Chapter 57
Chapter Fifty-Seven
VERITY
I haven’t stopped laughing and crying happy tears all day. Everything has been perfect, just as my friend deserved. The O’Reillys have pulled out all the stops since we left yesterday morning. This evening was supposed to be a small gathering around a little speaker and bottles of wine and other drinks to help yourself to. But the O’Reillys found a DJ, a pop-up bar with a bartender and a light-up dance floor. To say it's been perfect is an understatement. They even managed to find a photographer who had been snapping our pictures all day, and I can't wait to see the photos from this morning and the wedding. However, I have a feeling the ones from this evening may be a little messier.
“I need to sit,” Jasmine laughs, taking my hand and dragging me towards the area where everyone has pushed some tables together so they can all sit in one group.
Jasmine doesn’t let go of my hand until she falls onto Sean's lap.
“There’s my beautiful wife,” he smiles, kissing her.
“Hello, my gorgeous husband,” she grins back, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him back.
Rolling my eyes, I sit on Ethan's lap as he wraps his arms around me.
“Your feet hurting yet?” he asks, kissing my cheek.
“If I say yes, will you carry me to bed later?” I tease.
“Already planned on it, Baby girl,” he winks, causing an inferno to start building between my legs.
“Where’s Abbi?” Jasmine asks, looking around and pulling my attention back to the table.
“McIntire escorted her home about twenty minutes ago,” Sean explains. Jasmine sighs as she leans into him.
“She is worrying me; she’s not stopped drinking for the last week,” she sighs. I know Abbi has been through a tough time, but it’s getting out of hand.
“Hey,” Christian says, placing a finger under Jasmine's chin and forcing her to look at him. “Don’t worry about her. This is your day, and I don’t want anything upsetting you. McIntire will ensure she gets home safely and get her help.” His eyes soften a little as Jasmine nods her head in agreement. As he leans in to kiss her, I turn my attention to the rest of the table and nearly laugh out loud when I see a Luna curled up on Jason's lap.
“Someone has Uncle Jason wrapped around her little finger.”
Jason smiles as he looks down at the little girl, who I realise has fallen asleep.
“She has a firm grip on his bank account, too,” Drew laughs.
“It was a gift for being such a big help today,” Jason argues.
“Jason, the necklace and earrings Jasmine got her were a gift. The thousand-pound doll house you have just ordered for her is far too much,” Chelsea sighs, rubbing her belly as she looks at Jasmine. “I hope you realise your future children will be spoilt.”
“Chels, he can’t go more than a few days without spending money on Jaz; there’s no way he will be able to hold back when they have kids,” Calvin laughs.
“Yeah, well, we don’t need to worry about that just yet.” Jasmine grins at Christian, who hums under his breath. “No pressure, you promised,” she adds.
“I also pointed out that your three other husbands have not made the same promise.” He’s trying to keep a straight face, but I can tell he’s grinning on the inside.
“Well, I can’t get pregnant until this one gets married,” she states, pointing to me. “There is no way I’m being a pregnant maid of honour.”
“You can’t be maid of honour,” Danielle announces from across the table.
“Why not?” Jaz and I ask in unison.
“Because you are married, so no longer a maid,” she answers. “Which means I will have to take on the role,” she adds with a big grin on her face.
“Yeah, because it's going to be the definition of traditional weddings,” Layton laughs beside her.
“She’s actually not wrong, though,” Travis points out. “Jaz couldn’t be named maid of honour; she would be matron of honour.”
“As long as I’m by her side, I don’t care what you call me,” Jaz grins.
“Do you have any idea when you will get married?” Chelsea asks. Luckily, I had already told her everything I had discovered before Henry went ‘missing’, so everyone here knows the truth.
“As soon as she lets us marry her.” Ryan smiles next to Ethan and me.
“He wants to tie her to him before she can take her millions and run.” Maximus laughs before groaning when Ryan punches his arm.
“Arsehole,” Ryan warns him playfully.
“Hey! Don’t call my husband an arsehole!” Jasmine protests.
“Yeah, be nice, or I’ll sic my wife on you, and trust me, you don’t want to be on her bad side.” Maximus winks at Jasmine as others laugh around us.
“I say we start planning as soon as I return from my honeymoon! How big are we going with it?” Jasmine asks.
“I don’t want a big wedding, and I would like to wait a little while,” I answer, picking up my glass of wine and taking a sip.
“How long?” Jasmine asks, frowning. I look at Travis, who smiles reassuringly.
“I want to track down my mum’s guys, and find out which one is my father first.” It’s the first time I have mentioned finding them to anyone other than my men, and I hold my breath to see what everyone says.
“Thank god. I thought she was going to say nine months as she’s pregnant!” Danielle exhales drastically.
“God, no, not yet! I’m all for waiting for that one!” I laugh as Travis and Christian share a look, and both laugh. I have no doubt they have had that discussion between them.
“Well, if there is anything I can do to help, just ask. Whether it's finding out who it is or the wedding. I’m always here,” Jasmine smiles beside me. I don’t know what I would do without this woman sometimes.
“I know,” I smile, taking her hand. “Bratties before Daddies,” I remind her, giving her hand a slight squeeze.
“Bratties before Daddies,” she smiles, returning the squeeze.
As everyone around us starts talking among themselves and people start heading home, I sit back and enjoy seeing everyone happy and relaxed after a stressful week. My best friend has had the most wonderful wedding, which is what she deserves. There is nothing she wouldn’t do for those she loves, and I’m lucky to be included in that list.
* * *
“So, has today made you think about what kind of wedding you would like?” Ryan asks as we head to the security hub, where we will stay again tonight.
“A little,” I admit, as he places an arm around my shoulders. “I know I don’t want a big one. Maybe something like this. Small and intermate.
“You can have anything you want, Sweetheart,” Travis smiles. “All you have to do is say you are ready, and we can start planning.”
“I would like to find my real dad first.”
“Then that’s what we will do, Kitten. You know we’ll help you every step of the way,” Ryan says into my hair.
“I know you will,” I sigh, leaning into him while smiling at the others. They have been so amazing since everything has come to light, and I know there is nothing they wouldn’t do to help me find peace. But to do that, I need to drag up the past, and I could never do that without them. There are so many unanswered questions, and I plan to get answers to them all. I owe it not only to myself but to my mum, too.
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