“Nope.” Becks gave him an evil grin. “I’m enjoying teasing you with my crafty clues.” He tried to grab Nicky’s hand again, but Wylder shoved them apart.
“Your crafty clues, don’t even make any sense,” Wylder snapped.
“Who peed in your cereal this morning?” Becks snapped back. “It’s my wedding day, Wylds, you’re supposed to be happy for us.”
“I am, I just have a lot on my mind. Now march.” She pointed toward the end of the porch.
“You think there’s a hair dryer in this place?” Becks ran a hand through his sodden hair.
“You can use my dressing room.”
“Dressing room? You got a dressing room too?” Becks and Nicky followed her in through the back of the old house and up the stairs to the third floor guest rooms.
“Nari and I got dressed here after we spent the whole day making sure this wedding was perfect. All you two had to do was show up in your little tuxes. Nicky, you get my room. Becks, you can use Nari’s. No goofing off either.” She shoved them toward the separate rooms.
Nicky closed the door behind him, shedding his wet coat and shirt. He hung them up under the ceiling fan, hoping they would dry quickly. Toeing off his shoes, he shed his socks and hunted through Wylder’s things until he found a pair of hers. “Of course they’re pink.” He shook his head and put them on anyway. He glanced at himself in the mirror, expecting to see his reflection had changed. He was still the same old Nicky, but down to his very soul, he felt different. Forever changed by this day and the new chapter he was beginning with his husband.
“Husband?” He stood, gazing in the mirror, his wet hair hanging in his eyes.
“Yes, dear?” Becks’ voice sounded behind him.
Nicky turned, his smile spreading wide across his face. Barefoot and bare-chested, Becks was like the sun. Once upon a time Nicky saw himself as Icarus, flying too close to the sun, terrified he would burn and crash into the sea. But those worries were a distant memory now.
“You think she forgot these rooms connect through the bathroom?” Becks smirked, stalking toward Nicky.
“You know she’ll come crashing in here any second to break us up.” Nicky laughed just as Becks pounced on him and they fell back onto the couch.
“I can’t help what she’ll see when she opens that door.” Becks’ lips were soft but demanding and Nicky yielded with a blissful sigh. They fit together so perfectly. Becks’ kiss was as familiar as the feel of his hands against Nicky’s chest.
“Babe, are you wearing pink socks?” Becks chuckled against his neck.
“They’re your sisters. I stole them.” He wiggled his toes.
“They look better on you.” Becks fumbled with Nicky’s belt.
“Behave yourself, Beckett St. Germaine.” Nicky gave him a playful push back.
“That did not have the desired effect.” Becks rolled on top of him. “Say it again.”
“Beckett St. Germaine.” Nicky smiled up at him.
“I like it.” Becks buried his face in Nicky’s neck, kissing from his jawline down to his shoulder.
“What did I say?” Wylder tapped her foot on the hardwood floor.
“We have to remember to start locking doors.” Becks growled, rolling onto his back.
“Sorry, Wylds. We’re just waiting for our clothes to dry.” Nicky shot her a guilty smile.
“Fine, just be quick about it. And fix your hair, Becks, you look ridiculous.” She hid her smirk as she closed the door behind her.
“She’s right, we should hurry.” Nicky sat up on the edge of the bed.
“Becks grabbed his hand and pulled him back down.”
“Don’t come near me with those lips again. We have a reception to get to and a lot of people waiting on us.” He tried to move away.
“Don’t you want to know where we’re going for our honeymoon?”
“I get to know now? Yes, please.” Nicky flopped back onto the couch with a grin. Becks had turned the secret into a game and he was dying to know where they were going.
Becks pulled him into his arms and Nicky rested his head against his chest.
“First, we’re going to stay in the honeymoon suite here at the plantation. And in the morning, after breakfast with our best friends, we’re flying to … Atlanta.”
“And,” Nicky said dryly.
“And then we’re flying to San Juan Puerto Rico where we will spend the next month, hopping from one island to the next, soaking up the beaches and eating our way through every seafood restaurant we can find.”
“That sounds heavenly. But the having you all to myself for a whole month part is the best. I don’t care if we end up going to Cleveland as long as we’re together.”
“Well, if Cleveland is where you want to buy our vacation home, we can go there.”
“Vacation home?” Nicky turned to face him.
“That’s my wedding gift to you, Nick-Nick.” Becks ran a hand down Nicky’s arm. “We’re going to do some house hunting while we’re there.”
“Shut up.” Nicky shoved his husband. “I have to fix my hair. I’m ready to celebrate!” Nicky bounced across the room. “I knew one day there would be some perks to dating a country music star.”
“Well, now you’re married to one.” Becks grinned. He loved to spoil Nicky with cute surprises and romantic gestures. Sometimes he spent a ridiculous amount of money and sometimes his surprises were homemade. Nicky didn’t care if Becks had a penny to his name. He was the happiest guy in the world when he was with him. And now they were together forever.
Nicky danced into the bathroom, searching for a hairdryer.
“I had my new assistant pack for both of us and sent our luggage ahead so we don’t have to bother with it at the airport.” Becks called from the bedroom. “And I packed an overnight bag for us. I figure we won’t actually need clothes till we leave for the airport.”
But Nicky was only half-listening.
“Babe?” Becks called. “I was only joking. Well, half-joking.”
Nicky stumbled out of the bathroom carrying a box.
“Are you trying to tell me something, Nicky?” Becks’ smile slid off his face. “Why do you have a pregnancy test?”
“It’s not mine,” Nicky said blankly.
“I should think not.”
“But whose is it?” Nicky glanced between Wylder’s dressing room and Nari’s.
“No.” Becks charged into the bathroom. “She’s not that dumb. It can’t be my sister’s. She’s just a kid.”
“She’s an adult, Becks. But she has been super cranky, and she just said she has a lot on her mind.” Nicky sank back onto the couch, worried for his friend.
“It’s positive!” Becks walked back into the room holding the pregnancy test. “Found it in the trash.”
“You know girls pee on those things, right?”
“Ew.” Becks dropped it like it burned him.
“What are we going to do?” Nicky asked.
“We’ll help her, of course.” Becks took a deep breath. “The important thing right now is letting her know she’s not doing this alone.”
“We’re going to be uncles.” Nicky smiled.
“We’ll practice on my sister’s kid before we dive into having our own babies.”
Nicky patted his husband on the knee. “Just don’t say it like that when you talk to her.”
Nicky couldn’t focus on Avery’s best man speech. He heard the heartfelt words, but his mind was elsewhere, worrying about Wylder. Could she be pregnant? Or were they just jumping to conclusions?
“Cheers.” The crowd raised their glasses to the happy couple.
“Maybe it’s not even her test.” He eyed their closest friends around the table. Nari practically glowed beside Avery.
“My sister is the reckless one. It’s totally hers.”
“But Peyton and Cameron are here too, and Julian and Addison. They’ve been together since we were all in high school. It could be Peyton. Or even Addiso
n.” Nicky glanced at Peyton Callahan and the way she folded her hands across the front of her dress. She’d always struggled with her weight but Nicky couldn’t tell if she looked any different from the last time he’d seen her at the Main just a few weeks ago. He hadn’t seen Addison much in recent years, but she looked the same as she had in high school.
“We’re not that lucky.” Becks muttered. “It’s totally Wylder. She’s been mean as a snake all day, and she looks like she’s ready to murder everyone at this table.
“What are you two whispering about?” Nari nudged Nicky’s shoulder. “Plans for the honeymoon?”
“Of course, Nars. We’re talking about all the places we’re going to visit and how we’re going to talk you and Avery into coming down for a weekend. You know, if you’re up to flying.”
“Sure, we fly all the time, Becks.” She gave him an odd look. “In fact, we’re planning a little trip of our own while you’re away. It’s not often we get much Becks-free time.”
Now that the toasts were over, their guests were settling in for dinner, but judging by the look on his husband’s face, dinner was the last thing on Beckett’s mind.
“Stop looking at me.” Wylder scowled at her brother. “What’s gotten into you?”
“I don’t know, why don’t you tell me what you’re hiding?” Becks shot back.
“Nicky, what is he babbling about?” Wylder asked.
“Nothing, just ignore him.”
“Is there anything wrong?” Avery leaned forward. “You two seem tense.”
“It’s nothing.”
“It’s not nothing.” Becks frowned.
“Trouble in paradise already?” Peyton teased. “You know, I remember in high school how protective Becks was of Nicky. I know I’ve said it before, but it’s so wonderful to see two of our friends find such happiness together. You really are an inspiration. But who would have guessed that Becks would be the first of us to get married?”
“Cheers to that.” Julian lifted his glass.
Nicky raised his glass and took a sip of his sparkling water. Except it wasn’t sparkling water, it was champagne. Nicky wasn’t a big drinker, but Becks liked a drink now and then.
As Becks took a sip of his drink, he choked and most of it sprayed across the table. “Sorry, wasn’t expecting that. That was not champagne.” He dabbed at his red face. “Why do I have apple juice?” He glared at each of the women sitting at their table.
“Sorry, babe. I think I grabbed your drink by mistake.” But the apple juice wasn’t Nicky’s.
Becks slammed the champagne flute onto the table.
“Oh no. Not now, Becks.” Nicky tried to reel him back in.
“No, someone at this table is pregnant and I want to know who.” He turned to his sister. “I think I already know, and it’s okay, Wylds. We’ll adopt the baby and you can finish building your career. We’ll be one of those ultra modern families where the baby has three parents. He can freak people out when he tells them his mommy and one of his dads are brother and sister. It’ll be hilarious. We aren’t exactly ready for babies yet, but we’re more ready than you are. We’ve got this, Wylds. Don’t stress about it.”
“What are you on, Becks?” Wylder put her hand over his mouth to shut him up. “I’m not pregnant,” she hissed.
“It’s okay, we found your pregnancy test in your dressing room,” Becks said. “I’ll help you tell Mom and Dad. We’ll all help.” He glanced around the table at their lifelong friends. “You’re not alone … But I’m going to have a serious talk with the father.”
“Oh my God, Nicky, please make him shut up.” She covered her face with her hand. “He’s making a scene.”
“So, it’s not yours?”
“No.” She threw her hands up in the air.
“Then it must be Peyton,” Nicky said without thinking.
“Me?” She glanced at Cameron beside her. “Why me?” Her face turned red.
“You’ve been resting your hands over your stomach all day,” Becks said. The tension left his shoulders as he focused on someone other than his baby sister. “Yes, we’re having a little Callahan!”
“No! No. No we’re not.” Peyton looked like she wanted to reach across the table and throttle him. “Shut your face, Becks.”
“I think we have to tell them, Pey.” Cam grabbed her hand under the table.
“So, it is you?” Nicky beamed, relieved it wasn’t Wylder.
“No, everyone take a freaking step back already,” Peyton said. “It just happened and we didn’t want to steal your thunder. I have been shielding one hand with the other all night, I’ve been hiding our little secret.” She lifted her hands from under the table to reveal a sparkling engagement ring on her finger. “We’re getting married!”
“Peyton!” Addison squealed, throwing her arms around her friend. “Congratulations!”
“So wait,” Wylder said. “If I’m not pregnant and Peyton’s not, then who is?” Everyone stared at Addison. And then Nari, her full cheeks flushing pink with embarrassment.
“Um, well, that would be me,” she said, glancing at Avery.
“What?” Avery shot out of his seat like something bit him.
“Thanks for that, Becks. I haven’t had time to tell him he’s going to be a father.” Nari took Avery’s hand and guided him back to his seat. “Surprise.” She threw her hands up. “I wasn’t sure until this afternoon. I’ve taken like a hundred pregnancy tests just to be sure. And I’m drinking the apple juice. So, it’s me. We’re having a baby.”
“Oh my God, I’m going to be a father?” Avery smiled.
“Yeah, you are.”
“We did it backwards, Nari. I’m supposed to propose first and then we were supposed to get married, buy a house, and then have a family.”
“Since when do we ever do anything the “right” way?”
“Oh! You should totally do a double wedding with Peyton and Cam,” Wylder said.
“We can talk about all that later,” Nari said. “This is Becks and Nicky’s day and nothing should distract us from that. And I think we need to give Avery a little while to let that sink in. Honey are you okay?” Nari nudged him. “Are you breathing?”
“What, huh, yeah … I’m good. I’m great.” He took a long sip of his sparkling water, a big stupid grin on his face. “I’m going to be a dad. Happy wedding, Nicky and Becks. We got you a niece or a nephew.”
“Really?” Becks sat up straight. “You want me to be your kid’s uncle? I’m so honored.”
“Honey.” Nicky nudged him. “Avery is my brother and you’re my husband. That kind of makes you an official uncle by marriage.”
“I’m going to be an uncle!” Becks shot up from his seat. “Narisaurus, why aren’t we dancing? It’s time to celebrate.” He lifted his glass and everyone in the room lifted theirs. “To my husband.” He winked at Nicky, turning to Peyton and Cameron and then Julian and Addison. “To our amazing friends, and to my brother and sister-in-law. We’ve always been family, but today we all get our happily ever afters.”
Turn the page for book 2, Dating Washington to get Asher and Kenny’s story!
1
Kenny
“Life sucks and then you die.”
Wasn’t that what people said? Boohoo, right? Kenneth James Montgomery didn’t get to mope. He didn’t get to wallow or claim no one understood him. Who cared about the problems of a spoiled rich kid at a fancy boarding school, right?
Kenny lifted his eyes to the seats surrounding the ice surface of the Defiance Academy arena. Their hockey team, the Knights, had every advantage. Top facilities. Knowledgeable trainers. Actual fans.
Not to mention the constant train of National Hockey League scouts looking for their next draft star.
Was that Kenny? It could have been…if a single picture hadn’t ruined his chances.
Kenny was bisexual. Only two short months ago he’d been caught on camera kissing Nicky St. Germaine beside the pool in his backyard. It should
have been a private moment. A private moment with the boyfriend of Beckett Anderson, country music golden boy—not to mention, the son of an NFL legend, too. At least no one in the media learned the entire truth. For two years, Kenny dated Nicky without anyone knowing, terrified that the people in his life might learn his secret.
The son of Ohio’s conservative, anti-gay, full-on hateful senator liked boys every bit as much as he liked girls. He kissed them and fantasized about them, and he wasn’t going to apologize for it.
At least, he didn’t want to. Maybe one day, he’d grow the courage to tell his parents to take their asshole ideas and shove them where it hurt.
Today was not that day. No, today was the first game of Defiance Academy’s hockey season, Kenny’s last season before leaving for college. He already had his scholarship to play for Boston College—if he didn’t screw it up. His “family advisor,” Kyle, told him he had a shot of going in the late first round of the draft. Really, Kyle was his agent, but amateur players weren’t legally allowed to have agents, so they called them “family advisors” instead. He trusted Kyle as much as he trusted anyone—only slightly.
Kenny pumped his legs, trailing the St. Mary’s winger after getting caught behind the play. He could have cursed himself but knew Kyle would do it enough for the both of them. You get too much in your head, he’d say. He wouldn’t be wrong.
Scanning the jersey number up ahead, he skated faster. There was no way he’d let Eric “douchebag” Morrison put their team up one to nothing.
Killian “Killer” James, the Defiance goalie, squared himself to Morrison, waiting for the shot. It didn’t come. Morrison skated behind the net, anticipating his centerman streaking down the center of the ice right through two Defiance defenders. The puck slid toward the center, but he couldn’t stop his momentum and slammed into Killian, pummeling him into the ice.
Kenny reached the collision first, pulling the center up and shoving him into the goal post. Morrison, taking issue with that, swung at Kenny, but with Kenny’s height, he barely stood a chance.
Dating Him: The Series Page 23
