Page 22 of The Wedding Toast (The Hamiltons #10)

“I know what you mean. Tori and I have started making arrangements to have our ceremony at the little chapel by the lake. I’m hardly a sentimental kind of guy, but when we talk about family and who’s going to sit where and do what …” he shrugged. “I wish they were still here.”

“Exactly. And … I’ve been thinking about you and Hannah, and how I … well, I checked out after they died, didn’t I? I buried my head in the business and … I wasn’t there for you.”

“You didn’t need to be,” said Xander. “Shit, that sounds wrong, but you know what I mean. I was in the Navy – you couldn’t have been there for me if you wanted to.

And Hannah was doing her thing in LA. I think we all coped in the ways we could.

It wasn’t down to you to be there for us.

It was on each of us to deal with it in our own way.

And now … now, I think you finally have.

And I think it’s all down to Becca. I’m glad you were smart enough to know what you’d found when you met her. ”

“You make it sound like my judgment is usually questionable.”

“Nah, you know what I mean; you’d closed yourself off from love. I’m glad you were ready to open the door when the real thing came along and bit you on the ass.”

Jacob bit back a laugh. He didn’t intend to share with his brother that Becca liked to prove her assertion that he had a very biteable ass as often as she could.

Xander glanced over at him again. “All that matters is that we each made it through losing our folks in our own way, and now we’ve found our way back to each other – back to being a family.

And … screw it, I’m going to say it. I like this new family even better.

I still miss the folks, but I love Grady and Ava for Hannah.

I love Becca for you – and her folks bring something to our family that we would never …

” he cringed. “I probably shouldn’t say that, should I? ”

“I’m glad you did,” said Jacob. “I know what you mean, I feel the same way, but it makes me feel … disloyal.”

“It’s not disloyal. It’s just … realistic.”

“True. And listen, while I have you to myself. I wanted to check again …”

“You don’t need to.”

He laughed. “Are you a mind reader now?”

“No, but I know that you need to check with me one more time that I’m not mad you asked Bentley to be your best man.

I’ve told you before and I’ll say it again – I’m not.

Not mad, not hurt, not … anything. I get it.

It’s as it should be. And to be honest, it makes it easier for me to ask Slade to be mine.

You know it makes sense – we’ve been close since we were kids, just like you and Bentley. ”

“I know. That was my theory from the beginning, but now that the time’s here …”

“You still have nothing to worry about. It’s all good. Relax.”

“Do you and Slade intend to go off after we’re done this evening? You guys don’t get to catch up very often these days, do you? Will you be hitting the bars after we leave Bentley’s place?”

Xander laughed. “I should probably warn you now – if Antonio has his way, we’ll all be hitting Muse later.”

“No. I want to get home to Becca.”

“We all know that. But you should know Antonio better than that – he’s trying to get the girls to meet us in Muse. You know what he’s like; he’s happiest when he can get all his people together in one place.”

Jacob chuckled. He should have thought of that. He liked the idea of going to the wine bar after they all had dinner at Bentley’s place, if Becca was going to be there. Especially since it’d make it easier for them to duck out and leave the others to their evening.

When they arrived at the DuPont estate, Jacob was surprised to see some of the guys’ vehicles parked out front, and Bentley standing on the wide steps that led up to the grand front door.

Xander laughed beside him as he parked the truck at the end of the row. “He’s going all out on the VIP treatment.”

“He is.” Jacob couldn’t remember the last time he’d come in through the front door. Whenever he came over, he parked around back and entered through the kitchen.

“Finally,” said Bentley when they got out.

Jacob checked his watch, and Xander laughed.

“We’re not late. It’s just Bentley, you know what he’s like. Although, to be fair, the two of you are the same way. I’ll leave you to it. Where is everyone?”

“In the dining room,” Bentley told him. “Although you might not recognize it as the dining room when you get there.”

Xander gave him a puzzled smile and slapped Jacob’s shoulder. “See you in there,” he said before heading inside.

Jacob turned to take in the view. This place had been like a second home to him when he was a kid. He, Xander, and Hannah had shared their childhood with Bentley, Willow, and Tori. He sighed.

“Is everything all right?” asked Bentley. “A big sigh isn’t exactly the reaction I was hoping for.”

Jacob chuckled. “Everything’s great and thank you – for all of this. For getting everyone together and …”

“But what?”

“Nothing. I was just thinking that … well, you guys are family. Even though our folks are gone, we still have family.”

Bentley nodded. “You do. We are.” He chuckled. “And other more eloquent expressions that I can’t come up with right now. I’ll just say that I know you have Xander. But despite the fact that I only have Willow and Tori, I’ve always felt like …”

Jacob punched his shoulder. “I know. Thank you, brother.” He met his friend’s gaze and they both nodded.

“Anyway. Let’s go get this party started, shall we? Oh, but I should warn you – if Antonio gets his way …”

Jacob laughed. “I heard – it looks like we’re all going to Muse later.”

“Are you okay with that?”

He smiled. “I am. Although Becca and I may slip away after a little while.”

“I don’t blame you.”

“Are you okay with it? You’ve gone to all the trouble of organizing this for us.”

Bentley laughed. “And we have plenty of time. We can eat, hang out, have some laughs, and then head over there. It’s all good.”

As they walked up the steps and in through the huge double oak doors, Jacob had to agree – everything was pretty damned good indeed.