39. Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Levi
T he three of us had agreed that whoever had the chance to ask Evie if she’d decided whether or not she was going back to Nashville should do it. I just hadn’t expected it to be me.
And I definitely hadn’t expected the flash of hurt in her eyes when she answered.
It cut me, that look, and I knew that, no matter what else happened tonight, my brothers and I needed to make sure Evie knew, without any doubt, that we wanted her to stay.
Now that we were at the reception, I wasn’t having second thoughts, but I was definitely having anxiety. I couldn’t remember a time in my life when I’d gotten nervous about anything, but this woman could do it to me. Yeah, I was completely confident that I could fuck her into oblivion, and I’d take a bullet for her without thinking twice, but the idea of laying my heart on the line, telling her how I felt, had my mouth dry and my palms sweating.
And being in this damn tux didn’t help.
I snagged another glass of champagne from a passing tray and downed it in one gulp, barely tasting it.
“You’re not having second thoughts, are you?” Mason asked as he shrugged out of his jacket and hung it across the back of his chair.
I shook my head. “Just not fond of talking in front of people.”
“Which is what’s gonna tell Evie that we’re serious,” Tucker said. “Me and Mason, she might just write it off as us being drunk.”
“And let’s be real,” Mason said. “Tucker and I might’ve been jerks to her sometimes when we were growing up, but you were a mean fucker.”
I rubbed the back of my neck, guilt twisting my already knotted stomach. “I know. I got a lot to make up for.”
The sound of silverware tapping against glass had the three of us looking toward the table where Jenna, Isabel, Evie, and Isabel’s grandmother were sitting. Isabel stood up and took a microphone from the DJ.
“Good evening, everyone.” Her voice carried easily, and the few people who hadn’t stopped talking before did now. “First, Jenna and I would like to thank everyone for coming and celebrating with us today. It means the world to know that we have your love and support as we start this newest chapter of our lives together. But that’s enough from me. We’re going to start the toasts now, and before anyone worries that Nona will say something inappropriate, she’s agreed to keep it short and sweet.”
Isabel’s grandmother took the microphone and smiled at her granddaughter. “I’ve lived and loved a good long time, and all I’ve ever wanted for any of my family is for them to experience the same. The advice I could give you is too much to put into one little speech, so I have a letter for each of you that will say far more than I can right now. But for tonight, I’ll just say this: The love you have to fight for, that’s the sweetest kind. So fight for each other every day, and anyone who doesn’t like it can go straight to hell.”
Laughter and applause mixed as she handed the microphone back to Isabel. I clapped along with everyone else, but those words rang in my head.
It wasn’t uncommon for club sluts to be shared by the MC, and some of the guys even picked up girls they wanted to fuck together, but it wasn’t that simple with Evie. If it’d just been sex, that could be hidden, even after that video. But the one thing my brothers and I didn’t want was to be her dirty little secret. We wanted all of her, but she had to want all of us, and for someone in the public eye, that wasn’t going to be easy. We would have to fight for it, every day, but my little sister had shown us that it could be done.
“Next to speak is my maid of honor,” Jenna said, smiling at the woman next to her. “Evie Hayes.”
Evie’s hand was trembling as she accepted the microphone, and I had the sudden urge to go to her and wrap my arms around her, tell her that it was okay because we were here.
But I stuck to the plan, because I knew Evie would never forgive any of us if she thought we were taking attention away from Jenna.
“I’ve known Jenna since we were twelve. She was the new girl with the good-looking older brothers and the sweetest, bubbliest personality. And she didn’t know that the quiet, sometimes dirty, girl at the back of the class wasn’t someone she should want to be friends with.” Evie sniffed even as she smiled, her eyes shining.
Damn. That was the girl we’d made fun of and bullied—who I had bullied. A girl who’d already been beaten down by life. And I’d been the stupid son of a bitch who picked at her because I thought it was fun riling her up. And then I’d done it because I saw she had a crush on me. And when she started looking more like a woman than a child, I’d lashed out like an immature bastard.
Guilt nearly choked me, and I felt my brothers shift beside me as if they were thinking the same thing.
“From that moment, I’ve only ever wanted the world for you, and when you called me to tell me about this beautiful woman you’d met, I knew you’d found your world.” Evie looked at Isabel. “Thank you for making my best friend the happiest I’ve ever seen her. I know it hasn’t been easy for the two of you, living in a world that still sees your love as something to be ashamed of, but you’ve never let the hate win. You’ve overcome everything you’ve faced, because you’ve done it for each other and with each other.”
Evie’s eyes flicked to me, to Mason, to Tucker, and I found the anxiety leaving my body. Suddenly, my feet were firmly planted, every inch of me steady. I knew that I would do anything for this woman, and that certainty made everything else perfectly clear.
“I wish you every happiness life can give you, and may your love be a beacon of hope for everyone who’s thought those stars were out of their reach. To Jenna and Isabel.”
Evie raised her glass as everyone echoed, “To Jenna and Isabel.”
While Jenna hugged Evie, both of them wiping at their eyes, my brothers and I made our way to the table.
“To finish our toasts, I’m going to hand the mic over to my brothers, Levi, Mason, and Tucker.”
Tucker had been surprised when I told him that we needed to go in reverse order for this, but he took the microphone now without hesitation.
“I’ll keep this short,” he said with an easy smile. “You’re the best sister a guy could ask for, and I’m so happy that the two of you found each other. I wish you a bright and long future. Welcome to the family officially, Isabel.”
He handed the mic to Mason. “Leave it to Jenna to figure out a way around the promise I made her when she came home with her first crush—Timmy Sutton.”
Jenna burst out laughing.
Mason’s grin widened. “I told you then that I’d beat up any guy who wanted to marry you, because there weren’t any good enough for you.” He winked at Isabel. “But you have excellent taste in women, and I’m pretty sure she could kick my ass, so nice work.” His expression softened. “Love ya, little sis.”
Now it was my turn. I wasn’t nervous about this part, but it was gonna be hard to get out. No one knew what I was going to say, not my brothers, not my mom, and certainly not Jenna. I cleared my throat and hoped I was about to make my dad proud.
“When our dad would go on his deployments, he’d leave letters with our mom for certain milestones. The big birthdays. Graduations. Weddings. And I know Mom gave you the letter he left you for your wedding. But before he went that last time, he gave me something too.” I reached into my jacket pocket and pulled out the carefully folded envelope I’d kept for twelve years. “He told me that if he didn’t come back, it’d be my job to make sure that whoever you chose would treat you right. And when you found that person who would make you smile like the sun, I was supposed to give them this.”
I could hear people sniffing behind me, and Jenna had tears streaming down her cheeks as I walked over to Isabel and held out the envelope.
“I don’t know what he wanted to say to you,” I told her, “but I do know what I want to say. Thank you.”
Isabel wiped her cheeks with her free hand as she clutched the envelope in her other.
“Thank you,” I continued, “for making my little sister happier than I’ve ever seen her.” I turned to Jenna. “Dad would be so proud of you. And I’m proud of you.”
I set down the mic and turned from the table, barely making it two steps before my mom slammed into me, her face pressed against my chest. I wrapped my arms around her and gave her a tight hug.
“He’d be proud of you too,” she said, her voice muffled. “You know that, right?”
“I do.” I would’ve said the words automatically because she was my mom and needed to hear it, but I meant them too. I’d made mistakes, sure, but I liked to think that I’d grown into the sort of man he’d be proud to call his son.
“No more surprises,” Mom said as she pulled away. “I’ve cried enough today.”
I smiled and let her hug my brothers, because I couldn’t promise her that. We had one more surprise coming, and it was a big one.
“Damn, Levi.” Mason clapped a hand on my shoulder. “Warn a guy next time, will you?”
“You got one of those letters for us?” Tucker asked, glancing toward Evie, who was dabbing at Jenna’s cheeks.
“No,” I said. “But he did tell me that he had advice for me that I was supposed to pass down to you two whenever you got serious about a girl.”
“Pretty sure we’re at that point,” Tucker said.
“‘Don’t be an idiot.’”
Tucker looked insulted, and I chuckled. “No, man, seriously. He told me not to be an idiot. And then he said that we should listen to whatever Mom and Jenna told us to do.”
“Guess that means we’re on the right track,” Mason said, his gaze going back to the table where Jenna was standing up, microphone in hand.
She looked at the three of us and gave us a nod.
That was our cue. Time to put it all on the line.
“Okay, so this is about the time when the bride throws her bouquet, and I know a lot of you were thinking that since there are two brides, there are going to be two bouquet tosses, right? Well, not so much.” Jenna glanced at Evie, who just looked confused. “In a few minutes, Isabel is going to throw her bouquet for all of the single people who want to join in, but right now, I already know who I want to give my bouquet to.”
I felt everyone’s eyes on us as we walked over to stand in front of Jenna, but there was only one set I was interested in. And Evie was definitely watching. Her eyes were wide as they moved from me to Mason to Tucker and then back up the line.
“When I was sixteen, I came out as bisexual to Evie, and she never judged me. She supported me when I came out to my family, telling me that the people who mattered to me would love who I loved, and the rest wouldn’t matter.” Jenna carefully separated her bouquet into three smaller ones. “And she was right.”
Leaning over the table, she handed each of those smaller bunches of flowers to us.
“I promised myself that I’d do the same for her if she ever needed it.” Jenna turned toward Evie. “This is me, fulfilling that promise.” Jenna looked back at us. “You’re on.”
Tucker was closest to Evie, like we’d agreed, and he took a step closer to her, his gaze never leaving her face.
“I told you once before that it had always been you,” he began. “And that was the truth. I think I’ve been half in love with you since we were teenagers, and even though I never thought anything would come of it, I never quite let you go. Then, over these past couple weeks, I’ve realized that I never want to. I love you, Evelyn Hayes, and I want you to be mine.” He set the flowers down on the table in front of her. “Be ours .”
I heard the murmur of voices behind us but ignored it. We knew that going public with this might cause some waves, but Jenna and Isabel had made it very clear that they supported us as much as we supported them.
Mason moved forward next. “I tried for a long time not to want you. I pushed you away, and I acted like an idiot. Then I had you and realized that I never wanted to let you go. Don’t make me let you go. Stay with me.” He put his flowers down next to Tucker’s. “Stay with us.”
Evie’s eyes met mine as I stepped forward, and the rest of the world faded away. It was her and me and my brothers. The four of us. We were meant to be together. The fact that Jenna and Isabel let us have this chance at their wedding showed that they saw it too.
“I wasn’t supposed to want you, let alone fall in love with you,” I said the words I’d practiced all night. “But that first time I kissed you, something changed in me. Something came to life in a way I never expected. And I don’t want to go back to the way I was before. I want to move forward. With you. Whatever that looks like.” I put down my part of the bouquet on top of the others. “Be ours. Stay with us. Be my partner. Be our partner. Forever.”
As I finished, we all held our breath. Mason, Tucker, and me, waiting to learn if this was enough. If we would be enough. Everyone else waited too, wondering what Evie would say.
It seemed like an eternity, but in reality, it was only a few seconds. Then she was nodding, a watery smile curving her lips as she came around the table and threw herself into my arms.
“Thank you.” I kissed the top of her head as I held her. “I don’t know what I would’ve done if you turned us down.”
“Let’s not ever find out,” Tucker said. “Deal?”
“Deal.” Evie nodded with her face pressed against my chest.
Suddenly, I realized there was something else I was hearing. Applause. Shit. I’d forgotten that we were doing this in front of a fairly large group of people. My grip on her tightened.
“Let’s find somewhere a little more private to talk,” Mason said.
“I know where we can go,” Tucker said. “Follow me.”
Less than two minutes later, the four of us were in a small break room. Tucker locked the door behind us, and it suddenly became very clear that we were alone for the first time since we’d all four had sex after the shooting at Rocky’s.
Evie took a step back from me, but her smile told me she wasn’t having second thoughts.
“We should talk,” she said.
“We should,” I agreed.
“But I don’t want to talk right now.”
She reached to her side and had the zipper of her dress halfway down before I realized what she was doing.
“I need the four of us to be together.” She let the dress slide from her body, revealing the matching strapless bra and panties, both sheer dark red lace. “It has to be quick, and I don’t even care if I get off—”
“Hell, no,” Mason said what all three of us were thinking. “You’re gonna come, sweetheart. The question is, can you do it quiet enough that all those people out there won’t know what we’re up to?”
Evie’s eyes darkened. “If we do this how I want, I think I can.”
My eyebrows shot up. “You wanna be in charge, hellcat?”
She bent down to pick up her dress, her generous cleavage nearly spilling out of her bra. After carefully draping the dress over a nearby chair, she looked back at us, a confidence in her that I hadn’t seen before.
“Two of you in chairs,” she said. “I’m gonna suck one of you off, use my hand on the other, and I want the other one fucking me from behind.”
I looked at my brothers.
“I want her mouth,” Tucker said, dropping into one of the chairs. “I’ve been dreaming about those lips around my cock for years.”
“I’ll take your hand now,” I said, hooking a finger under her chin and tipping her head up so she was looking at me. “Because I want your ass next time.”
Mutely, she nodded, her eyes wide. I didn’t tell her that what I had planned wasn’t just me in her ass, but her taking all three of us at the same time.
It was strange how easily we figured out how to position ourselves to make this work, or maybe we were just so focused on being together again that we didn’t notice the adjustments we had to make before everyone was right where we wanted to be.
I groaned as Evie slid her mouth over the tip of my cock and took me nice and deep. And it wasn’t even the feel of her tongue wetting my skin, or the heat of her. It was the sight of my shaft disappearing between her lips and knowing that it wouldn’t be the only time. That I could enjoy the sound of my erection coming out of her mouth without wondering if I’d ever get to know what it was like to see her lick her swollen lips clean after I’d come down her throat.
She shifted over to Tucker, holding him steady with one hand while her other wrapped around my base. The strength in her fingers didn’t surprise me, but her tight grip did. She’d definitely been paying attention to what I liked, because she didn’t start gentle.
Squeezing as she moved her fist up, that edge of near pain hit my gut like a punch. Most women’s hands were fairly smooth, sliding over slick skin, but years of guitar playing had given Evie callouses that left trails of prickling heat from the rough parts of her fingers.
And if the physical sensation of pressure and friction wasn’t enough, I had her muffled moans as she took Tucker nearly to the root. With her hair up, I could see those gorgeous lips obscenely stretched around him as she struggled not to gag, while every thrust from Mason pushed her forward.
And that sight was nearly enough to make me nut right then. Tits swaying under her, with hard nipples almost popping out. Her panties just pulled to the side while Mason drove into her. His fingers dug into her hips hard enough to leave marks, and it all just seemed to turn her on more.
“You’re so fucking wet,” Mason said. “I can tell even through the condom.”
“We’re getting rid of those,” I said. “We’re careful and get tested pretty regularly, but if you want, we’ll go tomorrow just to be sure. Then we’re gonna figure out birth control, because the next time we all do this, it’s gonna be bare.”
Her hand tightened around me, and my curse mixed with my brothers’ groans.
“I think she likes that idea,” Tucker said.
“You like that, little hellcat?” I asked. “You want us to fill you up? Fill your mouth, cunt, and ass all at the same time?”
I didn’t know if it was my words and the images they created for her, or if she was just that worked up, but whatever the reason, it seemed to set her off and then we were all goners.
I was aware of my brothers, but my focus was on that frantic pumping of her hand even as I fucked up into her fist, unable to stay still with my nerves practically screaming at me to move. I groaned as I came, spilling over her hand and onto my bare thighs. I had the vague thought that I was glad I’d taken off my pants, but most of what was going through my head was along the lines of “fuck, yeah, like that, oh fuck, don’t stop” and a whole bunch of nonsense.
Mason was the one who caught her before she could collapse, and once my legs started working again, I took care of getting us all paper towels to clean up. Tucker just kept saying that she’d sucked his brain out through his dick, and while we laughed at that, I realized I could see it clearly now, this future with the four of us.
It really was gonna happen.
As I helped Evie zip up the side of the dress, she asked, “Do you think anyone’s going to believe we were just talking back here?”
“Probably not.” Tucker grinned, running his hand through his hair. “That bother you, darling?”
The warmth in Evie’s eyes was so much more than just desire. “Not at all. I was with the men I love, and like Nona said, anyone who doesn’t like it can go to hell.”