Chapter 44
Leo
Ithought I’d seen my best friend in love before, but as I watched him crumble as Jade walked toward him to promise to be by his side for the rest of his life, tears threatened to fall.
A small part of me was jealous because what he shares with Jade is special.
They are each other’s counterparts—they just work better together and I want that.
Of course my mind instantly goes to the woman standing opposite me, dabbing her eyes and smiling lovingly at her brother who holds back tears while he declares his undying love to the love of his life.
The sunlight streams through, making her almost glow as she swipes her tissue under her eyes to blot away the happy tears pooling in her sparkling blue eyes.
She looks perfect, and it’s hard to look away.
When the happy couple share their first kiss as man and wife, I’m hit with so many emotions that I fight with the need to run.
My head is swimming with happiness for my best friend but also regret.
Regret that this moment is something that was ripped from Ria.
Her eyes meet mine for a beat when Hunter and Jade break apart and make their way down the aisle adorned with sunflowers and wildflowers.
Slowly, she moves to my side, curling her delicate hand around mine and offering me something that I’m not sure I truly deserve, but I’m fed up with holding back.
Gripping her hand tightly, I pull her into me, looping our arms together and guiding her down the aisle behind her brother and his new bride.
“You’ll have this one day,” I whisper as we smile at the crowd who are clapping and cheering as we make our way down the aisle and out of the ceremony.
“Have what?” She leans her head on my shoulder, and warmth floods me.
“The white wedding. The time to shine.”
“I don’t need it. I just want the marriage not the wedding.”
“What do you mean?”
“The wedding is the beginning—the fun, exciting, and thrilling moments. But marriage is the life you build with someone, the choices you make together, the family you create. I want that, but the marriage—that’s the hard part.
Only if you grow with your partner, that's the way you’ll make it work.
” We gather in the reception room and she turns to me, her face bright and full of life.
“People don’t want to work at it when things get hard, and I want someone who gets me and loves me but won’t give up on me. ”
I open my mouth to reply, but Ada slides in next to Ria. Pure joy radiates from her. “Isn’t this the most beautiful wedding?” She drops a kiss on Ria’s cheek. “And look at you two.” Her grin is broad as she gives me a hug. “This couldn’t be more perfect.”
“Ada, Angel, don’t crowd them.” Thomas wraps his arms around her waist and pulls her into his chest. “They were having a moment.” Thomas winks at me as he rests his head on top of Ada’s.
“They were, weren’t they.” Grace sneaks in next to him and Ria crosses her arms across her chest.
“We weren’t having a moment,” I scoff just as my very favorite mini whirlwinds of chaos spin in a blur of sparkles.
“Auntie Ri, you look so pretty,” Evelyn gushes as Ria bends elegantly to pick her up.
“Thanks, Ev, you look so pretty too. This dress is very fabulous.” She smiles, rubbing her nose against Ev’s.
“Leo, can you believe it? Unki Hunter actually married Tinkerbell.” Rosie pulls on my trousers and I scoop her up. Noah’s twin girls have always had a very special place in my heart. They don’t judge, just live for fun.
“I know, Ro, he’s really lucky.” She wraps her little hand around my neck, making me smile wider.
I love these girls with every fiber of my being.
They have been through so much but never drop their infectious grins,.
Happiness beams out of them, and I know that has so much to do with Noah never lowering his guard and showing the pain he harbors.
“I’m mad at you.” Her face crumples as she scowls at me.
“Me? Why?”
“Why didn’t I get to come to your wedding to Auntie Ri?”
“Umm…” My eyes dart to Ria and then around the rest of the group who just shrug. “We didn’t invite anyone,” I say quickly.
“Yeah, Daddy said he didn’t get to go either.” Her brows furrow in the cutest of frowns. “He was talking to Stevie about it.”
“Who is Stevie?”
“Our soccer coach,” she says brightly.
“You do soccer now? Lily will be proud.”
“Yeah, Stevie said that I’m a natural. I scored a hat trick the other day and got player of the match. I got to take the trophy home. Daddy took us for waffles after, and I got the chocolate one and daddy snuck some peanut butter cups in like you did that one time,” she whispers.
“Stealing my moves, is he? Where is your dad anyway?”
“He’s getting his picture taken with Unki Hunter and Auntie Tink.”
“Nicely diverted,” Grace mumbles as she reaches for a glass of champagne from the passing server.
“Not diverting anything,” I mutter out the corner of my mouth.
“Delusion isn’t a good look on you, Chuckles.
” She sashays off and as she reaches Deacon, he wraps her up in a warm hug and drops a kiss to her cheek.
His daughter, Olive, runs up to him in a flash of dusky pink and glitter, her nanny chasing behind, and all three break out in fits of giggles as Olive slips and slides into Deacon, nearly knocking him over.
She is the clumsiest kid I’ve ever known, will fall over air and blame you for it, and of course you will say sorry because she has these ridiculously huge, round brown eyes that you can’t be mad at.
“Oh, Olive’s here.” Ro squirms in my arms and I put her back down.
“Come on, Ev, let’s go play with Olive.” Ria places Evelyn back down, and the pair rush off in a manic swirl of color and sparkles.
Watching the girls has my thoughts wandering to a place I’ve only ever dreamed about.
Sneaking a quick glance at Ria, my stomach flips.
Her features have softened as she watches with such love as her nieces collide with Olive and dart through the adults’ legs, causing everyone to jump out of their way as they chase each other in fits of giggles.
She never takes her eyes off them, the corners of her lips tugging up in a small, dreamy smile.
“And I thought you were chaotic.” Thomas clamps his hand on my shoulder, snapping me out of my trance. “Can I have a word?”
Flicking my eyes to Ria and noticing she’s now in an animated conversation with her mom, Lily, and Marcus, I let out a long breath and answer, “Sure.” As I follow Thomas through the crowd of wedding guests, he swipes two tumblers of scotch from a passing server, and we exit the hotel into the bright garden.
Feeling sweat trickle down my spine, I try to regulate my breathing as I stand next to him, the sounds of laughter streaming in from the wedding party behind us.
Thomas doesn’t say anything—just passes me a tumbler and takes a sip from his.
Too nervous to say anything, I take a large gulp of my scotch and pray I’m not sweating through my shirt.
“So you and Ria.” He pauses, staring out at the twins running around the gardens with Olive hot on their tails. “You’re now a real thing.”
Okay, so Hunter has spoken with him. Jesus, I thought I was the gossip.
“Yes, and I’m sorry you had to find out from Hunter. God, I can’t believe he told you. But look—”
He holds his hand up, stopping me. “Hunter didn’t say a word.”
“Huh? But then how did you know?”
“Anyone with eyes can tell how you look at my daughter. And it’s about damn time she saw it.” Looking over at me, he gives me a warm smile. “You’ve been in love with Ria for a long time, Leo. I’m just glad you’re finally taking that leap.”
I just stare, my jaw hanging slack as he huffs out a laugh.
“You knew?”
“When you’ve been on this planet as long as I have, you learn to read people.
And my boy, your dad and I have been waiting for you to wake up.
But you’ve had this ridiculous idea in your head that you aren’t good enough.
Even as a boy, you would hold back, letting others gain the glory.
You hide how fucking intelligent you are with this mask of humor, but Leo, know this—you are worth so much. ”
“My head is just messy and loud all the time, and I cause so much drama and she doesn’t deserve that.
” At that moment, Ria appears with Jade and the girls from the other side of the patio, Kenya ushering them to gather around a whimsical oak.
My eyes track her movements. She’s fluid and graceful, just floating across the space, and I get lost watching her.
She’s so relaxed, so happy, that it kicks me in the gut.
“Tell me, how loud is your head when she’s near you?”
Sipping my scotch, I answer, “It’s silent.”
“I thought so.” He’s quiet for a beat, but when he finally turns to me, his expression is kind as he continues.
“That calm and peace you can find with that one person—your other half—is unmatched. It’s what we all chase.
It isn’t material things; it isn’t power.
It's that sense of belonging, the undeniable feeling of home. If you have found that with my Ria, you fight for her. You don’t let that voice in your head tell you that you aren’t good enough for her.
Only she can decide that. You’re only fighting with yourself, and only you stand in your own way of happiness.
Ignore the doubt and run with the possibilities.
You know more than most what it is like to have loved and lost and how the heart is never truly the same after. ”