13. Chapter 13
Holden
“ I ’m so excited,” Eli says as he taps his feet against the floor in the dressing room of the venue.
I swear, half the hospital showed up for this wedding.
Turns out, when Beck got Roman back, he stopped being a reclusive asshole and now everyone is obsessed with him.
It would almost be annoying if I didn’t love him so much.
“I’m excited too.” I smile at Eli and pick up the eyeshadow brush from the table beside me. Full-blown makeup isn’t really my style, but it looks adorable on Eli, and I’m decent enough at it. “Okay, close your eyes.”
He does, then tilts his face toward me. The makeup I’m doing is understated, just a bit of gold on his lids that really brings out the green in his eyes.
Once I’m done with the shadow, I take my time applying mascara.
This kid has the longest eyelashes I’ve ever seen, and when they’re coated in black, they almost touch his eyebrows.
I wasn’t kidding when I said I was jealous of them.
When his face makeup is done, I apply a sheer gloss to his lips and hand him a mirror so he can check himself out. The second he sees his face, he gasps, and tears well up in his eyes. “Ugh. I’m going to ruin it already.”
“Nope. Waterproof. Well, not the eyeshadow. But the mascara and liner. I wasn’t taking any chances.”
Eli lets out a little wet laugh. “Kinda crazy that I just met Beck and Roman a few weeks ago and now I’m at their wedding, huh?”
I sit down in the chair across from him. “Why do you say that?”
He shrugs. “It’s just crazy. It feels like a dream.”
“Do you want to know a secret?” I whisper, leaning in close.
Eli nods, his eyes a bit wide. “It feels like a dream for them as well.” The sweet smile on Eli’s face has me smiling too. “So, what did you think of Riley?”
He laughs, his entire face lighting up with joy. “She walked in the front door with her girlfriend and said, ‘Hi, I’m your Aunt Riley.’ She’s kind of amazing.”
“Girlfriend?” I blurt out.
“Yeah? You didn’t know? ”
Hell no, I didn’t know. Makes sense, though. She always did claim all boys were stupid. And even though she loves me and Julian, she still stands by Ro and Beck being the only two who aren’t. “No. I had no idea. Happy for her, though. Now share the tea. What’s her girlfriend like?”
Eli tilts his head to the side. “Pretty. Really pretty. She has huge eyes. Like they’re almost too big for her face. She’s nice too, but a little quiet. Beck and Roman didn’t know she was coming. Or I guess even that Riley was dating someone. Her name is Kara.”
Hmm. Interesting . Before I can pry him for any more details, there’s a knock at the door. “Darlin’. Time to go. The grooms are about ready.”
Brushing back a strand of Eli’s hair and fixing it a little bit, I smile. “Are you ready?”
He hesitates for a second before nodding. “Do you think maybe I should just sit down instead when we get out there. Do you really think Beck’s okay with me standing with Roman?”
“I have no doubt at all that he’s really okay with it.
I know Beck and I give each other shit sometimes, and we love to pick on each other.
It’s our love language, yeah? But he really is one of the most genuine people you’ll ever meet in your life.
If he says he’s good with it, he means it.
He’ll never, ever tell you something expecting you to guess if he means it, okay? ”
When Eli nods again, a little more sure this time, I stand, offering him my hand.
He takes it and I pull him up before leading him out of the room.
Julian’s waiting in the hallway with both kids.
Wren’s dress looks adorable on her, and I can barely even look at Warren because why are toddlers in tuxes so fucking cute?
“My, my. Don’t you guys look magnificent.
” Especially my fiancé. His tux is clinging to his broad chest, and he looks good enough to actually fucking eat, but with little ears around, I figure I better keep that to myself.
“Daddy, look,” Wren says, doing a little twirl.
“So pretty. Are you ready?”
She smiles and slips her hand into mine.
“Okay,” I say, “Eli, are you still good with walking down with Warren?”
He nods, so Julian sits him down and Eli takes Warren’s hand in his. “Are you ready to go, little man?” Eli asks.
Warren looks up at Eli and gives him a smile. “Go!”
Hopefully, he doesn’t mean actually go. Knowing this kid, I wouldn’t put it past him to run off.
We decided to let Eli carry the rings out, and just have Warren be the ring bearer in name only, which makes me feel a shit ton better about life.
I do not want to be the one responsible if my kid loses the damn wedding rings.
“Okay. Let’s go.”
I make it two steps before I’m being pulled back. “Excuse me, darlin’. Not so fast.”
Julian wraps me up in his arms, lifting me effortlessly, and presses his lips to mine. Normally, this is my favorite, but… “Put me down. You’re going to wrinkle my clothes.”
Julian laughs. “My bad. First time in over two years you didn’t want me to pack you around.”
“I take offense to that,” I murmur, but he does put me back down.
We’re waiting for our cue to start walking when Riley rushes out of Beck’s room and into the hallway. “Hey,” I say, giving her a little wave.
She rolls her eyes and tugs me into a hug. “Hey, my ass. How are you doing, CT?”
I narrow my eyes at her. “Don’t you start with that crap.”
The doors open, and the music starts playing. Riley takes her cue, ushering Wren toward the door. “Ready, girlie?”
Wren nods, picking up her basket of flowers. “Ready. ”
The two of them take off down the aisle, and I can’t help the smile on my face as I watch Wren toss the rose petals that Julian and I filled the basket with this morning.
Eli heads up next, holding Warren’s hand.
He almost gets distracted by Henry and Ruby, but thankfully Eli’s able to keep him on task as they make their way to the arch at the end of the aisle.
Julian and I walk down side by side, our arms linked together.
Huh, this is actually a first, and not super easy given our height difference.
When we’re all settled at the front, Beck starts walking toward us.
He’s got the barest hint of a smile on his face, and I will not cry. I won’t. Nope. Danny is walking beside him, his proud papa smile so big I can’t even look at him. Because if Beck’s face isn’t going to make me cry, Danny’s surely will. I have no idea how I’m going to manage seeing Roman.
When Beck and Danny make it to the arch, Danny gives him a lingering hug and steps back, sitting down at the front.
Seconds later, Ro steps through the doorway with Lydia’s arm hooked through his. Beck lets out a choked sound beside me that instantly has tears springing to my eyes. Goddammit, Beckett.
Roman and Lydia make their way down, and he’s already got tears in his eyes and Lydia is crying and Beck is sniffling and I really can’t take this.
He looks so happy. So fucking happy. Sometimes, I can’t believe this is our lives.
I can’t believe the nineteen-year-old boy I used to beg to go home to his lost love is now walking down the aisle toward him.
I can’t believe that I get to be here to witness it.
I know how hard those years were for Roman—I saw them firsthand.
Saw how they broke him and tore his heart apart.
This feels like he’s finally home. Like nothing will ever keep them apart again.
I wasn’t expecting it to make me so emotional, and that was a major oversight on my part.
I blow out a deep breath, trying to keep myself under control.
It’s embarrassing to cry before they even say their vows.
I chance a look at Beck. He’s got that same smile on his face, but he’s also got tears pouring down his cheeks. Looking was a mistake.
Ro and Lydia come to a stop in front of Beck, and after she hugs them and gives them both kisses on their cheeks, she sits down beside Danny.
In true Ro and Beck fashion, they don’t even wait for the officiant to do his thing. Beck wraps Roman up in his arms, whispering something to him that no one else can hear. Ro lets out a little laugh, nodding along.
I clear my throat to get their attention, and they both step back, taking their places under the arch .
Everyone is so still and quiet, you could hear a pin drop. Even my wild child is standing silently between Eli and me.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join two souls together in marriage.”
I drown out his voice as I watch Roman and Beck.
Their hands are clasped together so tightly I’m surprised either of them have blood flow, wearing matching smiles, and shedding matching tears.
It has nothing on Beck’s eyes. I can’t quite see Roman’s from my angle, but I don’t need to.
I can see the love he’s radiating reflected in Beck’s eyes.
The eyes he currently has locked on Ro like he’s his sole reason for existence, like the world starts and stops with him.
And in some ways, for these two, I think that really is the case.
I don’t dare look at Julian. If I do, it’s over for me.
“You prepared your own vows?” the officiant asks, and Beck nods. “Beck, would you like to start?”
He nods again, his throat bobbing heavily as he tries to swallow down his obvious emotion.
Reaching into the pocket of his tux, he pulls out a sheet of paper, unfolding it slowly.
I look at it for a second, and absolutely fucking lose it.
So much for not crying. I choke back a burning sob, my throat physically aching with the effort it takes.
Judging by Roman’s sharp intake of breath and the trembling in his body, he’s seeing the same thing I am .