Chapter 30
Hayes Family Intervention
? Gonna Love You - Parmalee
Callie
I’ve been an emotional wreck all morning. It’s Wilder and Olivia’s wedding day, and the bridal party is at the big house getting ready, while the men are off somewhere doing cowboy shit—Jaxon’s words this time, not mine.
I breathe a quiet sigh of relief when Ruby starts passing around something called oopsie daisy shots. I’m ninety percent certain she made it up, but I’m not gonna look a gift horse in the mouth. I’m one minor inconvenience away from a full meltdown.
“To Mrs. Olivia Sullivan-Hayes,” Ruby says.
Sarah and I echo the sentiment, clinking our pink shot glasses together. I chase it with a glass of champagne; it’s hands down the fanciest way I’ve gotten tipsy.
I catch sight of Olivia twirling Emmy under her arm with Gracie propped on her hip. They’re all wearing matching pink silk pajamas. My chest squeezes; she’s an incredible mom. She was born to play the role.
Evie materializes at my side, giving my shoulder a light squeeze. This room is full of motherly affection, and I’m struggling to process all of it. “How are you holding up?” she asks. “I hope we haven’t scared you off yet.”
I let out a quiet laugh. “Not at all. Everyone’s been wonderful.”
She rests her head against mine and sighs. “I’ve always loved weddings… or maybe I just love love.”
“I’ve never been to a wedding before.”
“It can be overwhelming, but when you strip away all the fancy stuff—the flowers, the decorations, the gowns—it’s really about the people. Not just the family you were born into, but the family you chose, and the ones who chose you in return.”
Tightness grips my throat. I glance up at the ceiling and blink rapidly.
Evie pulls me against her and skates her hand up and down my back in a soothing motion. “We’ve got you, sweet girl. You’re one of us now.”
“I want in on this lovefest.” Ruby wraps her arms around our shoulders for a group hug.
“I think you’ve had one too many oopsie daisies, Ruby Lynn—” Evie gasps, grabbing hold of Ruby’s wrist. “What is that on your finger?”
Ruby giggles, waggling her ring finger, showing off a large ruby engagement ring and a dainty diamond band underneath.
“Oopsie daisy.” She snorts at her own joke. I can’t help but laugh with her.
The room full of people gathers around as Ruby tells the story of how she and Liam eloped at the Nashville courthouse with Liam’s son, Aiden, as the best man. Time passes in a blur, and before long, we’re all lining up around the outside of the wedding barn, preparing to walk down the aisle.
The wedding planner motions for me to step forward. When I do, I see Jaxon standing at the end of the aisle with Wilder and Griffin. They’re each wearing a crisp linen jacket with a pair of jeans and a white button-down, and they have pastel floral boutonnieres to match the bridesmaid bouquets.
Jaxon’s hair is still in his artfully styled curls, but he’s not wearing his glasses, and I swear those emerald eyes are more vibrant than ever today, even at a distance. Wilder leans over and whispers in his ear. My stomach does a weird little flip when his gaze locks on mine, and he winks.
My thoughts stray to a different wedding entirely, one that only my imagination could conjure—me in a white gown, walking toward an awestruck Jaxon.
My stomach sinks at the realization that I have no one to walk with me if that day ever does come.
The music begins to play, and I plaster on a smile for their benefit.
But inside, I’m still a mess.
Jaxon
Callie glides down the aisle in a light yellow silk dress that hangs off one shoulder.
Her hands tremble slightly as she clutches her bouquet.
The air grows thick and heavy as she gets closer to the end.
It’s a goddamn miracle I’m still standing when she takes her spot on the other side of the arch.
She gives me a watery smile, and my heart leaps into my throat. This is exactly where she belongs. The only thing that would make this better is if she were standing a few paces to the left with me at her side, sliding a diamond wedding band onto her ring finger.
Ruby and Sarah join her one after the other. Emmy and Gracie are holding hands, chaotically sprinkling flower petals as they make their way along the aisle. Gracie’s still a bit unsteady on her feet, but she makes it to the end without incident.
Emmy finds her seat in the front row beside Mama, but Gracie toddles straight over to me, completely bypassing Wilder.
I heft her into my arms, and she rests her head on my shoulder, popping her thumb into her mouth.
There’s an audible chorus of awes right before the music shifts to an acoustic version of “Can’t Help Falling in Love” and everyone stands.
Wilder’s knees buckle as his bride glides gracefully down the aisle on her father’s arm, his cool composure replaced by a sudden rush of emotion. Olivia looks like a princess in a long, flowy gown that flares at the hips and ties into bows at her shoulders.
Tears disappear into Wilder’s beard as he struggles to stay upright. He shakes his head as if he can’t believe the vision coming toward him.
I wrap one arm around his shoulder and give him a reassuring squeeze. “Proud of you, Wild Man.”
He blows out a long breath and pats my hand.
Olivia’s chin quivers, and a tear falls down her cheek. When she reaches the end of the aisle, she pulls a daisy out of her bouquet and sets it on an empty chair in the front row beside Emmy Lou. Jess’s chair. Olivia wanted her to have a place at the wedding.
“Hi, Mama,” Emmy says cheerfully.
A wave of quiet laughter cascades through the crowd.
“Hey, Emmy girl.” Liv presses a soft kiss to her forehead and gives Emmy her bouquet for safekeeping.
Olivia’s father places her hand in Wilder’s and gives a nod of approval. “Take care of my little girl, Hayes.”
“Always.”
Forgoing tradition, Wilder cradles her face in his hands, swiping the tears from her face, then he pulls her into his arms and holds her. My eyes stray to Callie, who’s dabbing at her glassy eyes with a tissue.
“Alright, you two,” Pops says from his position under the archway. “There’ll be plenty of time for that after you say I do.”
Olivia palms Wilder’s cheek, mouthing a silent I love you, and the ceremony continues. Nobody survives without shedding a tear, not even Pops, whose voice breaks at the end of “you may now kiss the bride.”
Wilder dips Olivia backward and kisses her like he’s been waiting his whole life for the chance. They stride back up the aisle to an upbeat song, dancing and laughing. When it’s our cue to leave, I reach for Callie’s hand. She laces her fingers with mine, and I bring them to my lips.
The second we enter the barn, I tug her into a dark alcove.
“Jaxon. What are you—”
Before she can finish her sentence, I take her mouth in a bruising kiss.
She melts like putty in my hands, and I swallow her quiet sighs of pleasure.
As my tongue delves between her lips, she reciprocates eagerly.
My cock strains against my zipper, sobering me. This isn’t the time or place for this.
When I pull back, we’re both a little delirious.
I glide my thumb along her cheekbone and marvel at her beauty. She didn’t wear her glasses today, and her eyes are brighter than I’ve ever seen.
“Is my makeup ok?” she whispers.
“You’re perfect, Bluebird. Fucking perfect.”
“You love her, don’t you?” Wilder presses a beer to my chest, gesturing toward the dance floor.
Callie has Gracie in her arms while Olivia twirls Emmy under hers.
“Callie,” Wilder clarifies needlessly. “You’re in love with her.”
I swipe my hand over my beard. “I don’t know if I’m capable of loving her. Not the way she deserves.”
“I hate to be the bearer of bad news, brother, but you don’t get a choice in the matter. When I met Olivia, I wasn’t ready to accept just how much she meant to me. I knew if I let myself love her, I’d run the risk of losing her. One day, out of the blue, I realized something.”
“What was it?”
“That it was already too fucking late. I fell for her in the quiet moments when I wasn’t guarding my heart.
She burrowed her way under my skin one touch, one smile, one kindness at a time.
All I can do now is love her and try to keep her safe, knowing that someday I could lose her.
Loving my three girls has brought me unimaginable happiness.
It’s also robbed me of my sanity, and I might never know peace again, but I fall deeper in love with them every single day. I wouldn’t give that up for anything.”
I bring the beer to my lips and take a long pull. “When did you get so wise?”
“When I met Olivia Sullivan-Hayes.”
“It has a nice ring to it.”
He nods twice. “Callie Hayes isn’t so bad, either. You’d be hard-pressed to find a better woman.”
“He’s right, you know.” Like an assembly line of unsolicited advice, my meddling mother flanks me on the opposite side. “Callie’s special.”
“You think I don’t know that?” I growl defensively. “She’s too damn good for me.”
“You’re not giving yourself enough credit, my sweet boy.
” Mama pats my cheek, gazing at me like she’s still seeing a much smaller, less jaded version of her youngest son.
“You always did have a tender heart. That didn’t change when you lost him, you know.
The walls you’ve built up to block the pain are also stopping you from feeling joy, happiness, and love.
The bravest thing you’ll ever do is open your heart, and I promise you, it will have been worth it. ”
“Head or heart?” I ask her.
“Heart. Always. It won’t ever lead you astray.”
“It led me all the way to you, Evie girl,” Pops says, wrapping his arms around her from behind. “Dance with me.”
Ruby materializes in front of me, now changed out of her pink bridesmaid dress into a pair of bell-bottoms and a band tee. She tugs on my hands. “Come on, Jaxy. You’re the best dancer here. You can’t stand on the sidelines all night.”
I let her pull me to the center of the dance floor before taking the lead. I know better than to think this is just a dance with my baby sister, though. She always has an ulterior motive.
“So… Callie looks pretty tonight,” Ruby says.
I let her go and twirl her back in. “Mhm.”
“Is that all you’re gonna say?”
I glare down at my sister. “Why don’t you spit it out, Roo?”
She rolls her eyes and flicks the brim of my hat. “Fine. Don’t fuck it up.”
“Wasn’t planning on it.”
“I mean it, Jax. She’s good for you, and I think you’re good for her, too.”
I scan the crowd until I spot her. She’s at the head table sipping on a glass of champagne. Liv pulls her in for a side hug, and they both throw their heads back laughing. She’s radiant, and I’m so unbelievably fucked.
“I hear you.”