Chapter 22
AGKK
ALEX
It’s funny how life works out. How, with hindsight, you can trace all the decisions that led you to where you are.
Like, how, if I hadn’t gone to college, I wouldn’t have met Gabe. And if Courtney hadn’t died, I might not have ended up with my own security company. And then I wouldn’t have met Katherine. Or King.
Thousands of small decisions. Pros and cons, weighed and measured. And in the end, here we are.
Standing on a picture-perfect terrace overlooking the Adriatic Sea at sunset. Three men, all in love with the same woman. Friends. Lovers. Bonded stronger than any brotherhood I’ve ever belonged to.
So I don’t need Kingston’s sharp back-handed whack across my chest to alert me to Katherine’s arrival. Not at all. Unlike some people, I haven’t seen my bride in hours, and my eyes are dry from watching for her.
And there she is.
Filling the arched doorway with feminine perfection.
Hair swept up, so similar to the night of the auction. Except this time, there’s a translucent veil draped behind her shoulders. The dress caresses her skin in a way that makes me ache with jealousy.
I pull my shoulders back, fighting the riot of emotions welling in my chest, and glance over at King.
His jaw is practically hanging down around his collarbone, and his eyes are bright. And dammit, that makes me misty-eyed.
To my left, Gabe is equally locked in on our woman. A little more composed than King but still vibrating with intensity. This morning, he admitted that in his wildest dreams, he never imagined marrying someone as amazing as Katherine. Never could have envisioned a day like today.
But I’m pretty sure we all feel that way right now, and there’s something calming about that. Knowing that you’re not alone in all these feelings and longings and desires, it’s almost… I don’t know. Peaceful.
Katherine looks calm, almost serene, as the quartet begins a soft rendition of Salut d’Armour. Her attention skips over our guests, past the incredible view, and lands squarely on the three of us. She locks eyes with King, then holds my gaze for a long second before moving on to Gabe.
One heartbeat turns to two, then three, a half dozen.
Am I the only one holding my breath?
Then, finally, with a bouquet of pale pink flowers in one hand, Katherine gathers the skirting and descends the steps, flashing us a glimpse at her emerald green stilettos. The same pair she wore to the auction.
King finally got to see her in that gown. And now she’s wearing those same shoes, a throwback to when we started. There’s another squeeze of my heart. When did I get so damned sentimental?
She’s got the something old.
And that sparkler around her neck is definitely something new.
King was right on the money with both the dress and the necklace. And even though the sun is below the horizon, the jewelry dazzles against her sun-kissed skin. The diamonds from my charm bracelet wink from one wrist, Gabe’s on the other.
She drops the skirt back into place, hands around the base of the bouquet. I snatch my gaze back to her face because I can’t look at those hands wrapped around anything shaft-shaped and not think of her on her knees worshiping my cock.
Though she’s only a courtyard away, and her steps are a methodical march toward us, it feels like time slows. Maybe it even stops. It could be a mile as easily as a hundred feet.
Finally, when her hand touches mine, everything clicks into place. The worry that something would go wrong quiets. My breathing evens, and my heart steadies.
She’s here. In front of me. Eyes bright with happiness and maybe a few unshed tears. Lips curving up in a secretive smile.
She’s here.
Mine.
Ours.
Our bride.
Our Princess. Our Beauty. Our Wildfire.
And soon, our wife.
GABE
“When you find your person,” LaShonda begins, “you hold onto them.”
She glances from Katherine to me, then Alex, before giving her attention to King.
“And when you find your people, you build a family.”
That hits me square in the chest like the broadside of a shovel. A family. She’s exactly right. That’s what we’ve been building. Piece by piece. Day by day.
“Katherine,” Shon says, pivoting back to my bride, “you’ve been blessed to find not one, not two, but three souls that complement and complete yours.”
There’s a gentle wave of laughter, maybe a little unease, as she emphasizes the one, two and three.
“Gabe, Alex, and King… how smart you are, not only to recognize an amazing woman when you found her—” There’s a hint of pause, of weight to her words.
I’ll admit I wasn’t sure what LaShonda was going to say when we asked her to officiate. Not exactly. Maybe I should have asked to see a copy of it, you know, to make sure she wasn’t going to tell me there’s no way I’m good enough for her best friend and that we’re crazy-pants for this whole idea.
But fuck me, she has a way with words. Her tone, her cadence… chef’s kiss.
“But,” she continues, “to find your way to each other and see the potential here. We’ve gathered your closest friends and family to witness your promises to each other. To bask in your love for one another. And to shower you with support as you move forward in this life, together.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see King covertly swipe away a tear just before it hits his cheek. Trust my golden boy to be touched the deepest by such beautiful words.
I reach around Alex and squeeze King’s shoulder.
Katherine’s lips wobble, and then she pastes on a brave smile.
I see it for what it is. A defense against the overwhelming emotion of the day.
The happiness that feels like it’ll ooze right out of my ears.
The joy that makes me want to shout from the terracotta tiled roof.
The bittersweet relief to have found ourselves together in this place and this time, vowing to lift each other up.
Because life is hard, no matter which path you take. There are bumps and boulders. Sometimes ruts and mud puddles. But there are incredible views. Like this one.
Shit. Now I’m crying.
I swipe at my right eye, not the least bit embarrassed. I’ll cry for this woman. I’ll take myself apart and build a new Gabe for her. To find and be the best version of myself, for her. For all three of them and myself. Because we deserve that. The best version of each other.
I love you, she mouths.
I mouth the words back, and then, after exchanging rings, when Shon asks us to say a few words about our commitment to each other, I say those three words again.
To Katherine.
To King.
To Alex.
I say them and more, promising my heart, soul, body and mind, not only to Katherine, but to our family.
KING
Did I black out?
No. No, that’s not right. But when LaShonda says my name in that ‘Earth to King, come in King’ tone, I whip to attention. Spine straight, gaze locking on my best friend and bride.
Right. Vow time.
I’m up.
Too bad my stomach has more knots than an old fishing net.
I swallow back the jitters. I’ve got this. It’s just like climbing a light pole. One foot after the other.
“Alex, Gabe, Katherine—” All the words I scratched on my notepad evaporate from my head. I lick my lips, and Katherine squeezes my fingers. “You’re too pretty. I forgot what I was going to say,” I whisper.
My sisters in the second row giggle at my gaffe.
Katherine, bless her, gives one of those sweet, silent laughs that shake her shoulders. And that’s just one more reason I love her.
There they are. The words.
“I’ve been restless for as long as I can remember. Always on the move, always climbing the next thing, looking for something that would feel right. Like home but better. How ironic that the chase led me back to New York. But then I always knew you were my endgame, Wildfire.”
My mom gives a dramatic sniffle, and Ava quickly shushes her, which causes more laughter. Buoyed by the lightheartedness, I rack my brain for the ending to my vows.
Katherine gives me another squeeze.
“I love this life with the three of you. I promise to fight for it… for us… individually and together. To find my heart words when you need them and even when you don’t. To try to conquer my fears and battle my demons every day. I promise to love you, all versions, and to never run away.”
KATHERINE
My nose hurts so badly that I glance at LaShonda. I don’t know what I expect her to do, but the waterworks are going to start in three… two…
“And Katherine,” she says as she covertly passes me the handkerchief she waved around earlier.
“How do you expect me to follow that?” I quip, disengaging from the guys so I can fold the white cloth and blot beneath my eyes.
There’s a soft skitter of laughter, and I glance up at the darkening sky, composing myself. These three, my goodness. Such heartfelt words of love, commitment, desire, and promises.
It doesn’t even matter that this isn’t a legal wedding; we’ll handle that part when we get back to New York. The words and the truth behind them, binding us, are what today is about.
I was so sure I didn’t need to bring a copy of what I wanted to say. But as I take their hands again, the carefully planned words vanish.
So I take a deep breath, and for once, my hesitation has nothing to do with being center stage.
Our audience is the closest of the close.
My father, brother, and Sutton. King’s parents and sisters.
Alex’s mother and father. My cousin Emma, her brother Beau, and my aunt and uncle.
Roman, Charlotte, Simon, and Bonnie. The people we love and trust. The people who love and support us.
And just like that. I know what I want to say.
“Three months ago, I told the coordinator of the bachelorette auction that there must be a mistake. I see now that there was no mistake. Being on that stage was kismet. We were destined to find each other exactly how we did. All of us have come to realize that convention be damned. We are four parts making a whole that’s stronger together. Happier together.”
Because life isn’t only about strength and longevity. It’s about doing what makes your heart soar and being with the people who make you laugh.
Pausing, I give my focus to King. My funny, passionate friend who promised to never run away. To fight his demons for me. For us.
“Kingston, I have loved you most of my life. I adore your charm, your humor, and the way you’re always in my corner. I’m blessed to call you friend, lover, and now, husband. And you’d better believe that this time, if you run, we won’t let you get away.”
His wobbly, watery smile turns into a grin, and he grips my hand tighter. Alex gives our fingers a squeeze, and I swear it’s a ‘good job holding it together, bud.’
“Gabe…” I pause, lick my lips, and focus on my former nemesis.
“I love that you’re a trailblazer. I adore your zest for life and new experiences and appreciate the way you say yes and follow your heart.
I promise to keep you on your toes. To tell you the truth, even when it’s hard.
To laugh with you, build a life with you, and live every day earning your trust.”
Now he looks like he’s going to lose his composure, and my heart aches, so full of love for him. But if I watch him any longer and read all the emotions flitting through his eyes, I’m going to put my mascara’s waterproof claim to the test.
“Alex—” I focus on the giant man who has the most tender touch.
“You are my lighthouse in the storm. The calm voice in the back of my head, always providing strength and support. I want to be the same for you. Your safe place. Your quiet spot to land after a hard day. And just like you protect your family, I’ll protect you. ”
Another finger squeeze.
And a smile that reaches his eyes. How incredibly rare. What a special day. What an extraordinary life.
“Katherine, you may kiss your grooms.”
We grin as laughter—and a groan from my brother—sweeps through our audience.
I step to Gabe first, hands cupping his cheeks.
He slides his hands around my waist, so familiar and sure, but he holds me at a respectable distance.
Our lips meet in a fervent kiss. It’s jubilant and bittersweet.
We’re each missing family tonight, but I know that in both cases, we did what we could and made the right decisions for each of us.
Today is a line in the sand. The day we truly begin.
When I move to Alex, he slides a warm palm against my skin, tugging my face up as he bends down to meet me in the middle.
Always doing his share, this guy. I brace my hands against his broad chest, relishing the steady thump-thump-thump and noting that it’s faster than normal.
Raising up on my tiptoes, I’m almost dizzy with joy.
Keeping our kiss short and sweet is a challenge when I can feel the happiness pouring from him.
Okay, so it’s not totally sweet, but hopefully only my guys recognize the silent promise.
Tearing myself away, I step in front of King, who’s waited for me so patiently. There’s pure mischievous fire lighting his green eyes, and he tosses his head back with a loud whoop and a fist raised in victory. We are going to laugh until we cry tonight, I can just feel it.
His little victory celebration lasts all of a second before he scoops me up, a strong arm beneath my ass and spins me around.
Trying not to choke on my giggles or fall on my face, my hands fly to his strong shoulders.
As he lowers me, still spinning and laughing and putting on a show, I seal our ceremony with a final kiss to a round of applause.
As soon as we come up for air, King lifts me again, tossing me over his shoulder and takes off running. It’s a quick sprint up the short aisle, surrounded by gasps of surprise. My veil drags the stone terrace as Shon shouts his full name.
“Bring back that bride.” Her Southern accent echoes across the stonework.
My right shoe slips free and disappears from my view as King trots up the stairs into the villa. Gabe and Alex are one step behind.
“Don’t worry, Princess. We’ve got it.”
King sets me down just inside the living room. There’s a flurry of sound coming from the other side of the house. Caterers and servers busting their butts no doubt, but for now, they’re out of view as King braces a hand over my right shoulder, boxing me in.
“That wasn’t the kiss I wanted,” he says, giving his best pout.
“Greedy much?”
“You already know the answer to that, Beauty.”
“You can’t mess up my makeup,” I tell them.
“Watch us,” Gabe replies with that easygoing swagger that made him a tech darling.
I start to correct him but cut off my words. It’s our day. Dinner can wait. And Shon will be there with a wipe and my favorite lipstick. Because that’s what good friends do.
Fate doesn’t make mistakes. Sixty years from now, I want to look back at our life and know that we always put ourselves first. We lived each day to the fullest and never passed up an opportunity to show our love for each other.
So instead of correction, I quirk up a brow in challenge. “I’m watching.”
That’s all the permission they need.
I just hope Shon has a hairbrush handy as well.