2. Chapter Two
Chapter Two
Sebastian
The lily gardens were prettier than I remembered, and the fragrance of all the blossoms set the stage for the perfect wedding venue. Of course, at that moment, the lilies were showing off their early summer colors and would be nothing by August, but I could see the other plants waiting for their chance to put on a display.
If Mac and Em wanted the wedding here, I would be okay with it. It wasn’t my ideal place, but they were my forever and all I wanted to do with this wedding was make them happy. I didn’t want them to regret marrying me before we even began.
They were several steps ahead of me, wrapped up in conversation about some video trend Roman told her about. He went from the biggest opponent of Emily’s social media ideas to somewhat of a cheerleader. Roman sent her video ideas at all hours of the day and helped turn the entire team into social media fanatics.
Mac and Em’s conversation was pulling them at a faster pace along the trail than I was walking. I let them put more distance between us so I could take in everything without either of them gauging my reaction. I wanted them to take in the gardens honestly, without giving me the response they thought I wanted.
Seeing them like that, hands clasped, whispering as they laughed and never ran out of conversation, I was overwhelmed with my love for them.
The resolve to make this wedding perfect was just as overwhelming. They brought so much to our relationship and I was worried I didn’t do my fair share. I knew I could be difficult to deal with—I didn’t make Mac’s transition to our household as smooth as I could have—but those two handled all my flaws with so much ease. It was almost easy for me to believe they truly didn’t mind all my rough edges.
“Bash,” Em called, yanking me out of my thoughts before they took too firm of a hold of me.
Mac waved me over, and I jogged to them.
“Check out this area,” Em whispered, her voice thick with awe.
Mac pointed to a small meadow to the right that was nothing short of perfect. A pond with a quiet fountain rounded out the idyllic feel of the space.
“We could use the same setup we had for the other venue. Harriet said the chairs she uses are indoor and outdoor.” Em pointed to the field, outlining exactly how she wanted it set up.
“And there’s a gazebo over here we could string with lights and have our DJ. Can you picture the team dancing around it?” Mac smirked, and my heart responded with a hard thud. “Everyone sloshed and celebrating us ?”
I nodded and walked the perimeter of the meadow. It was lined with roses, some of which already had blooms. By the end of summer, the area would be fragrant and dotted with rich color.
“What do you think?” Mac asked, sliding his hand into mine.
“I love it,” I admitted.
“I do, too.” He glanced around and pressed his lips to mine.
The thrill of kissing him in public—not hidden behind a tree—was like a shot of adrenaline.
“God, I could get used to that,” I said, wrapping my arm around his waist.
We had spent so much time apart lately. Between wedding planning and the cup playoffs on top of regular work stuff, our time together mainly consisted of collapsing into bed together at night.
Our sex life was great, but way too brief lately. We hadn’t had time to really connect on a deeper level, and that was probably letting some doubt creep into my mind. Doubt if we could pull all this off. Never doubt about my feelings for them.
“Come here.” Em grabbed our hands and whisked us off to sit on a cement bench overlooking the lake.
The two of them slipped into a passionate conversation about the decorations and who they thought should be seated where. They had matchmaking plans I had never considered. I listened the best that I could, but my mind kept wandering as I stared out across the water’s glassy surface.
My family hadn’t RSVP’d. Neither had Em’s. And we knew Mac’s parents wouldn’t come. I didn’t want to bring their energy down, so I kept quiet as they talked faster and faster, hyping each other up in a way that I normally found adorable.
But at that moment, it only made my anxiety rise.
Were we fooling ourselves? We had almost zero support, and we were trying to navigate a relationship like none we had ever seen.
I would do everything in my power to make our relationship work. I didn’t doubt their love for me or my love for them, but sometimes I worried the stress of going public and the wedding setbacks would be enough to break us.
“You’re quiet.” Em pulled me out of my thoughts again.
“Just thinking.”
They shared a look, and I groaned. “Don’t silently talk about me.”
Em crossed her arms, looking formidably cute. “Then don’t lie to us.”
“We can tell something’s wrong, Bardot.” A harsh tinge darkened Mac’s voice, shaping his words into an allegation.
Em frowned. “Is it the venue? I know your heart was really set on the other one.”
I put my hand over hers and forced a smile. “I said I love it.”
“But there’s something hanging over you.” Em leaned against my shoulder. “Talk, please?”
She looked up at me with those blue eyes that held absolute power over me.
I thought I was sitting on the bench, looking out at the fountain with a pensive look on my face. Sighing, I grabbed the back of my neck, feeling caught.
“I hate hiding.”
“What are you hiding?”
“This.” I motioned between the three of us. “Our love for each other.”
“We haven’t been hiding it.”
“We kind of have, though, since we haven’t gone public. Not really noticeably, anyway. It’s making it so I don’t know exactly how to act when we're out in public,” I admitted.
Em frowned and laced her fingers with mine. “I agree. I never know if I should hold both your hands or keep my hands to myself—”
“Don’t do that,” Mac cut in. “Don’t ever keep your hands to yourself.”
“Bash is right, though.” Em stared off and chewed her lip. “It’s hard to know exactly what to do.”
“And I’m worried about the backlash of it. Not for me, but for the two of you.”
Mac reached across Em’s lap and grabbed my hand, his eyes dancing in the reflection coming off the lake. “How about we live our life how we want to? If one of us wants to hold hands, we hold hands. We kiss when it’s drizzling outside of a café we’re about to walk into.” Mac pressed his lips to Em’s forehead. “And how about we all agree to avoid any articles that come out about us as the world finds out about our wedding? Can we agree to talk to each other when things are overwhelming?”
They both looked at me and I held my hands up. “It’s not like I’ve been stewing for days upon days, okay?”
Mac’s green eyes narrowed, and his eyes raked over me. Instead of feeling exposed, my body flooded with anticipation.
“Quit looking at me like that,” I warned. “I’ll—”
“You’ll what? Shove your cock down my throat and come in two seconds? That’s all you’ll have time for.” He smirked and got to his feet. “Practice is about to start, so I gotta go.”
He walked back to the path without waiting for us, no doubt eager to get on the ice.
I grabbed Em’s hand and pulled her to her feet. “How can that man say something so unhinged, and I still would follow him to the ends of the earth?”
She grinned and nestled against me as we sauntered over to him. “I don’t know, but aren’t we lucky?”
I kissed the top of her head and reached for Mac’s hand. He melted against me and we walked as fast as we could without tripping over each other’s feet.
“Think we can get away with having some fun in that old storage closet on the second floor?” Mac asked.
“There’s nothing old in that arena.” I couldn’t hold in my eye roll. “But no, I don’t think we could.”
“Remember Roxie is coming over after practice? We have to get home as soon as it’s over.”
Mac groaned and squeezed my waist. “I will literally explode if we keep having these five-minute sessions in the shower—”
“She’s bringing dinner. Are you complaining?” I bumped his hip, and he squeezed tighter.
“Not in the fucking slightest, but I would like to romance my fiancés for a little longer than it takes to wash my hair.”
“When she leaves,” I promised.
“The second she leaves,” Mac amended.
I glanced at Em, and my heart ached when I saw the tender smile playing across her lips.
I would protect what we had at all costs.