Chapter 42
DARCY
W hen émile got married, it was a thrown-together surprise ceremony that his husband’s friends pulled off without a hitch.
One of them registered to perform the wedding, and so, instead of spreading our story all over Seattle to try and find someone who would marry us, I only had to make one phone call.
“I’m honored you shared your secret with me, darling,” Elle says, straightening my tie, which is already perfect.
I haven’t seen her or her brother, émile, since Father’s funeral, but she always knows how to make an entrance.
She breezed through my door this morning with her friend who’s going to be our officiant on her arm and an imaginary invitation to our wedding.
I brush her off. “I needed Gabe, so it was either call you or call émile, who’s currently following his husband around the country.”
“Your love for me is thrilling, honestly. Though, speaking as someone with a brother, I have no idea how you’re marrying yours?—”
“Urg, stop it.”
“What? I’m just saying, I never took you to be this kink?—”
“I definitely made the wrong choice. I chose very, very poorly. Is it too late to take back?”
She smiles. “Sorry, but you do know with my questionable sense of humor that you’re making it too easy on me. And here émile and I were, assuming you’d never break a rule in your entire life.”
“Yes, yes, you both think I’m boring.”
“Noooo. No, not boring … okay, so maybe that word was used a couple of times, but now I know everything you’ve been through …
” She squeezes my arm, looking genuinely sympathetic.
“I get it. And as someone who’s known you for a large portion of your life, I’m happy for you.
And shocked those half-wit brothers of yours are in on this whole thing.
I’m not so sure émile’s wedding didn’t bring about the apocalypse with everything that’s been happening lately. ”
With the clusterfuck I’m sure is coming our way, the A-word is one I’d like kept away from my life.
My brothers, Wren, and I have spent the last week trolling through the company’s accounts and dividing up the assets and departments in as equal a way as possible.
We’ve narrowed it down to entertainment, which Junior wants.
He’ll take over the movies and streaming sectors.
Toby was fast to put his hand up for social media since the growth in that smaller department has been exponential.
And Wren’s left with the news, which was the area of the business I would have fought tooth and nail to keep.
I still can’t believe that I’m the only person who actually wants to be in charge, and I’m the only one who’s technically not eligible.
Instead of playing tug-of-war with the company, it turned into a game of hot potato.
The other good part about taking the news side is that the shareholders I’d take with me are, well …
not so easily swayed by scandal. In fact, if we’re the ones reporting on the story first, that’ll generate revenue, and as these men and women are largely concerned with making money, that, I hope, will be a deal sweetener.
Toby and Junior are going to have their hands full with convincing people to stay.
“Think we can have a minute?” Wren asks.
“Of course.” Elle heads for the door. “Oh, also! I forgot to tell you Gabe’s rate. It’s a thousand an hour, love. That’s fine, right?”
Wren’s jaw drops. “A thousand an?—”
“It’s fine,” I cut him off. “We’ll pay whatever we need to.”
Elle’s face falls. “Dammit. I knew I should have gone higher.”
She leaves, and Wren turns to me with wide eyes. “Tell me she’s joking.”
I reach out to hook my finger through the belt loop on his jeans and tug him toward me.
Wren still isn’t a fan of suits, so I told him to wear whatever he felt most comfortable in today.
“She’s not. I’d also be willing to bet Gabe has no idea she planned to negotiate for him, so he’ll be in for a surprise. ”
“Still.” He frowns. “It’s a lot of money.”
I cup Wren’s scowly face and drag a slow kiss over his mouth. “I’ll pay whatever I need for this to happen.”
“I can’t believe we’re getting married.”
“Please tell me you’re not having doubts.”
“None.” He grips my side. “Because tonight, we get to have newlywed sex. And it’ll be the first time my dick is inside you where I won’t be questioning if it’s the last time.”
The promise of our first time together as husbands, knowing we’ll have that for the rest of our lives, makes my heart swell. “All my life, I was told you’d be my ruin when it turns out you’re my salvation instead.”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. There’s still everything that comes next.”
“The only thing I want to think about is today.” I go to kiss him when he ducks out of my hold.
“Save it for your husband, will you?”
“In that case, let’s get this over and done with.”
Wren holds out his hand, and I lace my fingers through his.
Given that this wedding is a secret, we’re having it at my place, and I hate that Wren is having to hide on his wedding day, so I made sure to go all out.
There’s a flower arch in front of the windows with a panoramic view of Elliot Bay, and we timed it for sunset so all the gorgeous oranges and pinks light up the room.
The furniture is gone, and there’s a line of petals from my bedroom all the way to where Gabe is standing waiting for us.
The only people we invited were my brothers, Remy, and Penelope, Wren’s mother. Elle invited herself, but seeing her smiling back at me makes me grateful she did.
Gabe’s face lights up when we reach him. “You know, this is the third time I’ve done this, and I’m basically a professional at this point. Plus, third time’s a charm and all that. It’s gotta be a good sign.”
“Lord knows we need it.”
Wren angles toward me, taking my other hand, and when his hazel eyes meet mine, he pulls a smile from me. A smile full of hope and the feeling that this is where I was always supposed to end up. Standing across from him and promising him my life as he does the same for me.
We’re two halves of the same coin. Two men who at one point were on the same path. Only, he’s a product of love. I’m a product of obligation. And it’s taken us our entire lives to get here.
Because that’s all my life has been.
I wasn’t following obligation or duty, after all. I was following the path that brought me to Wren.
Gabe starts out by thanking everyone for coming and going over the general sentiment of marriage being a bond. A union.
I drown him out because Wren and I, we go beyond the usual disclaimers. Our love burns deeper and hotter than anything I thought I’d experience in this lifetime.
When it comes time for the vows, I talk before Wren can.
“The first thing I have to say is thank you. If it wasn’t for you, well, being you , we wouldn’t be standing here.
All my life, I’ve been taught that love isn’t enough, and in a few short months, you’ve shown me that it’s everything.
We had a rocky beginning, are standing in an impossible place, facing an uncertain future, and the only thing making me brave enough to take this step is you .
Because I can say, with all the honesty in my heart, that there isn’t a single other place I’d rather be standing.
I love you, Wren Porter. I think I always have, and I know I always will. ”
His lips pull up on one side, eyes glistening with the kind of unashamed tears he’s always been able to find. He doesn’t bother with appearance or what he’s supposed to do or be or how to act. Wren is just Wren.
“When we first met, I was like, who are these three guys with a stick rammed so far up their asses they might as well set them to vibrate so they can relax?”
Toby snorts from behind me, and I hear Junior groan.
It takes everything in me not to laugh. “Did you just say arses in our wedding vows?”
“No, I said asses. Totally different thing. Can I continue?”
“I think you’re going to have to.”
“Right. I met you guys … and then you showed me that maybe first impressions aren’t everything.
Maybe I jump to conclusions and see the world the way I want to see it instead of giving things a chance to shine.
And damn, Darce, you shine. I give you a hard time about work, but your work ethic is unmatched.
Your honor. You’re loyal, even when people don’t deserve it.
I’ve never met someone so wholly good, who’s so focused on making everyone around him happy that he comes last. Every time.
So I’m making this commitment today that you’ll always come first to me.
While you’re busy looking out for everyone else, I’ll have your back.
While you’re out there building an empire, I’ll be passing you the bricks.
Every time you have a weak moment, every time those doubts kick in, every time you don’t feel worthy, I’ll support you.
You think love is everything? Nah. You are everything.
And I’m going to remind you of that every day for forever. ”
Well, fuck.
Who would have thought my foul-mouthed, suit-resistant, bastard-heir fiancé would reduce me to tears?
“Okay, okay,” Gabe says, dragging a finger under his eye. “You’re almost making me want to get married when I specifically promised the boyfie I wouldn’t catch wedding fever.”
“I make no apologies.” I stare at Wren, wanting this over already. Wanting him in my arms and my mouth on his. It’s impossible to stay in one place.
“Darcy Ritcherson, do you promise Warren Porter your forever?”
“I do.”
“Warren Porter, do you promise Darcy Ritcherson your forever?”
“I do.”
“Then, I’m happy to pronounce you husband and husband! Make out already.”
My smile is painful as I take a step toward him to close the distance, love rushing through me. His wide, scruffy jaw, those piercing eyes, the way the sunset plays over his face.
Wren meets me halfway, mouth finding mine, and a tear drips onto my cheek at the sheer happiness overflowing from me. He arches me backward, hand groping my ass, and it’s so far from the perfect, stiff wedding I’d always envisioned having that I laugh into the kiss.
It’s nothing like I ever imagined.
And it’s completely perfect anyway.