Page 37 of Afterglow (Ottawa Regents #3)

Fletcher

Two Years Later

“Do you think that, maybe, if you squeeze my hand, we’ll land in time to only be a little late for Gabe’s baby shower?”

Oh, Behraz. My sweet, optimistic sun ray. That ship sailed six hours ago when our flight from Frankfurt was delayed due to the masses traveling for the winter holidays.

An unsure sound grumbles from my chest. “I don’t know, but worth a shot.” I give our twined hands a good squeeze before plucking a kiss from where they connect.

“Or maybe we could talk to the pilot about our situation, and he’ll fly faster?

” Bea rattles off. “Oh! What if we show him that really cute video of the cats when they were kittens and tussling around like roly-polies? Maybe we can FaceTime the sitter, and he can watch their silliness live? You think he likes cats? I don’t know, I’m throwing out any and all ideas. ”

“Hmmm,” I wonder aloud, stifling a knowing grin. “Any chance you’re nervous to get to Ottawa?”

She releases a groaning sigh. “How’d you know?”

“I have a knack for it. Special nerve-detection powers.” I wrinkle my nose, teasing.

“But why’s that?” My thumb rubs the spot at the base of her left hand’s ring finger, like I’ve done since she first let me hold her hand.

But this time, the space is occupied with dark blue sapphires circling the Nishapur turquoise set on a rose gold band.

“Oh, no reason in particular!” Bea throws her free arm up in exasperation within our business class suite. “It’s not like we secretly eloped in Spain this summer or anything.”

My grin goes devilish. “We did do that, didn’t we?”

It was perfect. Simple, private. So many of my dreams came true within the span of just a few hours.

Behraz fakes a whiny sob. “What if they get mad? Indi and Gabe are scary older sister-types. I’m a younger sister. I’m not built for that kinda scrutiny?—”

“Hey, listen,” I cut in. “They won’t be anything but happy for us.”

The worry line splitting her brow persists. “Yeah?”

I nod. “Especially after they see the pictures.”

The afterglow of the setting sun from the top of El Tajo De Ronda in Málaga bathed Bea in soft light, making everything a deeper shade than it already was: her flower crown of bougainvillea and pale pink hibiscus, her salmon-colored gown, the shade of her lips.

The stone arches of the bridge over the gorge, the surging waterfall below; it was nothing short of a fairy tale, a fantasy world coming to life from beyond the pages of my imagination.

“You’re right,” my wife concedes. “But just this once.”

I lose myself in the stunning memory, cherishing the best day of my life for a few moments until she interrupts.

“We’re not gonna make it to Gabe’s baby shower, are we?”

“Sorry, my love.” I tut. “Looks like the hand squeezing didn’t work.”

Her head hangs in disappointment, and I take the opportunity to leave a kiss on her hair. “We’ll head over first thing tomorrow, after a decent night’s rest at home.”

“Okay.”

Visits to Ottawa had been few since we moved abroad, alternating holidays between Prince Edward Island and meeting her family in Dubai, but we kept the apartment.

I couldn’t get myself to sell the place where we first fell in love.

Everything else could be temporary, but this way, it’d always be ours.

“I have an idea.” My elbow nudges her arm. “Might not work, but maybe it’ll make you feel better.”

Her gaze slides to mine, open to yet wary of the suggestion. She continues to pout. It doesn’t make her lips any less tempting.

“What if I kiss you until you can’t stop smiling?”

The plush pink bow of her mouth turns up at the edges. “That might be nice. Will there be tongue?”

“If you want.”

“Oh, good.” Her mouth closes into mine as we lean towards each other. “I’ve been meaning to cross ‘make out with the love of my life on an airplane’ off my bucket list.”

“What a coincidence,” I tease. “Me too.”

The elevator up to Wade and Gabe’s penthouse dings at every floor. I’d sent a message in the group chat when we landed, and a last-minute brunch got thrown together.

I’ve ridden this thing a hundred times, but it feels different today. I’m married. To Behraz Irani. A woman I fantasized about for most of my twenties.

“You’re staring,” Bea clips.

Am I not supposed to be? She’s gorgeous, and right when I think I can’t possibly love her any more, I surprise myself. It’s nothing short of miraculous that I find myself loving her more every day.

“It’s the dress, isn’t it?” she asks, pulling her coat panels over her chest. “It’s too tight.”

I deny the ridiculous claim. “It’s perfect.”

Behraz rolls her eyes to me, not wanting to believe it.

“You’re perfect.”

“Well, if you don’t quit looking, my nipples are gonna get hard and everyone will see.”

“Worse things have happened.” My head tips in her direction, close enough for my lips to skim the shell of her ear. “What if I want everyone to, huh? What if I want them to know how worked up I can get my wife without touching her?”

She glares. “You’re really horny in the morning.”

My confidence soars, and it’s all because of her. “Learned from the best.”

“I’ve created a monster.”

The doors split open, and Wade and Gabe await us in the open doorway of their unit, welcoming us in with bright expressions.

“Donny!”

“Not letting go of that nickname, huh?”

Gabe and Bea coo over her growing belly while I slap Wade lightly across the face. He returns the favor before we break into laughter and pull each other into a tight embrace. Their joy is infectious.

I jab his arm. “Look at ya. Baby Boner’s all grown up.”

“That’s Daddy, to you,” Wade gloats.

“ Ew ,” Gabe intones. “He is not calling you that.”

“Seconded.” Bea shakes her head. “The only person he’ll call Daddy is me. ”

“That doesn’t even make sense.” Wade waves it off, but looks to me and stops. “But then again, it kinda does.”

The door swings open, and Landon and Indi stride in, each carrying a child wearing matching grey puffers. We repeat the exercise.

“Oh, hey, Captain.” Landon offers a side hug while Akhila clutches his torso. “Swiss League looks good on you, bud.”

“Lucked out.” A hockey club happened to be recruiting to build a new team, and being a veteran player paid off. I motion to Bea, who’s fawning over the girls. “I got a helluva lucky charm.”

“I know how it goes.” Landon slides his eyes to his wife. “I got one of those, too.”

“They’re getting so big, Indi,” my wife coos.

Indi agrees but interrupts herself with a squeal. “What is that!” She grabs Bea’s hand, drawing attention to the ring on her finger.

Landon gasps.

“What is that?” Behraz redirects, pointing to the swell of Indi’s midsection. “Are you pregnant again?”

“Yep. Are you two married?”

There’s nothing to be embarrassed about, and yet Bea and I both weather through a stormy blush. “Yes,” she and I say together.

Pterodactyl screeches ending in congratulations from the four adults incite the two little girls into terrified wails. The group hug doled out doesn’t help console them either.

Heavy barks join in the ruckus as scampering paws and a furry tail whips about to break up the huddle.

“Jesus.” Jaeger tugs on Doug’s leash and shushes the overexcited golden retriever. “Calm down, bud.”

Wade gets down on one knee and babbles in baby talk while scrunching up Doug’s face and playing with his ears. “You’re such a good boy! Don’t listen to that old grump. We’re all so happy for Fletch, yes, we are…”

“ Aw , man, what’d we miss?” Skylar whines.

“Indi’s pregnant.”

“Bea and Fletcher got married.”

Skylar’s eyes go wide at the simultaneously blurted statements. “I knew about the first part, but whoa . When did that happen?”

“Storytime?” I didn’t expect anything less from Landon, the overeager gossip.

“Put it up on the TV so we can all see,” Wade adds, walking over to the living area.

We gather on the sectional, throwing coats in a pile before going through the series of professional photographs and a short highlights video. Indi and Gabe flank my wife and grasp both of her hands.

“That’s incredible.” Wade gasps as the video zooms out, the shot capturing the entire bridge and the cliffside.

Landon ooh s. “They must’ve used one of those drones. So sick.”

I catch our wives welling up. Indi kisses Behraz’s temple. Gabe wipes their tears away.

“You three act so tough,” Wade says through a chuckle, “you’re such softies for each other.”

Gabe warns him with a glare. “Don’t make me hurt you.”

“Don’t threaten me with a good time.” He reclines, elbows lifted, hands behind his back, manspreading his legs. It’s the Wade I’ve always known. So much has changed, and so much has stayed the same.

“ Anyway ,” Skylar singsongs. “Jaeg and I have news, too.”

The screen connection switches to her phone, and they share pictures of the infant they’re in the process of adopting.

We round robin, taking turns to show pictures and share stories of our lives that weren’t passed around in the group chat.

Akhila and Ellora swimming in the Atlantic Ocean.

Our two cats, an orange tabby named Cheddar and a Russian blue called Luna dressed as Mario and Luigi during Halloween.

Wade and Gabe at a charity basketball shootout.

Some families aren’t blood. They’re found, created, nurtured.

And it’s a calming feeling to return to this family: a growing, chosen group where there’s no awkwardness or walking on eggshells as we pick up where we left off, just the warmth and support of my three brothers and sisters, despite the spans of time between our last in-person conversations.

Surrounded by the family I once upon a time only dreamed of, I realize I’m finally the main character I read about.

I turn my head to Bea. Her eyes glimmer with a soft smile and affirmation. The glance we exchange says everything. There’s no joy I can’t share, no obstacle I can’t traverse.

How lucky am I to get to carry the love of the person I adore most in my heart and soul, and know she does the same?

And the fact that I get to do it alongside Landon and Indi, Wade and Gabe, and Jaeg and Skylar, each examples of great loves on their own, is icing on the cake.

Between us lies a whole world, a lifetime of love stories left to experience.

THE END