“Of course.” I moved toward her, and as if the photographer had been waiting outside the door for the right moment, it opened and he stepped into the bridal suite.
“Hold it just like that,” he snapped and lifted the camera.
For the next hour or so, Tierra and I went through the motions of posing for whatever shots the photographer wanted to get of us. I was used to following those instructions, but I’d never been this emotional while doing it.
It was finally dawning on me that my little sister was really getting married today. I tried to joke around a little bit to keep the smile on her face genuine, but I’d never taken a shoot more seriously than I did this one.
We went out into the hotel gardens for him to take pictures of Tierra by herself and then back to the bridal suite for final touch-ups before it was time to go. The whole beauty team was back from where they’d been tending to Colette and Brett’s mom over at the venue, and they fussed over my sister while I stayed out of their way.
The hotel bordered the wedding venue, and it was also where Brett and Tierra would be spending the night. Once the energetic balls of glitter and hair product were done, it was time for us to head over for the wedding.
Colette was on my mind all the way until the soft sounds of violins playing met my ears. Tierra was holding on to my arm, and she turned to face me when we reached the corner we were to stay behind until the wedding march started.
“I can’t believe I’m about to walk you down the aisle,” I said softly, those fucking tears from before burning my eyes again as I looked down into hers. “Shit, sis. This is it, huh?”
“This is it.” She sniffed, fighting back tears of her own. “Thanks for everything, Paxton.”
I nudged her. “You’re not never going to see me again.”
“Yeah, I know.” Her voice wavered, and she cleared her throat. “I just wanted to say it anyway. When I asked you to stand in for Dad today, I knew you didn’t want to do it. But here you are.”
“They’d both have been so proud of you.” I had to clear my own throat to get the words out evenly. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to say before I give you away, but if there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that I’ll always be here for you. I’m giving you away, but I’m never going away. You know that, right?”
She touched a hand to my heart, barely keeping her tears from spilling over. “And that right there? That was the perfect thing to say. It’s also how I know you’re going to be there for April, Paxton. Colette might not know it yet, but I do. You’re going to be a great dad. Don’t ever doubt it.”
Before I could even begin to process that statement, the familiar strands of the wedding march started playing. “That’s our cue,” I said as I swiped the tears she’d lost the battle against away from her cheeks. “Let’s go, sis. I hope you’re ready for this.”
I sure as fuck didn’t know if I was, but as my gaze landed on Colette’s where she stood next to Brett at the top of the aisle, it was like my world tilted on its axis. All of a sudden, there was nothing I was more sure of than the absolute certainty that I could be that guy she deserved. And I wasn’t going to stop until she knew it too.
Chapter 36
COLETTE
Brett was practically vibrating with nerves and emotion while we waited for Tierra to appear. I’d been telling him all morning that Paxton had assured me she’d be showing up, that she was getting ready, and that nothing was going to go wrong.
Having a man for a best friend, and one who was getting married for the first time at that, meant that I didn’t know how brides really were before their weddings. I’d never been close enough friends with a bride to be asked to be a bridesmaid. All I knew was what I’d seen in the movies, and I could say with certainty the movies hadn’t gotten the groom’s behavior before spot-on. Brett had been a bit of a wreck. Not wanting to ditch the wedding, but at times absolutely sure that Tierra was going to.
It was like his whole being relaxed when the wedding march started and Paxton led Tierra around the corner. I snuck a peek at Brett’s face and caught that magical moment when the groom took in his bride for the first time.
Tears filled my eyes when I saw the purest joy I’d ever seen from him lighting him up from the inside out. I took a second to take a mental snap of him in that moment and hoped the photographer had caught an actual one, then turned my attention back to the bride and her brother.
Tierra’s gaze was locked on Brett’s, quiet tears streaming down her face as they made their way down the red carpet. I knew today was difficult as well as joyful for her. Without her parents here, there were parts of the day that were bound to be painful on a level few would be able to understand. I knew I sure couldn’t fathom it.
We were all here for her, but it just wasn’t the same. Even if she’d tried to get as close to them as she possibly could by choosing this venue. It was a beautiful one too. The ceremony was being held outside in the kind of garden where I wouldn’t be surprised if there were fairies watching us.
The greenery was lush and the flowers plentiful. A sweet scent hung in the air, and a gentle breeze ensured that no one would be a ball of sweat before the service was even over. Not even Brett and Pax in their five-piece suits.
April was the flower girl, and she preceded Tierra down the aisle in the most adorable little dress. While she was usually more reserved, she’d pushed me away with gusto earlier and had been eager to play her part. She tossed the flower petals with that same gusto now, beaming at anybody who looked at her.
At first when I’d told her I’d have to leave her with the coordinator from the venue for just a few minutes before she walked down the aisle to us, she hadn’t been too keen on it. It had only been after I told her Paxton would be walking right behind her that she came around to the idea. Only minutes ago, after he’d told me they were on their way over, she’d smiled up at me and said, “Go, Mommy. I’ll be fine. Paxton will keep me safe.”
Speaking of Paxton… I caught him watching me as he walked his sister down the aisle. A flirty smile appeared on my lips despite the fact that I really hadn’t meant for it to break free, but I mentally shrugged it off.
For the first time in a long time, he and I were in a good place. We’d texted on and off all week, spoken on the phone almost every day, and despite the fact that we’d always run out of wedding details to discuss relatively early on in each exchange, we’d never stopped talking immediately after.
With hindsight finally really being twenty-twenty, there were a lot of things I noticed about him that I hadn’t let myself think about too much before. One of which was that, while he was definitely still playful and easygoing, there was an underlying seriousness that hadn’t been there before. Or maybe it had been there, but it hadn’t been at all well-developed.
It was now, though. The more we spoke about the events of the last decade without our own history clouding my opinion over every word he said, the more I understood why. He’d been through more than even I’d realized—even though I’d known the highlights, or rather, lowlights of it all. It had turned him into the more settled, more mature version of the guy I used to know.
He was more self-assured now than ever before as well, but it was in that quieter way that men sometimes had. The way that said it stemmed from him knowing who he was and being happy with that person instead of it being put-on swagger just because he knew he was hot.
The officiant nodded at Paxton when they came to a stop in front of us, and he smiled at Tierra before he placed her hand in Brett’s. Unless I was delusional with all the adrenaline of the day, there were even traces of tears in his eyes.
His soft smile was transferred to me as he walked past to get to his spot next to where Tierra would stand in a moment, and there was a fierce gleam in his eyes I didn’t understand. It stayed there for the entire ceremony, though, or at least it was present every time he glanced at me. Which was very often.
The service was beautiful and sentimenta
l, and by the time Paxton and I were called upon to present the rings, I was an emotional disaster. His gaze came to mine yet again as he stepped forward at the same time I did. We handed over the rings, but we didn’t quite stop staring at each other.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the officiant said, and I tore my gaze away from Paxton just in time to see Brett dipping Tierra down into a truly movie-worthy kiss.
I clapped and cheered with the rest of the guests, even whistling when he took their entwined hands and thrust them into the air when they straightened up again. Brett and I had spent all day together, but I was still the first person he turned to when the ceremony was over.
“Congratulations,” I whispered to both of them when they wrapped their arms around me, hugging them back. April and Paxton joined the group hug, but then it was time for them to greet all their other guests.
Paxton hung back with us as the couple went off, standing so close that his hand brushed the back of mine. It brought a secret smile to my lips. I didn’t bother trying to suppress it as I glanced up at him.
“You still clean up nicely, Gould.”
He laughed, bumping his hip lightly into mine. “Right back at you, Wynne. What do you say? Shall we go corral all these people to get them fed and watered while the bride and groom go smile for the camera?”
“We shall.” I held my hand out, and he tucked it into the crook of his elbow without hesitating. He offered his other elbow to April, but since she couldn’t quite reach, he let go of me for a moment to lift her onto his shoulders.
We set off just like that, probably looking much more like a family than we should’ve, but I really didn’t care what any of these people thought. Paxton and I eventually got separated while we were sending everyone to a second area where appetizers and drinks were being passed around. April had stuck with him and was following him around all over the place even when she wasn’t on his shoulders anymore.
When we had a minute to catch our breath, we stepped away, and Paxton raised his hand for a high five. “We did it. We pulled it off.”
“That we did.” I slapped his palm first, and then we both turned toward April and high-fived with her as well.
Everything was running smoothly, and when I’d last checked in with the different vendors, everyone was where they were supposed to have been. He grinned at me. “Now the best part lies ahead of us—the reception.”
“Isn’t this the party where we celebrate the promises they just made?” April asked, and he glanced at me before answering.
Only once I nodded did he pick her up again. She sat on his hip as he pointed toward where the guests were mingling. “All these people were here to see them make those promises. They’re all called witnesses, and we’re witnesses too. We’re taking a break now so Uncle Brett and Tierra can have their pictures taken and have some time alone, but after that, the reception is going to start.”
She frowned at him. “But there’s already cake. Why is there cake if that’s not the party?”
“You’re right.” He touched the tip of her nose. “If there’s cake, then the party has to have started already. But those are only small pieces of cake for the people who want something sweet for now. They’re part of the appetizers. We’re going to have lots of cake later. Big pieces of it. Huge.”
Her eyes lit up. “There’s going to be more cake?”
“Yep.” He grinned. “A lot more, and I happen to have it on good authority that your mommy is great with kitchen staff. She might even be able to get you more. You can take some home and have it for breakfast tomorrow morning.”
I rolled my eyes at him, but when she swung her head toward me, I nodded. “Sure, baby. We can try to get some to take home.”
Paxton raised his hand for another high five, a strange kind of happiness practically beaming out of him. They clapped their palms together, and I expected him to put her back down, but he didn’t.
Hiking her up higher on his hip, he held out his arm to me again. “Before we can decide if we want some cake later, I think we need to go try the cake that’s out right now. If it’s not good, we might need to talk to the caterer to get a special batch made for later.”
“Uh-huh.” Her brown eyes were wide and excited on his. “Do you really think they’ll make a special batch just for us?”
He dipped his head to one side, pretending to think before he snapped his fingers. “If they don’t, you and I can bake our own cake sometime soon. How does that sound?”
“Tomorrow?” she asked hopefully, and my heart practically slammed to a stop.
Paxton didn’t falter. “Sure. If you and Mommy are available tomorrow and it’s okay with her, we can do it. For now, let’s go sample all that cake, then we can decide if we need to bake our own.”
She nodded enthusiastically. He tucked my hand back into his arm and led us to the buffet table where the appetizers were set out. They picked out a large variety for us to try together—not just cake, but a couple of everything else as well—and he ended up getting her to try some things I’d never been able to.
We worked our way through salmon paté, olives, miniature pies, and all sorts of other things before the photographer’s assistant appeared beside our table. “They’re ready for you now.”
When the three of us stood to be whisked away to do some shots with the bride and groom, Paxton picked April up again and slung his free arm over my shoulder. I didn’t know what was with him today, but he seemed determined to stick with us.
I hadn’t missed the women trying to catch his attention or the men trying to call him over, and I didn’t think he did either, but he seemed perfectly content to just be with us. There was something about his demeanor that was throwing me off. Something about the way he was acting that made it seem like he was trying to show rather than tell us what he was thinking.
When Brett and Tierra waved at us from the shade of a beautiful old tree where they were sitting with a picnic basket, I noticed the way Tierra’s face softened and lit up at the sight of the three of us moving toward them together.
I might not have missed people trying to get his attention or that look on her face, but I got the feeling there was something I was missing. Resolving to talk to him about it later, I smiled and pushed past the automatic unease the feeling brought along with it.
While I didn’t know what was going on, I refused to judge Paxton as he was today based on what he’d done in the past. He’d changed. I knew it now. I didn’t quite trust him yet, obviously, but I did trust him enough to let this play out.
For today, at least. I was taking this leap of faith. I just had to hope I wouldn’t leap and splat down on the other side if he wasn’t there to catch me.
But somehow, despite my lack of utter faith in him, I didn’t think he’d let me go splat. Everything I’d learned about him for the whole past month, about who he was now, told me he wouldn’t.
Maybe that thing he’d said a few weeks ago about new growth being possible after a disaster was true after all. It sure as heck felt like it was possible for us.
Chapter 37
PAXTON
The reception was underway. Dinner had been served, and we were about to begin the speeches. My speech was first, and as I moved from my seat next to Colette’s at the main table, I marveled again at the fact that this was my baby sister’s wedding. I also marveled at the fact that this whole thing had been pulled together in a month.
There was also the fact that some thirty-two years ago, give or take a few months, my parents had been celebrating their nuptials in this very room. I was trying hard not to focus too much on that last fact, though.
As it was, I kept having to direct Tierra’s attention away from it. The last thing I wanted was to get hung up on it myself.
The ceilings in here were high, draped in white material with ropes of warm white lights tucked between the folds. Wide picture windows lined the walls, letting in plenty of natural light from the sunset outside. A dance fl
oor dominated the center of the room, while round tables were strategically placed around it.
It was a beautiful place. So beautiful that I wasn’t surprised my sister had wanted to move heaven and earth to have their wedding here. And that would’ve been even if it didn’t have the sentimental value to it that it did.
There were wolf whistles and catcalls when I took my place behind the simple podium that had been set up on the other side of the main table. I smirked as I lifted a hand to get the guys to quieten down.
“It’s nice to know you’re all so excited to see me,” I joked as I adjusted the microphone to my height. “Is it because you’re excited to see me? Or is it because you know that no matter how elegant and beautiful all this is, you know that I’m not going to spoil the chance of making fun of my baby sister in front of all her friends and family?”
Laughter rose up from the crowd, and several people shouted their answers to my questions. I couldn’t make out who’d said what, but I laughed right along with them.
“Okay, okay,” I said after a minute. “We’ll just take it as a tie, then.”
My gaze landed on Colette’s, but it had been straying to her all afternoon, so it wasn’t much of a surprise to find it back there again. The very real, very wide smile she shot back at me did come as something of a surprise, however.
Since that smile was the type I’d get lost in if I kept staring at it, I dragged my eyes away from her to focus on my sister and her husband instead. Brett had his arm slung over the back of her chair, an anticipatory grin on his face even as Tierra narrowed her eyes in warning.
I shrugged at her before turning back to the waiting crowd. One of my hands slid into my pocket while I rested the other arm on the podium, making eye contact with as many people as I could while I spoke.
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