26 RYAN
RYAN
And suddenly, this whole dance thing doesn’t seem too bad.
It feels like we’re back at high school graduation; three guys standing in a living room, dressed up more nicely than any of us are used to, waiting around while someone makes last-minute adjustments.
Dances aren’t really my thing, never have been, but I will never win against the girls. So I surrendered.
Noah stands in front of me, tugging at my collar with way too much concentration.
“Hold still,” he mutters.
“I am holding still,” I say.
“I’m making sure you don’t embarrass yourself in front of my little sister.”
I glance down at myself while he smooths the fabric again.
Mom and Bailey picked out the suit for me.
I insisted on just wearing some old trousers, and a button-up I bought a couple years ago.
But let's just say they did not accept that. And to be fair, when I tried it on to prove it's still fine—I barely fit into it. I think it’s all the training from the past year. Mom and Bailey also bought me a tie with little bananas printed onto it. I think they did it as a joke, but they tried to seriously force me to wear it. I shoved it into my bag to stop them, but I am not going to tell the guys, because then they will actually force me to wear it. And I’m already wearing a suit, so I’m suffering enough.
I look to my right, where Liam is still fighting with his tie.
Like that thing is making it impossible for him to even breathe.
Noah and I exchange a look and grin. Mel had made it very clear that Liam was not allowed to show up in whatever outfit he originally planned, so she made Noah and me promise we’d handle it.
Noah slings an arm over my shoulder, laughing. “You look… comfortable.”
Liam shoots him a glare. “I look like a LinkedIn profile.”
I bite back a smile.
“I will never forgive you guys for this,” he adds.
Noah shrugs. “Happy wife—”
“—happy life,” I finish.
Liam sighs dramatically and right then Noah’s phone buzzes. We both glance down at the screen.
KIARA: cue the boys. time for the big moment.
“Alright, they’re coming down,” Noah announces.
Luke claps his hands once. “Alright. Straight line, boys.”
We shuffle around until we’re standing in something that roughly resembles one. Noah tugs at his blue tie again, adjusting it while looking down at it. Luke, meanwhile, is patting his pockets like he’s searching for something important. “My camera,” he says under his breath. “Where the hell did I—”
And then we hear the sound of heels on the stairs. Every single one of us looks up at the same time.
Mel appears at the top of the stairs in soft yellow, and for a second the entire room pauses. Her long blonde curls fall past her shoulders. The dress flows around her like it was designed with her in mind, warm and bright and effortless. Her full name is Melody for a reason.
Liam’s eyes go wide. He’s staring at her like he’s falling in love all over again.
Mel reaches the bottom of the stairs and grins at all of us. “Wow,” she says, looking around. “You guys clean up pretty well.”
Then her gaze lands on Liam. She walks straight up to him, placing a hand on his chest before pressing a quick kiss to his cheek. “The suit fits you, honey.”
Liam looks like he might actually forget how to speak and Mel leans in slightly, just enough for Noah and me to hear. “I owe you.” She winks.
Then the sound of heels follow down the stairs again.
Kiara appears in a red dress. Of course. High slit, her curly hair bouncing with every step, and her brown skin glowing like always. At the last step, she stops abruptly and sighs, holding her arms out. Noah and I move at the same time, grabbing her hands to help her down.
“Honestly,” she says, shaking her head. “Who raised you?”
Then her eyes narrow. “Oh no,” she says, already stepping toward me. “Absolutely not.”
“What…?” I ask, immediately suspicious.
She’s in front of me in two seconds, digging into one of her bags. “Your hair. It looks… lazy.”
“My hair is fine.”
“It is not,” she replies as she grabs gel and a comb.
“No,” I protest.
“Yes,” she says cheerfully, already pushing my head forward. “Hold still.”
I sigh and let it happen. She smooths everything into place, neat and controlled.
“There,” she says, satisfied. “Oh wait, those top buttons—”
I interrupt her by grabbing her arm lightly. “You’ve done enough damage.”
She rolls her eyes and I let go of her hand, laughing softly under my breath when I catch a silhouette. I turn my head—and immediately forget how to fucking breathe. Maddy steps into view at the top of the stairs.
Holy mother of God.
She’s wearing a blue silk dress, the back open and laced with thin straps that trace against her spine.
Her heels click softly against the wood with every careful step as she makes her way down.
Her soft blonde hair is curled and pinned into a low bun, a few loose strands framing her face.
The dress fits her perfectly—soft at the waist, skimming her hips, revealing her bare skin.
She looks so sexy that for a second my knees actually feel unsteady. A rush of very unholy thoughts flashes through my brain.
She walks down slowly, carefully, and I realize I’m standing there like an idiot when she reaches the last step. I step forward quickly and hold out my hand. She smiles at me.
Damn those dimples.
Her fingers slip into mine, gentle and soft, and I help her down the last step.
Noah exhales somewhere behind me. “Okay. Wow.”
I’d honestly forgotten anyone else was even in the room. And if Noah had even the faintest idea what just went through my head, he’d probably strangle me with his bare hands.
Luke steps forward then, his expression soft as he looks at her. “You look beautiful, sweetheart.”
Maddy’s smile wobbles just a little before she nods. “Thanks, Dad.”
The room fills with movement, voices overlapping, Luke grabbing jackets, Mel fixing Liam’s collar, Kiara making Noah hold her purse. And somewhere in the middle of it all, Maddy turns slightly toward me. Just enough that it feels like the two of us slip into our own quiet pocket of air.
“Mads,” I say, my voice lower than I mean it to be. “You look… breathtaking.”
She laughs softly, a little flustered, her eyes scanning around the room.
“You don’t have to say that,” she murmurs. “No one can hear you.”
“I know.”
Her gaze lifts and our eyes lock, a hint of surprise flickering across her face. One of her earrings swings slightly as she tilts her head, catching the light.
For a moment, our eyes just stay locked. Then she barely looks up and lets out a quiet snort.
“Well,” she says, eyeing me up and down. “You look… almost perfect.”
I blink. “Almost?”
She grins and shrugs her shoulders, innocently and I put a hand to my chest. “Wow. I get dressed up, I even wear the blazer—”
She steps closer and reaches up, ruffling my hair, undoing at least half of whatever Kiara had cemented into place. Her fingers run through my curls. My heart immediately stops beating and my knees go even weaker.
“There,” she says. “That’s better. I like you with your own hair.”
Does she want me to fall to my knees?
I laugh, meeting her eyes again. “Good to know.”
Her smile lingers. Honestly, mine probably does too.
“Alright!” Luke’s voice cuts through the room. “Picture time, people.”
We join the others as Luke holds his camera, waving us into position like a director on a movie set. It takes a solid minute of shuffling and repositioning before he’s satisfied.
“Okay, hold it right there,” he says, lifting the camera. “Say dance.”
“DANCE!” everyone yells at once—chaotic, loud, not in sync at all. The flash goes off. Luke lowers the camera and checks the screen, a pleased smile spreading across his face. “Perfect.”
Everyone starts moving toward the door in a loose wave of chatter and laughter, but Luke steps toward me before I can follow. “Alright,” he says. “I’m saying this as your girlfriend’s father.”
My spine straightens instantly. “Yes, sir.”
He points a finger at me. “Behave. Don’t drink. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do. And bring her home safely.”
“Uh—yes. Of course.”
Then his expression softens.
“And now,” he adds, clapping a hand on my shoulder, “I’m saying this as your second father—enjoy yourself tonight.”
Something warm settles in my chest. “Thanks, Luke.”
He squeezes my shoulder once. “Alright. Out, kids. Have fun.”
“Thanks, Luke!”
“Thank you for the burgers!”
“Luke, you’re a legend!”
The door swings open and we spill out into the cool night air, already laughing. Maddy nearly trips on the front step, catching herself at the last second. I huff out a quiet laugh and jog ahead of her, beating her to the car. Pulling the door open, I give an exaggerated bow.
“Your carriage, my lady.”
She snorts softly. “Why, thank you, my lord.”
Everyone piles into the car, still talking over each other as the engine starts and we pull away from the curb. And suddenly, this whole dance thing doesn’t seem too bad.