Chapter Twenty-Nine
Twenty-Nine
Reece
I flipped down my visor and looked in the mirror, brushed my hands over my beard, and smoothed back my hair.
It was bordering on too long, but I knew Cyrus liked it.
I guess when you had zero hair to speak of, it was fascinating being with someone who did.
I was even contemplating growing out my chest hair for him.
The things he could get me to do.
My phone vibrated in my cupholder.
Cyrus: Are you going to come inside or are you going to sit there checking yourself out for another 15 minutes?
I glanced out the window, and sure enough, there was Cyrus watching me from inside my sister’s cottage.
Atlas and Tegan were hosting all of us—their closest friends and family—tonight for dinner.
I was sure it had something to do with their wedding party.
Tegan and I had been getting along great, but was she going to ask me to walk her down the aisle?
I hadn’t realized how much I wanted that honor.
Reece: Fucking creep. I’m coming.
My phone vibrated again.
Cyrus: No, that’s later
Cyrus always had this way of making me feel at ease, of breaking any tension I was feeling. Whether it was with humor or a soft touch, it was one of the things I appreciated most about him. He knew how to reach parts of me that no one else could.
That applied to the tentacles, too.
There was a knock on the window and I almost jumped out of my skin.
“Honey, what are you doing just sitting out here?” my mother asked from outside the car.
Goddess, help me.
“Hey, Ma,” I said as I stepped out of the car. “I was just catching up on a few emails real quick.”
I leaned over and wrapped her in a tight hug before pulling away.
She looked me up and down. “Well, don’t you look handsome.”
I could feel my cheeks turning red, so I stared down at my outfit.
Yeah, I wanted to look nice for whatever wedding formality this was, but I really wanted to look nice for Cyrus and our plans later.
“Do you need help bringing anything inside?” I asked.
“Nope, Atlas and Tegan insisted I didn’t need to bring anything. You know how stubborn your sister can be.” She threw her arms in the air and shrugged, and we walked to the front door.
Of course I knew how stubborn my sister could be, because I was the same fucking way.
Before we could knock on the front door, it swung open and Atlas greeted us with a sharp-toothed smile.
“Hey there, Mrs. Rollins.” He bent over to hug my mom. The two of them were comical together since she was even smaller than my sister.
“Atlas!” She swatted his chest playfully. “What did I tell you about that? It’s either Mom or Pam. None of that Mrs. Rollins nonsense.”
Good luck with that, Mom.
“Reece.” Atlas held out his arms and I braced myself for impact.
Yep, he was still a strong motherfucker.
We stepped inside the cottage to find everyone relaxing in the living area.
“Hey!” Tegan beamed as she stepped out from behind the kitchen island and made her way over to us. She hugged our mother, then turned to me.
“Hi, big brother,” she said as she wrapped her arms around me. “You look nice.” She took a deep inhale against my chest. “And you smell nice, too. What is that, cologne?”
Damn. Did she really have to call me out like that? From the corner of my eye, I could see Cyrus sitting on the sofa biting back a smile. Smug fucker.
I rubbed my hand along the back of my neck and shrugged. “Figured it was a special occasion, might as well.”
“Special occasion, indeed,” Cyrus said.
Declan and Selene sat on either side of him, but Fallon and Javier were both missing.
“Where are Jimenez—I mean Javier—and Fallon?” I asked as I took a seat at the kitchen island next to my mother.
“Fallon said Javier was picking him up because they’re going out later. They’re probably just running a bit late. Let me send Fallon a text,” Cyrus said, picking up his phone.
“Figures.” Selene sighed and rubbed her temples.
“Well, uh, while we wait for them, you guys can have some appetizers. Reece, would you mind helping me set the table on the deck?” Tegan asked. “I thought that since the weather’s so nice, we could eat outside.” She stared at me with expectant green eyes that were identical to my own.
“Y-yeah, of course.” I glanced over at Cyrus and he gave me a reassuring nod.
“Thanks.” Tegan passed me a heavy stack of plates topped with rolls of silverware.
“Honey, do you need help—” our mother started as we headed toward the slider that led to the deck.
“We’ve got it, Mom,” Tegan said as she closed the door behind us.
I set the plates on the table and quietly prepped the place settings while Tegan stared at me with her hands on her hips.
“Reece, um, I was hoping we could talk for a bit. Just the two of us.”
“Yeah, uh, sure. You wanna go somewhere, or…?”
“I have some lawn chairs set up in the yard. Let’s go out there.”
I followed behind her as she led us to a pair of chairs placed right along the tree line. We both sat, and for a while we were quiet, the silence filled by the sounds of swaying leaves and the last songs of the summer crickets.
Tegan shifted in her seat, tucking a few stray hairs from her bun behind her ear before she finally asked, “You probably know why everyone is here, right?”
I shrugged. “I mean, I figured it has something to do with the wedding party.”
She nodded. “It does. But—I wanted to ask you something. You specifically.”
Tegan turned toward me, her face scrunched up with a squint due to the afternoon sun. It reminded me of how she’d look up at me when we were kids, when we were still close.
“Since Dad’s gone, I wanted to know if you’d walk me down the aisle and give me away.
” She reached over and held my hand for the first time in who knew how long.
“I know you’ve been working on yourself, and it shows in the way you interact with Atlas and his friends.
And the way you act with me. Honestly, Reece, you seem different.
Lighter. Happier. I don’t know how to explain it, but a few people have noticed it.
I’m proud of how much you’ve grown, and I love you.
This is going to be a special day for me, and I want you to be a part of it. ”
Pride welled up inside me and tightened my chest. I felt like I was going to cry.
I mean, I wouldn’t, at least not right now, but I was touched.
“I love you, and I couldn’t have picked a more perfect mate for you than Atlas. I’d be honored to walk you down the aisle and give you away.”
I meant it, too. Every single word.
Tegan sprang up to hug me, nearly falling out of her chair in the process.
“Thank you for asking me,” I mumbled against her hair as she held me tight.
“Of course. You’re the only one it could have been. I just didn’t want to put you on the spot in front of everyone.” She pulled away and wiped underneath her eyes.
Was she crying?
I guess Tegan had missed me just as much as I’d missed her.
“Hey.” I rose from my seat and rubbed her arm. “None of that. This is a happy day. I’m assuming everyone else in there is a part of the wedding, too?” She nodded. “I can’t have them thinking I made you upset,” I said with a smile, and Tegan laughed.
“They’re happy tears, Reecie.”
I put my arm over her shoulders and gave her a little squeeze. “Come on. Let’s get this table set so we can eat. I’m starving.”
After we had finished setting the table, Atlas carried out big trays of salad and baked ziti.
“Oh, let me grab the serving spoons,” Tegan said.
She went back inside, leaving Atlas and me alone on the deck.
“She seems happy. You said yes?” he asked as he peeled back the aluminum foil covering the trays.
“Of course I did.”
Atlas smiled wide and gripped my shoulder with one of his massive paws. “I knew you would. You’re a good guy, Reece. I’m happy you’re going to be my brother-in-law.”
“I’m happy you’re going to be my brother-in-law, too, but we need to talk about the hugs.” I rubbed my chest dramatically and Atlas barked a laugh.
“I’ll work on it.” He lowered his voice to a gravelly whisper. “Speaking of hugs, are you, uh, seeing anyone?” Atlas stared through the slider to where the rest of the group was gathered.
“N-no,” I stammered.
Fuck, I’m bad at this.
Atlas didn’t drop it, though. “I was going for a run the other morning and I could have sworn I saw you with someone down by the lake.”
“It was probably just me and Cyrus training,” I said, trying to sound casual. Internally, I was shaking like a leaf.
He tilted his head to stare at me, his tail swaying back and forth slightly. “Mmm, I’m pretty sure this was more than just training.”
My stomach dropped and my thoughts raced, trying to find a way to explain things.
“Hey.” Atlas gripped my shoulders, forcing me to look at him.
His expression was soft, happy even. “It’s okay.
Everything’s fine. You’re consenting adults.
I was just asking because Cyrus seems to be doing a lot better.
Before he started training you, Fallon and I were a little worried about him.
I don’t want to put his business out there, but he was pretty depressed. ”
It took a moment for what he said to register.
“Cyrus was depressed before he met me?”
“Mm-hmm.” Atlas nodded.
I knew Cyrus had his own insecurities, but I never would have guessed he was depressed. He hid it so well. Maybe he needed me just as much as I needed him.
“Does anyone else know?” By anyone else, I meant my sister.
“Do you really think I’d do that to one of my best friends and my future brother-in-law?
As much as I hate keeping things from your sister, I haven’t said a word.
And I won’t. It’s not my place to announce your relationship.
If—when—you guys are ready to go public with things, you one hundred percent have my support. ”
I shifted my weight, stared at my feet, and bit my lip. “I hate putting you in that position, but I appreciate it. I just want to give Tegan a little more time to warm up to me before we put this out there.” We were finally on the right track, and I didn’t want to push it.
Our conversation was cut short when the sliding door to the deck flew open and Fallon rushed outside.
“Atlas, I need to talk to you about something!” Fallon chirped. His feathers were ruffled up around his neck, and his tail whipped back and forth. The guy was obviously shaken up about something.
“Can it wait until after dinner?” Atlas asked.
“I don’t know, man. I’m having a crisis here.” Fallon closed his beady eyes and threw back his head, taking a deep breath.
That was my cue. Whatever was happening here was none of my business.
“I’ll, uh, leave you two to it, then,” I said, and slipped back inside.
“Ey, boss man!” Jimenez’s voice tore through the living area the moment I stepped into the house. “I heard you’re going to be walking your sister down the aisle.”
I smiled. “Yep, and I’m damn proud of it.”
“I can’t believe my baby is getting married.” My mom wrapped her arm around Tegan, putting her head on my sister’s shoulder.
“She’s going to be the most beautiful bride, Mrs. R.” Declan raised his wineglass and took a long drink.
I wondered how long it would take for dinner to devolve into all the single parties heading out to the bar or the club. Hopefully not too long, because I was dying to have Cyrus’s place all to ourselves.
Atlas popped his head through the sliding door. “We’re all ready out here!”
“I wasn’t finished yet,” Fallon squawked.
“Shh,” Atlas growled, shutting him up.
“Well”—Tegan rose to her feet—“let’s eat.”
We headed outside and joined Atlas and Fallon at the table.
Everyone slipped into their chairs, with Selene sitting as far away from Fallon as possible.
“This seat taken?” I asked, standing next to where Cyrus sat.
“Nope. Have a seat.” Cyrus’s accent combined with his soft smirk almost put me over the edge.
I needed to get myself under control. Atlas was already onto us, and I wasn’t ready for anyone else to know yet.
Atlas cleared his throat from where he sat at the head of the table. “Tegan and I appreciate all of you joining us today. As you’ve probably already guessed, we’d like to ask each of you to play a part in our special day.”
Tegan reached over and gripped Atlas’s massive hand. “You’ve all heard that Reece has agreed to give me away at the ceremony.” Cheers came from around the table and Tegan smiled sweetly at Selene. “Selene, I was wondering if you’d be my maid of honor?”
Selene grinned at Tegan. “It would be my pleasure.”
“Dec.” Tegan looked across the table at Declan. “Will you be my bridesman?”
“Teg, I will be whatever you need me to be.”
“And, of course, you’ll be the matron of honor, Mom,” Tegan added.
Mom fanned her eyes, on the verge of tears. “Oh, honey. I can’t wait.”
Atlas looked at Fallon, giving the griffin a knowing smile.
“While I do love my brothers, they live across the country. They’ll be coming to the wedding, but it just didn’t feel right asking one of them to be my best man.
Fal, you’re my oldest friend. Would you do me the honor of being my best man? ”
“A-man, I’d love to. I’m going to throw you a killer bachelor party,” Fallon chuffed.
“Cy, you’re my second oldest friend, and I’ll need someone to keep Fallon in check. Will you be one of my groomsmen?” Atlas stared down the table at Cyrus.
Cyrus nodded. “I’d be honored to. I’ll do my best with Fallon, but no promises.”
The three of them had such a tight friendship, and despite the fact that I was originally an asshole, they’d accepted me into their circle with open arms. They were good guys.
“Uh, what about Jimen—I mean, Javier?” I asked, realizing his role in the wedding hadn’t been established.
“Oh, Tegan asked me to be the officiant. I got a certificate online.” Jimenez raised his chin at me and smirked.
“Well, with that settled, let’s eat.” Atlas scooped a generous serving of ziti onto his plate.
While everyone talked and ate, I slid my foot over until it tapped Cyrus’s tentacles. One of the long appendages coiled around my ankle and gripped it softly while he continued his conversation with Jimenez. I had to shovel my food into my mouth to keep myself from grinning like a fool.
There I was, sharing a meal with my family and friends—both old and new—celebrating my sister’s upcoming wedding.
I cared about everyone at this table, but the person sitting next to me was the most important one of all.