Page 135 of Wherever You Are

Lo lets out a choked laugh. “You didn’t hear about the alien invasion last night? What were you—sleeping?”

“Yeah, I like sleep.”

“No way, me too.”

My smile fades into something else. It’s been nice babysitting Moffy and Luna, but seeing Lo interact with his kids just makes me want to be a father.

I want a baby with Willow.

Can’t believe I’m at a place where that sounds like walking into a bright horizon. Like the end credits to a movie I want to play all over again.

I tune out a bit—in ababydaze—but I’m back at the perfect time. Lily is about to blow up my secret project. I shake my head, trying to get her to shut up.

“We’re trying to separate all the ones with Sorin-X. He said…” she trails off, seeing me finally. “What?”

I stifle a groan.

Moffy runs off to play with Tilly Stayzor action figures fromThe Fourth Degreeuniverse.

As Lo drills confusion into me, I decide to go with the moment. “I did have something to ask you.”

This isn’t about work. I am worried he might sayno,but I’m not that nervous to actually ask him what I’m about to ask. I figure it seems obvious anyway.

And so I say, “Will you be my best man at my wedding?”

His mouth slowly drops, stunned.

“You’ve been more of a brother to me than my brothers,” I say strongly because this is the fucking truth. “I probably wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you…and you.” I look to Lily.

I’m not sure I tell them enough how much they mean to me.

How grateful I am and willalwaysbe.

Lily wipes her gathering tears.

Lo’s amber eyes glass. “Of course I’d be your best man.”

“Thanks,” I say. “Do you think the tall one and the angry one will want to be groomsmen?”

“Connor, without a doubt, and Ryke goes with the flow.” Lo laughs. “Christ, if you put him in the back row, he wouldn’t even care or take it to heart.”

“Okay good.” I expel another long breath, until Loren grabs a comic from the growing stack.

He asks, “What’s all this for?”

“I don’t know,” Lily says. “Garrison was just about to tell…”

I’m shaking my head with widened eyes.

She’s gaping, brows bunched. “Uhhh…”

I bet she sucks at charades.

Lo glances at me. “Is this about your video game?”

My face falls. “What?”What the fuck?

He flashes a half-smile.