Chapter 23
Chapter
Twenty-Three
CHLOE
As we walk up to the theater where Ari’s dance recital is at, my heart races.
This is it.
Brantley holds my hand tightly in his as we approach our friends.
This is it.
They are about to find out that we are together. We aren’t just Chloe and Brantley, two individuals anymore, but Brantley and Chloe, the couple.
No, this is it. The moment everything changes for real.
“Okay, on a scale of one to ten, how do you think this is about to go?” I whisper to him.
“I mean, they’re kids. Tiny at best. I’ll be surprised if they are on beat more than twice at the same time.”
He’s not wrong. The last time Ari had a dance recital, it was pure chaos. So much so that Liv sent the dance teacher a case of wine after.
“That’s not what I meant.”
He pulls me to a stop.
“Are you happy?” he asks.
“Of course.”
“Then everything is going to be fine. Our friends are going to support us as long as we are happy. You know that,” he tells me, kissing the tip of my nose.
“You’re right.” I sigh.
“Can you say that again? Maybe a little louder this time and in front of everyone,” he teases.
I roll my eyes and drag him forward. We make our way into the theater and find our friend group instantly.
“Hey, you guys,” I say as we approach.
Liv turns and smiles when she sees me. When she catches my hand in Brantley’s, her smile grows.
“Well, isn’t this a pleasant surprise?” she teases.
I roll my eyes as she pulls me into a hug.
“Enough out of you,” I mutter, making her laugh.
When I pull away, I see Eli pulling out his wallet and slapping some cash into Mason’s waiting hand.
“Did you really?” Brantley muses.
“Fuck yeah, I did,” Eli mutters.
“What am I missing?” I ask.
“These two had a bet on how long it would take for you two to finally hook up,” Adrianna tells me.
I look over at Eli and Mason, who don’t look the least bit apologetic.
“Okay, so how much was my love life worth, and do I get half?” I ask.
“Five hundred and one round trip in the jet,” Mason tells me.
I shake my head. Rich people.
“I feel like I should be insulted,” I tell them.
“I could have been on a private island with a drink in my hand and Adrianna naked this time next week if you would have waited two more days,” Eli grumbles.
“Elijah,” Adrianna hisses as she slaps his arm, making us laugh.
“What? It’s true,” he says unashamed.
I turn toward Brantley. “Did you know about this?”
“No, but if I did, I would have put money on us as well.” He shrugs.
“Unbelievable.”
“Wouldn’t that have been considered rigging the system?” Liv asks.
“Tomato, tomahto,” he tells her.
“Whatever, enough about us. How was our little dancer? Is she nervous?”
Mason scoffs. “She’s a Williamson, she doesn’t get nervous.”
Liv rolls her eyes. “No, she wasn’t nervous. She’s been practicing every chance she gets.”
“She’s so good that the teacher put her up front.” Mason boasts.
“Is it because she was good or because of the wine your wife bought her after the last recital?” Brantley asks.
Mason looks down at his wife, whose cheeks are turning red.
“I forgot you did that. Have I told you how proud I am of you for spending that kind of money?” he tells her.
I raise my hand. “Uh, I’m the one who hit the purchase button. Do I get any credit?”
Our friends laugh as Brantley leans down and whispers, “Good girl.”
I can feel my cheeks heat.
Goddamn him.
He knows I hate blushing. There’s no way to hide it.
“Do I want to know?” Adrianna teases as she looks at me.
“A lady never tells,” I say, making everyone laugh once again.
As weird as it sounds, I’m relieved. Everyone is acting like normal.
I never thought they would make a big deal about us walking in holding hands, but sometimes you never know.
Instead it feels like it was just meant to be this way.
Three couples, all together, just waiting to watch their favorite kid shine like the star she is. If only Max and Iris were here.
“Wait, are Max and Iris coming?” I ask as I look around.
Mason shakes his head. “No, he had some important meeting with the new designer.”
“Where are they now? It’s been a minute since I’ve talked to Iris,” Liv asks.
“Los Angeles?” Eli tosses out.
Brantley shakes his head. “Vegas. He’s overseeing the reno right now.”
Eli nods. “That’s right.”
“He asked me to record her dance and to send it to him,” Mason tells us.
“How is he doing out there? I haven’t really gotten to talk to him,” Eli asks while looking at Brantley.
Most would assume Mason would have the tabs on his brother. That’s not true, though. While the guys are close, it’s obvious that Eli and Mason are the closest to each other, while Brantley and Max are closest to one another.
“I think he will be making a trip home soon,” Brantley says.
There’s something in his tone that sets off alarm bells in my mind.
“Everything okay?” I ask.
He squeezes my hand. “He’s fine. He’s just ready to come home and see some familiar faces. Decompress for a minute or two.”
Liv shakes her head. “I don’t know how he does it. Don’t get me wrong, I’m thankful he switched so Mason could stay home, but that job has to be hell on an introvert.”
Before anyone can say anything, a voice comes over the loudspeakers. “If everyone can find their seats, the show will begin in ten minutes.”
“Come on, I don’t know how we managed to, but we got the entire front row to ourselves,” Liv says.
“Man, if I knew a case of wine came with so many perks, I would have started gifting them out a long time ago,” Eli teases as we make our way into the theater.
“We got lucky, it had nothing to do with that,” Liv hisses as she looks around.
We walk right up to the front row and take a seat.
Brantley leans over and murmurs, “I hope none of these little ballerinas get stage fright and vomit all over us.”
“Great, thanks for the mental image,” I hiss at him. “With my luck, we are going to be covered.”
“You’re welcome.” He kisses the side of my head before pulling away.
Great, now that’s all I’m going to be able to think of for the next hour and a half. I wonder if Liv would take offense if I moved…
brANTLEY
The dance recital was just as rough as I remember it being.
It was a mess, and by the time the first song was over, it looked like the teacher was near tears.
Then came Ari’s class. Just like Mason and Liv, said our girl was front and center.
She took her position with her chin held high.
She gave it her all, and when her song ended, we all stood and clapped.
Her little smile lit up the room, making the torturous experience worth it.
“I think I need something a little stronger than wine,” Eli mutters as Mason hands him a glass.
“You could just not have a drink if you’re going to be an ass about it,” Adrianna says bluntly.
“I’m not being an ass,” he protests.
“Are you two sure you actually like each other?” Chloe asks from her spot under my arm.
“Of course we do,” Eli says immediately.
Adrianna tilts her head from side to side. “I don’t know, I still think about murdering you three times a week.”
“Sorry about that. Dancer girl wanted two bedtime stories tonight,” Liv says as she walks into the living room.
“Only two? She usually makes me read three at minimum,” Brantley says.
Eli scoffs. “Seriously? It’s always five at my place, and then you wonder why I’m the favorite uncle.”
Brantley’s eyes narrow. “Bullshit. I’m her favorite.”
“You know she doesn’t have an actual favorite, right?” Mason says as he pulls Liv into his lap.
She grabs his glass of wine and takes a sip.
“Yes, she does. She tells me all the time I’m her favorite,” Eli tells him.
“Hey Eli, what’s it like?” Chloe asks.
He shakes his head. “What’s what like?”
“What’s it like being so delusional that you think you’re her favorite when everyone knows I’m her favorite,” she says confidently.
“You’re her aunt,” he says slowly.
“Aunt, baby daddy, I’m whatever she needs, and I’ve been around the longest.” Chloe shrugs.
“She’s not wrong.” Liv laughs.
Mason groans. “How many times do I have to ask you to please stop calling yourself the baby daddy?”
“Probably a million and one,” Chloe tells him.
“I hate you,” he says with no heat.
“I would too. I’m pretty fucking awesome.” Chloe shrugs.
Liv tips the glass of wine toward Chloe. “You’re also one hell of a doula.”
“Wait, you’re a doula?” Adrianna asks.
“Not licensed, no. I just read a book.”
Liv scoffs. “A book? Try the entire library. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you hyperfocus the way you did when I was in my final weeks of pregnancy.”
“I had to be prepared. Pregnancy is wild, and you never know what could happen.”
I knew that Chloe was there for Liv all through her pregnancy and basically helped raise Ari early on, but I didn’t know she was that involved. Just hearing that blows me away. My girl is fucking special. She would do whatever she needs to for those she loves, no questions asked.
“How the hell am I supposed to compete with that?” Eli asks.
“You don’t,” Adrianna tells him as she pats him on the back, trying to console him.
His head pops up. “Have another baby.”
Both Mason and Liv jolt back.
“Excuse me?” Liv says slowly.
“Have another baby. That way we can all start on an even playing field on who the favorite might be,” he tells her.
“I’m not carrying a baby for nine months and then going through hours of labor just so you can hopefully be the favorite,” Liv tells him.
Adrianna swats him on the back of the head. “Seriously? You did not just say that.”
“I mean, I’d love to have another baby with you, but I’m good with it being just us as long as you want,” Mason tells Liv.
Suddenly an image of all three women and Iris pregnant hits me.
The women are sitting around in various stages of pregnancy, talking.
“Her heartburn is out of control. I’ve had to start limiting her Tums intake.” Max sighs.
Eli shakes his head. “The all-day sickness is worse.”
Mason sighs. “We aren’t comparing whose wife has it worse off. They all have it bad.”
“What makes you say that?” Max asks his brother.
“Because they are carrying our babies,” Mason tells him.
Max’s eyes find mine. “What about Chloe?”
Chloe pinches my thigh, bringing me into the present.
“What were you thinking about? I felt your dick twitch,” she asks quietly.
Of course she did because the thought of her carrying my child is hot as fuck.
“If you are good, I’ll tell you later,” I murmur before turning back to our friends. “So, I was thinking…”
“Did it hurt?” Mason and Eli ask at the same time.
I roll my eyes and continue. “How would you guys feel about taking a group trip soon? Maybe somewhere tropical.”
“Sounds good to me. What’s the occasion?” Eli asks.
“Just because. It’s been a while since we’ve all gotten together and had no distractions,” I tell them.
Liv sighs. “That sounds heavenly, but what would we do with Ari?”
“Either she can come with a babysitter or you could get a nanny for the occasion. Up to you,” I tell her.
“This is a really good idea. I think the last time us guys took a trip was before Liv and I settled down,” Mason says.
While Mason, Liv, Adrianna, and Eli toss destination ideas back and forth, I look down at my girl. “What are you smiling about?”
She shrugs. “Because I love you.”
“I love you too.” I lean down and kiss her softly.
I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with her.
I can’t wait to build a family of our own together, whatever that might look like.
I can’t wait to take trips with our friends and explore the world together.
As long as she’s by my side, I’ll be happy, because I love her, and at the end of the day, that’s all that matters.