by R. Linda
Twenty-One
Audrey
The look on Brody’s face when I stepped outside in my dress made the nerves completely worth it. He stood across the patio, and his eyes never left mine as I chatted with Kenzie and Harper. Indie had rushed inside with Jack to whisk Bailey upstairs and get her ready for the surprise wedding. How Ryder managed to plan the entire thing without her finding out was amazing, considering how much this group of friends liked to gossip. I guessed they could keep a secret when it was important enough.
“What’s going on there?” Kenzie asked, pointing at Brody.
“What?”
“Well, Linc might have mentioned something a little while ago,” she teased. “He’s a good guy. And if you’re happy, then…” She shrugged.
Crap. When I’d told him to tell everyone, I thought he’d have the sense to at least wait until after the wedding. What if everyone freaked out and started a fight or something? I didn’t want to be the cause of destroying Ryder and Bailey’s wedding. Maybe he’d only told Kenzie, because Harper looked between us, clueless.
“Who’s a good guy?” Harper asked, just as Nate approached.
He scoffed. “No one here.” He grabbed Harper’s hand and dragged her away.
“I resent that. I’m amazing,” Jack called. I giggled. I’d only met Jack a few times, but I liked him.
Ignoring Nate, I glanced over at Leanne and Steve and realised Linc had told everyone. They were murmuring to each other, their eyes darting between Brody and me. Steve’s jaw clenched, and Leanne placed a gentle hand on his arm. He nodded, cleared his throat, and called Brody over.
Brody looked at me warily before putting his beer down. Then, as if he was having second thoughts, he grabbed his beer again and headed over to Steve and Leanne. They led him inside, passing Ryder as he stepped out and closed the patio doors.
“What’s that about?” Ryder asked, pointing over his shoulder at them.
“Oh, I know!” Jack jumped up and waved his hand in the air as if to say, “pick me.”
Kenzie laughed, and Linc told him to shut up. “What? Cat’s out of the bag now. No use in pretending it’s not happening.”
My cheeks heated, and I ducked my head in embarrassment. They were talking like I wasn’t even there.
“Linc told Leanne and Steve about Brody and Audrey,” Kenzie announced, blowing a kiss at Linc.
He rolled his eyes and pointed at me. “She told me to.”
“Not before the wedding!”
“You didn’t say that.”
“You and Brody?” Ryder pinched his lip and nodded. “’Bout time.”
“You knew too?” Kenzie hit him on the chest.
“Ah, yeah. Sort of. Brody might have mentioned something weeks ago, but we didn’t know for sure.”
Kenzie glared at me.
“What?” I asked.
“You didn’t tell us?”
“What was I supposed to say? ‘Hey, by the way, Brody and I are sneaking around behind Leanne and Steve’s back, but don’t worry, it’s okay because I love him?’”
“Yes, that’s exactly what you say.”
Someone cleared their throat, and we turned to see Leanne standing in the doorway with Brody, watching us.
Brody smiled and walked over to me. I stared at him with wide eyes as he threaded his fingers in my hair. What was he doing? We needed to talk with Leanne and Steve and make everything okay. “You just said you love me.”
“I did. I mean, I do,” I wrinkled my nose and looked down at my feet. I could feel everyone’s eyes on me, and I hated it, but I loved the way Brody was looking at me.
“Sorry, angel face, you’re not the one who’s meant to say I do today,” Jack interrupted.
“Get over there.” Linc grabbed Jack and pushed him over to the pool.
Kenzie took Jeremy by the hand and dragged him away too, leaving Brody and me alone with Leanne. He gave me a light kiss and turned to look at Leanne and Steve.
“I’m not going to say anything. Neither of you are my children, but I care for both of you so much. I’m not impressed that you’ve lied to us and kept this hidden for so long, but we understand why. We just want to be sure you know what you’re doing and that you’re both happy,” Steve said.
“We are.” I nodded and lifted my eyes to meet his gaze. “We tried to ignore it, but it was stronger than both of us.”
“Okay. I did have a feeling something like this might happen eventually with you two being so close. I just didn’t expect it so soon.” Leanne smiled and touched the side of my face gently. “It’s nice to see you smile.”
“Thank you.” I stepped forward and hugged her. She gasped in surprise, making me laugh.
“It’s time!” Indie announced through the back door, allowing Nate and Harper through with Cole.
“Ooh, I guess I better get in position,” Steve said nervously, pointing at Ryder across the pool, standing under an arch covered in daisies and vines.
Brody took my hand in his and escorted me across the yard to everyone else.
I’d never seen Ryder look nervous before, but he stood there bouncing on the balls of his feet, running his hands through his hair as he stared at the back door waiting for Bailey to appear. He looked handsome in his black pants and black shirt, unbuttoned just enough to reveal a white shirt underneath. Cole was dressed identically and stood beside Ryder as his best man.
Ryder’s mum and Bailey’s mum walked out, wiping their eyes with tissues, and the wedding hadn’t even started yet.
A whistle echoed through the yard—Indie’s way of saying to start the music. Leanne pressed play on the remote in her hand, and music spilled from the sound system in the backyard. It was a song I’d not heard of but apparently had been the song Bailey and Ryder had first danced to at their high school dance.
Indie came out first, in a black dress and pair of pink Chucks. I laughed because it was absolutely her style.
“Does Bailey know what’s going on yet?” I asked Brody. He shrugged, and Harper leaned forward so I could see her and shook her head.
Bailey walked into the backyard asking, “Indie, what’s going o—?” She paused on the patio and took in the scene before her as Indie shoved a wildflower bouquet in her hands and linked their arms. She looked stunning in a long, white lace maxi dress that fell over her stomach, the front of her hair twisted into braids and pulled back.
Tears filled her eyes as she looked around at everyone until her gaze fell on Ryder, and then she smiled. The biggest, happiest, and cheesiest smile. Ryder winked and watched her walk down the fairy lit aisle with so much love and adoration in his eyes, it hurt to witness.
“Jones,” she said softly once she reached him and leaned down to kiss Cole’s head.
Ryder pulled her in and kissed her. Jack wolf-whistled, and Steve cleared his throat. “We haven’t gotten to that part yet.”
“Couldn’t help myself. You look beautiful,” he said to Bailey, wiping a tear from her cheek.
Steve had apparently got his license to perform marriages at Ryder’s request, so he performed the ceremony. The moment he asked if anyone had any objections to the marriage to speak now, Jack stepped forward and raised his hand. Ryder glared, and Bailey chuckled.
“Dammit Ace, control him before I do,” Linc said, grabbing Jack and pulling him back.
Indie giggled. “Aww, you know he wishes he was marrying Ryder. Let him have one last crack at it.”
“Thanks, baby cakes,” Jack said, grabbing Indie by the face and kissing her before Linc pulled him off her with an annoyed sigh. Jack, who was very gay, apparently liked to kiss Indie, a lot, just to piss Linc off. It meant nothing to either of them and was some long running joke between them, but one of these days Linc would punch him. “You’ve always got my back. Maybe you and I should run away and get hitched instead?” He wiggled his eyebrows, making Indie laugh and roll her eyes.
“Jack,” Linc and Ryder both growled.
“Okay, fine. Carry on. Just
know, Ryder, that you and your hot ass have lost your chance. I’m moving on,” he said and waved him off.
“About time,” Linc muttered.
Steve continued with the ceremony, and when it was time to read their vows, Ryder said he’d prepared his own, at which both their parents and Leanne started to cry again.
“Bailey, you’re my best friend, the person I can’t wait to come home to at the end of the day. The mother of my child.” He dropped to his knees and kissed her stomach. “You’ve given me the two greatest gifts a person could ever hope to receive. You, and a family of my own. Holy shit, you’ve made me a dad, and I’m going to cherish this baby and you for eternity.” He stood back up, grabbed Bailey’s hands in his, and continued. “I will always be there for you, to love you, to hold you, to protect you, and to catch you when you fall. I promise to love our child with everything I have, and to be the best role model, father, and husband I can be. If there’s one thing I want you to always remember, it’s this thing,” he gestured between them, “between us, is real. From the age of fifteen, I knew it was you. It’s always been you, and it will always be you. I fucking love you,” he said and grinned, flashing his dimples, amusement in his eyes.
“Oh, be still my heart. He’s so dreamy.” Jack swooned beside us, ignoring the glare he received from Linc.
“I will fucking love you for eternity, Jones,” was all Bailey said, sniffing and trying to hold back the tears, but she didn’t need to say more. That pretty much summed up everything.
Rings were exchanged, and before Steve could even pronounce them husband and wife, Ryder had wrapped Bailey in his arms, dipped her, and kissed the life out of her. It was so indecent, I blushed and looked away. Kenzie rushed to cover Cole’s eyes. The guys cheered, and Indie told them to get a room, which was quickly followed up by Jack saying, “Make sure to invite me.”
Bailey threw the bouquet, straight at Kenzie. “Dude, you know you’re supposed to throw it over your head,” Kenzie said as she caught it.
“You know you’re supposed to get married if you catch it.” Bailey raised an eyebrow and smirked. “Cole needs a dad.” She winked at Jeremy, who didn’t say anything. He just watched Kenzie carefully, his gaze intense, only lightening when he looked down at Cole.
“You marry my mum?” Cole asked him.
He nodded. “One day, little man.”
“Does that mean you’ll be my dad?” Cole’s eyes lit up.
“Do you want me to?” he asked, staring at Kenzie, who had a small smile on her face as she watched them.
Cole nodded excitedly. “Yeah.”
“Then you’ll have to help me convince your mumma it’s a good idea.” He ruffled Cole’s hair. “But not right now. Now there’s cake.”
“I like cake!” Cole cheered.
“I know. Come on.” He grabbed Cole’s hand, leaned over, and kissed Kenzie on the cheek. “The kid knows what he wants,” he said and walked away.
Everyone began to disperse. Jack dragged Indie and Harper to dance. Kenzie sat with Jeremy and Cole while they shared a slice of cake. Bailey and Ryder were attached at the lips, so that left me alone with Brody, Nate, and Linc.
“Well, this is awkward. I’m going to get a beer. Don’t kill each other,” Linc said. “Audrey?”
“Uh…” I looked at Brody for confirmation that it was okay to leave him and Nate alone. He kissed the side of my head and gave me a gentle push in Linc’s direction.
“Relax. They need to sort this out,” Linc said as we wandered across the yard to join everyone else. He pulled out a chair for me and sat beside me.
“I know, but it’s been so hard for him.”
“There’s no reason for it now. Nate is with Harper, and Brody has you. Everyone is happy and needs to move on.” He handed me a glass of wine.
“You’re right.”
Linc smiled. “I always am.” Then he frowned and muttered, “I’m going to fucking kill him.” I followed his gaze across the yard and had to stifle my laugh. “Jack!” he shouted, “Keep your goddamn hands to yourself.”
Jack gave Linc a devious smile as he spun Indie into his body and dipped her.
“That goes for your tongue too,” Linc called. “Idiot,” he said under his breath as Jack pulled Indie up and started cackling.
I bit my lip to stop laughing but failed. “Sorry.” I held up my hands defensively when Linc elbowed me.
“Look at that,” he said with a nod. I looked over just in time to see Nate and Brody shaking hands and pulling each other in for that awkward, one armed, man hug back slap thing guys did.
I let out a sigh of relief and smiled. Everything was right again.
Epilogue
Audrey
Three months later
I kissed Brody goodbye and climbed into Bennett’s waiting car.
“Are you ready for this?” he asked, handing me a smoothie. I smiled in thanks.
“Ready as I’ll ever be.” I nodded and kicked my feet up on the dashboard.
After a two-week break for spring, we were heading back to school for the last term. It was going to be a tough ten weeks. Final exams were coming up, so this entire term would be focused on prepping for those. I needed to get good grades because I was determined to get a psychology degree, something I never dreamed was possible a year ago, and certainly never even considered in the months following the fire. But now, everything was perfect. I felt good, and I wanted to help people who were struggling, like I was, to be…better, find peace, move on.
“How was your break?” Bennett asked, wiggling his eyebrows in my direction, knowing full well Brody took me away again for a few days to unwind before school went back.
“Great. It was peaceful and nice to unwind.”
“You sound like a forty-year-old woman. Peaceful and nice to unwind? Sounds dreadful. I want details. Dirty ones. Descriptive. Don’t leave anything out.”
“No. You have an imagination.”
“Yes…yes, I do.” He smiled dreamily and his eyes glazed over.
“Hey, focus on the road.”
“You really want me to use my imagination?”
“I’m not telling you details.”
“I’ll tell you mine, if you tell me yours.”
“What are we, seven? I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.” I laughed, but I wasn’t going to admit that caught my attention. I sat a little straighter and turned to face him.
“I don’t want to see yours,” Bennett scoffed.
“Why not?” I frowned and crossed my arms.
“Because Brody could kill me, cover it up, and get away with it.”
“Fair point.”
“But I will tell you all the dirty, descriptive details about my break.”
“Please, don’t.”
“She was older.”
“No.” I blocked my ears.
“Like, not as old as Brody, but older, maybe four or five years older.”
“Stop.”
“And she was into all sorts of—”
“Not listening. La-la-la-la.”
“Roleplay.” He turned into the parking lot at school and took his rightful place near the front. Ryder’s old parking spot.
“Urgh.” I climbed out and slammed the door, hoping it would end the conversation. It didn’t.
“Toys.”
“Bennett!”
“Nipple clamps.”
“Oh, my god.” I buried my face in my hands as he walked around to my side of the car and grabbed my bag from my shoulder.
“Kind of painful, not at all unpleasant.” He flashed me a grin. “And—”
“Bennett, please,” I pleaded. “I don’t want to hear it. Really. I’m super happy that you got laid at least once in the last two weeks. There was quite a dry spell there for a while.”
“Once? I’m pretty sure she’s my girlfriend now. And, yeah, the accidental celibacy was totally worth it.” He smiled and grabbed my hand, tugging me toward the front doors of the school.<
br />
“Girlfriend. What?” I screeched, choosing to focus on that, rather than his admission that not getting laid was worth it. I knew it was because of me. He knew that I knew it. I appreciated it more than I could ever put into words. He knew I appreciated it. I was happy because of Brody. I was confident because of Bennett Sawyer. And he was all too pleased to take the credit for it.
“Seriously, bro. We spent nearly every day together.”
“Doesn’t she work?”
“Starts a new job today, actually. Kind of perfect since I had to come back here anyway,” he said as we reached my locker.
“Well, I’m happy for you.” I turned to him and grabbed my bag from his shoulder and placed it in the locker before pulling out my books for my morning classes. “Does this mean I’m going to see less of you now you have a girlfriend?”
“I can’t believe you would even ask me that. Bros before hos.” He held out a fist for me to bump.
“Good.” It was selfish, but I didn’t want to share him with anyone else.
Bennett cleared his throat and gave me a pointed look.
“What?”
“Jacket.” He raised an eyebrow and glanced down at my hoodie, holding his hand out.
“I’m cold.”
“No, you’re not.” He snatched my books out of my hands and dropped them at his feet.
I crossed my arms over my chest and stepped back until I was pressed up against the locker like a cornered animal. Bennett stood before me and reached for the zip on my faithful hoodie. “Drop your arms.”
“No.” I frowned at him and hugged my arms tighter to my chest, my mouth twisting into a small smile. It wasn’t that I was scared to remove my jacket. I’d actually become used to showing small parts of my body, like my forearms and sections of my chest in V-neck t-shirts. However, it was still nerve-wracking to remove an item of clothing in public, because it drew attention, and that initial attention made my stomach churn. Bennett helped, though, usually by shielding me from view as I tried to compose myself.
“Don’t make me lift it over your head. Drop your arms.”
I sighed. “I can do it myself, you know.”
