Then You Happened (Average Gents #5)

Chapter One

“You can always count on someone to cry at a wedding.

And it’s usually Derek.” - Garrett

DEREK

The day has finally come. I have been waiting for this day for years, have imagined what it would be like, how I would feel—and genuinely, I’m feeling pretty choked up about it all.

“Derek, what the hell is wrong with you?” My good buddy, Garrett, grumps from the corner of the room. He’s a good guy, a great, loyal friend who only acts irritated with the whole world.

But I know better.

He loves me.

“Nothing.” I take a deep breath, looking myself over in the mirror again.

Truly, I look damn good. The sport coat over a black button-down shirt, crisp, dry-cleaned slacks, and shiny new cowboy boots on my feet.

I’ve never owned cowboy boots before—my wear usually relies on solid, steel-toe work boots—but I have to say, I’m quickly becoming a fan.

“I’m just happy. This day has been coming forever, and it’s finally here. ”

My other buddies are sitting around the bedroom we’re in, all dressed in similar fashion and all pulling it off just as well as I am.

Warren and Graham are conversing with Chris and Enzo, all sharing a pre-ceremony beer while waiting for our cue.

“This is not your wedding, dumbass.” Garrett sighs, standing and going to look out the window from the second story of Graham’s childhood home. “It’s Graham’s.”

I scoff, holding a hand to my wounded heart and giving him a look that makes him roll his eyes. “I can’t believe you’re not taking this more seriously.” I shake my head. “Graham is my best friend, Quinn is my other best friend, and JC is my godson. This day is important.”

I look over at my best friend, whom I quickly grew attached to when I joined the army and we got stationed together.

We were thick as thieves, both bonding over similar things like construction and home improvement, cars, guns, and women.

It was easy to bond with a guy like Graham, he was one of those people who could seamlessly fit into any situation that was necessary.

I was much less that way, needing to stand out even when I don’t mean to.

When Graham met Quinn, his soon-to-be wife, and her daughter Alex, I knew right away that they would be his end game. And I was right.

Quinn was made for my best friend. She was the glue that kept that man from falling apart, and I had been grateful for her appearance in his life.

Quickly after that, they were engaged, but before they could get married, little JC Trevors made his presence known to the world, and they postponed their nuptials.

Now, their day is finally here, and I am absolutely thrilled for them. Graham deserves this life he’s carved out for himself more than anyone I know.

The door opens, and his brother CT walks in, patting Graham on the back and announcing that it was go time. CT is the best man, with me in second, which, I have to admit, burns a bit.

But I can’t deny that seeing my buddy and his brother make up and become friends again was a sight I loved to see.

Shit, there I go again. My eyes water as I think about the day ahead, and I hear Garrett sigh long and hard behind me.

You know what? Screw that guy, I’m allowed to feel emotional.

“All right, boys, it’s time to head down,” Graham announces with a wide, happy grin on his face.

We all shuffle out ahead of him, and he stops me, grabbing my hand with his own and shaking it. “Hey man, it means the world to me that you’re here.”

Oh shit. I am not going to make it past this day. My throat locks up, and I nod my head, pushing past the grogginess in my voice to say, “I wouldn’t have missed it.”

Graham sees my emotions and gives me a grin, nodding his head and patting me on the back. “Then let’s go get me a wife.”

We chuckle as we leave the room, walking down the stairs of the family’s generational home.

Last year, I’d come up with the group to help Graham throw his brother CT’s wedding to his wife, Dani. We’d made that shit magical for them, and essentially, with a few extra special tweaks, replicated the wedding we threw for them for my best friend.

The sun is starting to get lower in the sky and the late afternoon glow was perfect for the setting, throwing golden beams of light over the chairs that friends and family sit in.

There are more people here by a long shot compared to his brother’s wedding, a lot of unfamiliar faces that we’ve never seen before, probably here for Quinn.

There are lawyers galore, the dark clothes and suits being a dead giveaway, even Jim, her ex and the father of their daughter Alex, was wearing a deep black suit, making him look like a high-priced lawyer.

I’ve often been curious about how Graham deals with having to co-parent with the guy, but once I met him and saw how insanely nice he was—and how supportive he was of Quinn and Graham’s relationship—I understood how it worked.

I look to my buddy now, who’s standing at the front of the altar, with us groomsmen standing off to the side slightly after escorting the women up.

He’s watching intently as his two kids walk down the aisle: Alex as the flower girl and JC as the ring bearer, though little JC, only walking for a few months now, was more intrigued to pick up all the petals Alex is throwing, tossing down the ring pillow in favor of the flowers.

The crowd chuckles at the sight, and Alex calmly grabs the rings, letting her baby brother toss the flowers wherever he wants. Graham smiles proudly at them both.

I admit, the tears start to gather in my eyes at the sight of it all, the envy of my buddy getting everything he deserves, his dream similar to the one I have for myself. I just haven’t found the woman I could do it all with.

As Quinn comes down the aisle, smiling broadly at the man beside me, I catch a glimpse of a little head in the crowd. A little girl is standing on a chair, peeking over the tops of everyone in front of her and smiling at the bride and groom.

I grin at her, she’s freaking adorable.

Then I look to her side, and there’s a woman sitting beside her, the same shade of hair, and her eyes trained on the front. I feel something in my chest tighten at the sight of her, and my eyes scan the seats next to her, my curious mind wondering who she’s here with and if she’s attached.

But my eyes snap back over to hers with curiosity, and I can’t tear my eyes from her.

While she’s watching someone else get their happily ever after, I’m watching her, memorizing what I can from this far away.

Because fuck, if she’s not the most breathtaking woman I’ve ever seen.