Page 162 of X's and O's

Verity, Mae, Lacey, and Kara all followed the wedding planner down the stairs, and Rebel linked arms with me, the two of us bringing up the rear.

She grinned up at me. “You ready to do this thing? Marry three men?”

I laughed. “You know it won’t ever be recognized legally.”

She tugged me closer. “So what? That doesn’t make today any less special. The four of you are committing publicly to a life together. That’s pretty damn huge, Dis. To find not only one, but three men willing to put up with you for a lifetime…”

I elbowed her in the ribs, and we both laughed.

She sobered quickly though and squeezed my fingers. “You know I’ll put up with you until we’re old and gray.”

I smiled at her. “Ditto. Soulmate.”

Her bottom lip quivered just a little.

I pointed at her. “No! Do not do that! If you cry, I’ll cry, and I don’t know if that mascara the makeup artist used is waterproof!”

She laughed and blinked really fast so the moisture in her eyes didn’t spill over. “Okay! I’m good. No more sappy shit. Let’s go get you hitched.” She grinned at me. “You’ve been saving yourself for marriage, right? Do you want me to explain what’s going to happen tonight?”

We both dissolved into nervous laughter.

I hugged her close to me as we reached the glass doors that opened onto the neat green lawn of the hotel. We’d picked a pretty one that overlooked the Providence end of the beach. Perfect blue waves rolled in behind the crowd of friends and family who had gathered to watch us tie the knot.

I couldn’t see my men from where we stood at the back of the pack, but the music started so I knew they must all be here.

Butterflies filled my belly at the thought of meeting them at the end of the aisle. We’d fought so hard for our relationship to work. It wasn’t conventional, and we’d had more than our fair share of ups and downs over the years, but when all three of them had filled our home with candles and gotten down on one knee to ask if I’d commit to spending my life with them, it had been the easiest yes of my life.

I just wished my brother was here to see it.

“Thanks for walking me down the aisle,” I whispered to my best friend.

She nodded. “I hate Axel isn’t here to do it. But I’m honored to walk in his place.”

I waved a hand at my face, battling back tears. Ahead of us, our tribe of flower kids made their way down the aisle, guided, or more likely herded, by their mothers and aunts.

Until it was just me and Rebel left.

The part of me that still really freaking missed my brother ached, but I drew my shoulders back, knowing at the end of the aisle, the family I’d made for myself waited.

The wedding planner pointed at Rebel and me, our cue to begin our march. We got to the bottom of the aisle, and everyone sitting on white lawn chairs stood, all turning to face us.

I froze as somebody stepped out from the last row of chairs and held a hand out to me.

He smiled and made his way to my side. “Mind if I take your spot?” he asked Rebel.

Rebel smiled up at Nash. “I know you’re one of the grooms, but as Axel’s best friend, this spot was always meant to be yours.”

There was no stopping the tears that rolled down my face.

I just had to hope the mascara was waterproof.

Rebel walked the aisle alone, her bridesmaid’s flowers clutched in her fingers.

Nash linked his arm through mine. “Hey,” he murmured. “Is this okay?”

I nodded so fast my eyes blurred. “Yes.”

He stopped me and tilted my chin up, pressing a kiss against my forehead. When I lifted my gaze to meet his, it felt like all our friends and family disappeared, and it was just him and me at the start of that aisle.