me, Doc, are you the type to treat a woman like glass, or do you enjoy a good old-fashioned hair-pulling?” She waggled her eyebrows, grinning wider as my cheeks grew hot .
No wonder Jett was so locked down; his mother was a loose cannon.
Mac burst out laughing beside me, doubling over to grip his sides, and even Colt chuckled. Poor Tripp was used to his grandmother’s antics and merely rolled his eyes.
Wiping the tears from his eyes, Mac stepped forward to kiss Betsy’s cheek. “And that’s exactly why you’re my favorite, Meemaw. You always know exactly what we need.”
“Still didn’t get an answer from the good doctor.” She trained her hawk-like gaze on me.
“Sorry to disappoint, ma’am, but I’d prefer to keep that private.”
Betsy hummed. “Everyone acts like sex is some dirty secret. Hate to break it to ya. We’ve all done it.”
I sent up a silent prayer of thanks that Barrett was set to walk down the aisle with his sister instead of hanging out up front with us. That saved us from trying to cover his little ears to avoid having him learn some more new words his mama would be pissed about.
Mac opened his mouth, likely to pepper me with a million questions about all things Bex, but I was saved by the first notes coming from the string quartet, signaling the bridal procession.
The man to my right sucked in a sharp breath, and I placed a hand on his shoulder. “You’ve got this.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed on a swallow. “Uh-huh.”
“You love her, right?”
“Yeah,” he breathed out.
“Then hold onto that. And if worst comes to worst, I’ll catch you.”
“Colt’s stronger,” he rasped.
A chuckle broke free from my chest. Mac being able to joke told me he’d be just fine .
I let my hand fall away as the girls came into view one by one as they rounded the last row of guests to walk down the aisle. First came Harper, then Penny—causing a stuttered exhale from Tripp beside me—followed by Aubree and Barrett, side by side. The pair of children were fearless, soaking in the attention of those who cooed at them as they trekked past.
My breath caught in my throat when the most beautiful girl-turned-woman I’d ever seen entered my line of sight.
It wasn’t lost on me that the color of her bridesmaid dress not only matched Aspen’s eyes but that of our kitchen cabinets. How could I not see that as a sign that this wedding was meant to bring us back together?
Maybe I was reaching, but I didn’t care.
Bex lifted her eyes from the pair of children walking a few steps ahead of her, and when her gaze slammed into mine, the air rushed back into my lungs.
Her cheeks pinkened when she caught me staring, but she didn’t look away. I mouthed, Stunning , just to watch that blush darken.
The song changed, and everyone stood in anticipation of the bride’s arrival. The minute Jett and Aspen came into view, Mac took off like a shot.
There were muffled gasps at his sudden movement, but they quickly transformed into a chorus of “awws” when he stopped in front of Aspen, cupped her cheeks, and placed a kiss on her lips. Their foreheads rested together as they shared a private moment before Mac spun around, looking only mildly chagrined for venturing off book.
“Sorry, everyone. Just needed her to know how much I love her and can’t wait to marry her before we get this show on the road.”
He jogged back toward where the rest of the wedding party stood with the preacher .
“Okay, take two.” At his command, the music began again, and Aspen and her father continued their journey down the aisle.
While everyone was looking at Aspen, I couldn’t keep my eyes off Bex.
The tinkling noise from knives being tapped against champagne glasses was followed by a cheer from the guests as Mac and Aspen kissed.
The two of them hadn’t stopped smiling since they said, “I do,” and though I was overjoyed for my buddy, I couldn’t help but be a little envious that he’d locked down the love of his life while I was still in the trenches, fighting hard to win mine back.
From the side of the stage where the band was set up, the lead singer tapped the microphone, acting as the MC for the event. “Before dinner, we have a few speeches, starting with the best man, Tucker.”
All eyes turned to me as I stood from my seat beside Mac.
Reaching into the breast pocket of my suit jacket, I pulled out the words I’d written to share tonight.
But instead of reciting the speech I had prepared, I decided to take a page out of Bex’s book and speak from the heart.
“Let me start by saying how absolutely beautiful you look tonight, Aspen.” The bride blushed, but a smile tipped up on her lips. “I may be biased, but any man who manages to snag a girl from Rust Canyon is among the luckiest on earth.”
There were a few hoots from the crowd. Everyone in attendance was more than proud of the place they called home .
“Though I’m Mac’s best man, I’ve known Aspen far longer. We’ve had our ups and downs”—I pressed a hand to my chest—“which were totally my fault, but I’ve always admired her sense of empathy and loyalty. If you’ve been fortunate enough to find yourself in her orbit, then you know that she will throw down, quite literally, for those she loves.”
I tossed her a wink, and when she buried her face in Mac’s shoulder, I knew she caught my subtle reference to the time she read me the riot act in the middle of the tree lighting a few years back.
“But it’s her compassion that makes her the perfect partner for Mac. I’ve never met a pair of individuals who are as selfless, as committed to giving back, not only to our community but to those outside of it, as the brand-new Mr. and Mrs. Mac Blaze.
“Mac and I met when we were at a crossroads in our lives, and having that in common sparked our friendship. His sympathy offered a life raft during a time when it felt like I was drowning.”
“Love you too, buddy,” Mac called out loud enough that everyone could hear, eliciting several chuckles.
I clapped a hand on his shoulder, speaking directly to him versus those gathered. “You never let me give up on my dreams, even when they felt completely out of reach.” My gaze lifted over his head to peek at Bex before returning my attention to Mac. “Because you’d been in my shoes once, convinced it was impossible, but now here you are, with everything you ever wanted. And I couldn’t be happier for you, for Aspen, and for the future you’re about to embark upon together.”
Grabbing my champagne flute, I raised it toward those seated around us. “To Aspen and Mac. May you have a lifetime of happiness together.”
“To Aspen and Mac,” came the chorus from the rest of the guests.
Mac stood, wrapping me up in a bear hug and slapping me on the back a few times for good measure .
“Great speech, man,” he whispered in my ear, voice thick with emotion.
When he pulled back, I moved around his chair to kiss Aspen on the cheek and pull her into a hug.
My ass had just hit the seat when the announcement came that it was Bex’s turn to speak as the maid of honor.
I leaned one elbow on the table for a better view of her around the happy couple sitting between us.
Before she could utter a single word, Bex’s eyes grew glassy as she looked down at her best friend. Blowing out a breath, she fanned her face, blinking furiously to keep the tears at bay.
“Sorry.” The single word came out whispered, and Aspen grabbed her hand in a show of silent support.
Black lashes fluttered as she closed her eyes briefly before reopening them.
“As little girls, we dreamed about this day. But I think it’s safe to say that the reality is better than what we could have ever imagined for you, Aspen. And I’m not only talking about the wedding.
“The moment I met Mac, I knew he was the perfect man for you. He brings laughter to your life, but more than that, he’s become your biggest supporter. He champions your ambitions and celebrates your successes.”
The first tear broke free, carving a path down her cheek. “As of today, Mac takes over my spot as number one in your life.” Aspen opened her mouth to protest, but Bex cut her off before she could. “I’ll still always be there for you, but he’s the one who will stand shoulder to shoulder with you every day from here until forever. You’re going to share moments and memories that are sacred, meant for the two of you alone, and that’s how it should be. And I don’t have to worry because I know nobody can love you more than he does. ”
Bex’s voice broke as she toasted, “To my best friend and the man she’s found to be her best friend for life.”
Aspen was off her feet in a flash, both women sobbing in each other’s arms.
Mac leaned over to me, letting them have their moment before standing. “I think she wins.”
Smiling at the woman I loved, I replied, “I’ll happily let her win for the rest of my life if she lets me.”
He hummed. “You got more tricks up your sleeve tonight?”
“Guess you’ll have to wait and see.”
“Hate to break it to you, bud, but I won’t be able to see anything beyond my wife for the foreseeable future.”
I bumped shoulders with him. “We’ll have to grab coffee when you resurface from the honeymoon, then.”
Mac stood. “Good luck. You know I’m rooting for you.”
If not for his constant support and borderline meddling, I wouldn’t be on the verge of claiming Bex the way I should have all those years ago.
Once we took that final step, it was game over. She would be mine forever like she always should have been.