Chapter 44
Vows in the Mountains…
Mark
“Oh my goodness, no, that will not do!” My mother rushes up to me along with my soon to be mother-in-law, Nancy.
Nora and Nancy make quite the intimidating pair of moms. Sweet as can be but damn insistent.
Once they get something in their minds, they go for it, and you might as well just get the hell out of the way.
I’m glad they like each other though. Ava called them “besties”.
I shrug my shoulders lightly, getting comfortable while they get ready to do whatever it is that they think I need.
If it’ll make my girl smile, I’m good with it.
Our moms, bless their hearts, both swooped in after I got home from the week-long stay in the hospital and had hovered to the point that Ava and I had had to put our foot down after three even longer weeks.
I finally got cleared around week six for sex, and there was zero way that either of them were going to be around because I.
Was. Dying. I had been hoping to be cleared by week four, but that just didn’t happen.
Ava made sure to soothe my broken heart with lots of blow jobs that week, but blow jobs and face rides would only tide me over for so long.
Anyways, back to the present. Popping some wood at this moment would be… less than ideal.
“What won’t do?” I ask, clearing my throat while adjusting my tie. Nancy steps in and starts fixing my hair while Mom shoos my hands away and fixes the knot on my tie. I roll my eyes but don’t move. Better to not piss them off.
“Mama…” I huff. “It looks good enough.”
Both women let out an audible Pfft…
“She looks amazing! We won’t have your hair or tie messing that up,” Mama answers, and Nancy hums in approval.
“Amazing, huh?” I ask, feeling butterflies.
“Beautiful,” Nancy replies, and I see bits of Ava in her. She looks lovely in her pale pink dress.
“There, that’s better,” my mother declares.
They rush off to find a seat along with the few family members and friends who traveled to be here with us in the gorgeous mountains of Tennessee.
We managed to find this pretty little chateau overlooking an amazing view from a big balcony.
Our extended family will be staying at the lodge, and tonight Ava the beginning notes of the wedding version of Never Til Now by Ashley Cooke and Brett Young lilt along the gentle breeze of the trees surrounding us.
Emotion clogs my throat as I listen to words that feel so completely us.
I never expected this girl to turn my life upside down, but I am forever thankful that she did.
I’m thankful she was able to see past the man I was and see the man I am underneath.
She never gave up on me, even on the days that she thought she hated me.
Now we know, deep down, all those days we fought with our words, we were really only fighting against ourselves.
Now we fight for ourselves, for each other.
I get to rile up my Firecracker anytime I want; I’ll just have to get more creative with my tactics and have lots of flowers and bookish gifts on standby.
I hope she loves the wooden book piece I finally finished for her.
I had to take it to the warehouse so she couldn’t peek.
As far as she knows, I’m still just tinkering with how I want to do it, not that it’s finished.
Sydney walks up the short aisle looking pretty as ever in her light pink dress. My stomach is fluttering like crazy knowing my girl is not far behind. Our friends stand, and I crane my neck, trying to get that first glimpse of her.
Anthony, Ava’s father, comes into view, and he sure looks proud, but the next two seconds steal the breath from my lungs.
My Ava steps into view in a light cream sheath of a satin dress that slips over her curves like it was made just for her.
She’s exquisite. Her dark hair tumbles over her shoulders in soft waves, and the soft shade of pink around her lips stretches wide as she locks those gorgeous dark eyes with mine.
She’s mine. Forever. Never made to feel alone in this world ever again.
When she reaches me, I reach my hand out and sigh with all the joy in my heart when her fingers lace with mine.
“Nice tie,” Ava whispers, a smirk telling me she’s thinking of the last wedding we were at together. The color’s a nice touch though.
“Hey, Pinky. Looks like you got me to wear pink and walk down an aisle with you after all. You look beautiful.” I give her my best smile, because she gets only the best ones for the rest of our lives.
“I win.” She grins, tossing out the familiar phrase I texted her when all this craziness came to a screeching crossroads. I’m glad we chose the same path. “I love you.”
“I know,” I play back, knowing she catches the sappy Star Wars line. “I love you too.”
We declare our love in front of our best friends and family, and the moment our lips touch, I sweep that woman backwards and push my whole heart into it, sealing the deal. I will never love another more than I love this one. This one I choose to do all my adventures with.
???
Ava
The private ceremony we had was absolutely perfect.
We’d had a small meal afterwards with everyone closest to us, enjoyed several toasts, but when we saw our chance to run, we stole away to our little retreat sometime around eight.
Mark surprised me with our first dance in the quiet of our room.
He pulled me in close, clicking on a song from his phone and turning it up just loud enough for the two of us to enjoy.
The song You Were Right by Dylan Marlowe swept through the room and skittered along my skin.
He whispered about all the ways having me in his arms changed him, and the song said the rest. To say the least, the man claimed my heart, body, and soul last night.
Today, we travel with our closest of the closest to enjoy a few days away from the rest of the world.
The cabin we drive up to is amazing. Everyone hops out of the rentals, us girls shrieking with excitement as we bustle inside to claim rooms while the guys unload.
I claim a secluded room on the second floor with a quiet balcony shrouded in secrecy from a nearby tree.
It has a jacuzzi tub perfect for soaking.
I hear a squeal about a little sauna on the main floor.
This place has an indoor pool, a hot tub inside, and a hot tub outside on the patio.
The kitchen is to die for, and the living space is wide open right next to it, sporting a pool table and darts for the guys.
We will be able to interact from the pool, hot tub, living room, and kitchen with ease.
Nobody’s shut off from the world unless they’re outside with the privacy shade shut or in their rooms. I freaking love it.
Mark did good finding this place. I can already imagine coming back, bringing our families.
We’d have to find a bigger cabin as they got older though.
“Hot tub time!” Holly hollers from her room, and we race to our stuff to get suited up.
The guys just chuckle as we roll off our luggage with glee.
They’re already talking about cooking up steaks and chicken kabobs.
When I come out of my room, I meet Brynleigh down the hall as she exits her room, and we both almost collide with an unsuspecting Trystan as he comes flying out of his room.
“Woah!” Trystan raises hands up in the air in surrender.
“Too much skin that isn’t mine to touch!
You’re gonna give a man a heart attack sneaking up on me like that.
” He grins wide, eyes skimming over Brynleigh with interest that he quickly masks with a throat clearing.
Bryn blushes as her body took on most of the contact.
She mumbles a quiet “excuse me” and steers around him.
I barely catch Trystan’s fingertips brushing across her hip when she passes by, but I hear Brynleigh suck in a quick breath.
By the time we get to the tub outside, I’ve stewed good and hard on that little interaction.
I’m about to say something, but Holly and Jane are chatting away and distract me.
Jane is nursing a glass of apple juice with her feet soaking on the set of steps since she doesn’t want to chance overheating or hurting the baby with a submerged soak.
She’s around eighteen weeks pregnant and looks gorgeous as ever.
She’s going to be one of those women who can pull off heels at eight months pregnant while still looking fabulous.
Sydney plops into the water with an audible sigh next to me and hands me a glass of red wine.
“Hey, thanks!”
“The bride deserves it! Did you guys have a great evening?” She waggles her brows at me, and I giggle back.
“It was the best.”
“Good.”
“As it should be!” Jane exclaims, and Brynleigh covers her ears which makes us all titter loudly.
“No worries, Bryn. I’ll spare you the details that Jane’s dying to hear. Girl, those hormones letting up at all?” I ask, looking over to Jane, who purses her lips with disappointment that I’m not spilling then shakes her head.
“I have a feeling Garrett’s getting sick of me ambushing him in odd places of the house.”
A raucous roar of laughter from us has all the guys whipping their heads our way, and Jane just waggles her fingers hi at Garrett.
He chuckles, lifting his beer in acknowledgement.
I would love to be a fly on the wall to hear if he’s indeed sharing about how glad he is to get a little break from his pregnant and very horny housewife.
Sydney and I lay our heads back against the headrests, exhaling deeply and agreeing how good life has turned out for all of us this far.
After a delicious dinner, we all curl up and throw on a chick flick while the guys break some balls at the pool table.
“Guys, this might be our last big bash before we have a little one in all of our business,” Jane says out of nowhere during the movie.
I look over at her, noticing the mist of tears clouding her eyes as she lovingly rubs at her adorable little bump.
Cue girl pile. We all curl up closer to her, wrapping our arms around her and each other as we take in the moment we hadn’t really thought much about yet.
Everything has changed so much in such a short time, and the changes just keep coming.
“Now you guys just need to get pregnant so we can raise a new bestie squad,” Jane sniffles through tears and titters.
“What we have now may change, but we’ll always have this.
It just may look a little different. I can’t wait to pass around a little squish!
” Sydney says, looking over at Colin. Her look is unmistakable, and I know they’ll be at it soon.
Colin looks right back at her with a secret smile.
Yeah, he wants a baby too. I am so happy for my friends.
The guys notice the sniffling and swoop in, crashing the girl pile and scooping up wives to snuggle. Holly hugs Brynleigh, and Trystan eyes them as if he’s thinking about sneaking in.
“Snuggle me closer, Bella,” Mark whispers into my ear.
I snicker against Mark’s neck when he pulls me in tighter.
He’s turned into such a teddy bear, and I won’t lie, it’s the best. Out of the corner of my eye, I watch Trystan walk back to the kitchen for a refill.
Something is bugging him. I’ve been watching the past couple of months as he and Brynleigh have been walking on eggshells around each other.
Bryn’s eyes follow him wherever he goes and vice versa.
Something’s up, but I don’t have a clue.
I also notice Colin watching the same thing.
I quirk a brow at him and he shakes his head at me as if saying not to draw attention to them.
He knows something. I’m going to have to ask if I can get him alone. I wonder if Sydney knows too.
Trystan walks back with three drinks, handing Holly and Brynleigh each a cup of the spiked punch Sydney made earlier.
It doesn’t surprise me when Trystan’s fingers linger a little longer than most would expect against Brynleigh’s.
Her cheeks pinken a little, and he rolls his lips between his teeth.
To everyone else not paying attention, it’s hardly noticeable, but now that I’m onto them, I’m scrutinizing every little thing.
I press a kiss to the underside of Mark’s jaw, looking up to gauge if he’s noticed anything.
Nope, he’s oblivious. I wonder what he would think of that pairing.
He’s pretty protective over his little sister.
If I really think about it though, they could be really great together, and Trystan is a catch.
I look over at Sydney, my matchmaker friend.
Her brows are furrowed too. She catches me eyeing her, and I shoot my eyes to Trystan and Brynleigh before coming back to her.
She purses her lips and tilts her head in contemplation.
She gives a barely perceptible nod and grins mischievously at me.
It has ‘challenge accepted’ written all over it.
This weekend is about to get interesting…