“Grace,” I whispered. “What’s going on?”
She ignored my words. “I’m here to see my best friend get married.”
“We’re going to talk about this,” I hissed.
“Not today,” she said, keeping her smile wide and her words low. “Today is about you.”
“Just tell me you’re okay.”
She pressed a kiss to my cheek. “I promise.”
I had to take her word for it since we had no time to delve deeper. But I had to ask.
“Who is the plus-one?”
She rolled her eyes. “A necessary pain in my ass. But I owe him for getting me here, and he wanted to come to the wedding. I hope it’s okay.” Her words were simple, but I noticed her cheeks flushed as she spoke.
“It’s fine. You know we’re casual.”
“Thanks.”
Our conversation was interrupted when Cami clapped her hands together again. “Girls, it’s time.”
“I need a fast shower,” Grace insisted, wrinkling her nose. “I smell like I’ve been travelling for days.”
Her mother stood. “Come, and I’ll show you where.”
I watched her walk away, trying to tamp down my curiosity. She hadn’t smelled like she’d been travelling to me. She smelled like a man had been all over her. The scent was deep—citrusy and musky. Gracie’s fragrance was very light and floral.
My curiosity grew, and I was suddenly anxious to meet her plus-one.
Chapter 3
Brayden
My dad showed up a short time later in the morning, along with Aiden and Bentley. Although in my mind they were still my uncles, I had begun using their first names once I started working at BAM. When Addi and I got engaged, we had talked to Bentley about the whole Mom and Dad thing, and we agreed to stick to names. Since our parents spent so much time together, it would have become confusing. Bentley knew what he meant to me. So did Aiden. They were as close to me as I was to my own dad, and I was grateful to have three such strong men as role models. We walked over to the Hub, the morning air crisp and cold. It was a massive building we all used for various things. It had a full gym, a basketball court, a games area, as well as three bowling lanes in the large, high-ceilinged basement. Upstairs was a wide-open space with an attached fully outfitted kitchen that we used for our gatherings. A glassed-in swimming pool for the winter that overlooked the lake and a huge movie room were on the main floor. It had been well-planned and thought-out. There was a little library at the back next to the pool, filled with books and comfortable chairs. My mom often sat there reading, with Emmy or Cami for company.
We hadn’t even poured coffee yet when Richard VanRyan, Van, Halton, and Reid showed up. A few moments later, Jordan, or Pops as we called him, strolled in, dragging the Callaghan boys, Theo, Thomas, and Reed.
My tribe was all here. We had way more adopted “cousins” than we could fit into a wedding party, but they would all be in attendance and all had a job. We needed ushers, drivers for guests, various errands run for the wedding party—and the group all happily volunteered, and we considered them as much a part of our day as the ones standing beside us at the altar.
We hadn’t wanted stag or doe parties, so the younger members of the group hosted a party for us here last night. We laughed, drank, ate, and danced, no parents or grandparents allowed. We sent them all out to dinner at their favorite place in Toronto, and they hosted some of the out-of-town guests. They enjoyed themselves, we cut loose, and everyone was happy. Hardly traditional, but Addi and I were anything but.
A wedding days before Christmas, pictures outside, a two-night honeymoon in our own home, followed by a full-blown BAM Christmas? Most women would have refused, but the entire thing was my Addi’s idea.
Which was why she was perfect for me.
A hand on my shoulder broke my thoughts. My dad’s warm blue gaze met mine. “Quit daydreaming, son. You’ll be at the altar soon enough. We’ve got breakfast, some basketball, and a bunch of work to do.”
I grinned. “I’m looking forward to the altar the most.”
He chuckled. “I know. I felt the same way the day I married your mother.”
“We all felt that way,” Bentley said, adding a couple of scones to his plate. Everything else had been catered, but the scones came from Emmy. He wouldn’t eat any others.
Bentley clapped my arm as he went by. “Knowing my Addi, she’s as anxious as you. Emmy said she was enjoying her girl time, so you need to enjoy us.”
I snorted. “They sit around, have their nails done, drink, and discuss us.” I grinned widely. “They conspire together on how to keep us in line. All we do is work and let you old-timers beat us at basketball on occasion.”
“Hey, who you calling old?” Aiden protested, flexing his muscles. “I can beat you—all of you—with one hand tied behind my back.”
I smirked. Aiden was still huge. Tall, his posture ramrod straight. He worked out daily and could tire me out most of the time. His hair was completely gray now, with silver woven into the strands, and his scruff matched. But he was strong and agile, and he made sure we all were as well.
Like a single unit, Ronan, Paul, and Jeremy all stopped shoveling food into their mouths and looked up. Aiden’s triplets weren’t identical, but they were similar, all taking after Aiden in their size and looks. Dark-haired with green eyes, they were large and liked to work out and do most things together.
“You’re on, old man,” Ronan teased, always the spokesman for the group. The boys all high-fived one another, tilting their chins toward their father in a threatening way that made me laugh. Aiden narrowed his eyes.
“You’re going down, son.”
“Which one?” They spoke in unison.
“All of you.” He jerked his head toward Bentley and Maddox. “I got my boys.”
“Hey,” Richard interjected. “I’ll get in on that.”
Ronan chuckled. “The three of us will take on all of you—except Pops. He’s ours.”
Everyone laughed as Jordan rolled his shoulders. “You heard them, gents. I’m the ace in the hole.”
“That you are, Pops,” hooted Reed.
The rest of the meal was filled with taunts and general ribbing. The breakfast disappeared as if none of them had seen food in months, leaving Bentley shaking his head. “I ordered double what I thought we needed.” But he didn’t look surprised.
After breakfast, we divided into teams and hit the court in the basement. There was a lot of trash-talking, unnecessary roughhousing, and taunts. Aiden took on his triplets, his eldest son, Liam, adding himself to his dad’s team, and they held their own, although they had to admit defeat. The triplets were like a well-oiled machine, knowing one another’s moves before they happened. You could never win if they weren’t on your team. Still, it was fun to watch.
My dad got my attention. “We need to get you ready. Our tuxes are at your place. Everyone will get ready at their own homes and meet back here. The cars will drive us over.”
“Jen with the girls?”
He smirked. “His favorite place to be. I think he arrived with the flowers and was making sure everything was perfect. We’ll have to pass his inspection before he lets us in the building.”
I laughed. The quirky male wedding coordinator was part of every celebration we ever had, as well as many family functions. He was outrageous, droll, and his eccentricity had only become more so as he aged. He walked with a cane now and only worked on select, personal weddings. He had been a huge help for ours.
I glanced at my watch, knowing in three hours I would be meeting Addi at the altar. I could hardly wait.
“Let’s do this.”
I came out of my room, pulling on my bow tie. “Dad, I need help.”
He laughed, standing up and approaching me. His once silver hair was now pure white, and his laugh lines were deep around his eyes and mouth. But his back was straight, his shoulders broad, and he was strong. We had a close relationship. My mother said I wa
s him made over except for my eyes, which were like hers. I did bear a strong resemblance to him, although I liked to tease him and say I was better-looking.
He was a great father, always there for Shelby and me. He was endlessly patient, never raised his voice, and was fiercely protective. He had been thrilled when I developed my love of numbers, encouraging me and helping me every step of the way. He’d been so proud when I graduated early and continued on to become a certified accountant like him. Shelby was the exact opposite—a dreamer and artistic to the core. She painted and drew, her fingers constantly covered in paint and ink. Her room was too until Dad had Van build her a little studio in the BAM building, where she happily spent most of her time after she left school. She worked at a local gallery, surrounded by art, and dedicated the rest of her time to creating.
He straightened the ends of the fabric with a shake of his head. “You have never got the hang of this.”
“Didn’t need to,” I quipped. “I had you.”
His hands stilled, and he met my eyes. His light blue shimmered, and he blinked. “You always will, Brayden.”
I was shocked at the emotion on his face and in his voice. My dad gave us lots of hugs and always told us how much he loved us, how proud he was, but other than rare occasions, he kept his emotions hidden. I knew he shared them openly with my mother, but it was uncommon to see a crack in his façade.
I laid a hand on his shoulder. “I know, Dad. You have always been there for me.”
He nodded, looking over my shoulder. “I never had that growing up, and I wanted to make sure you knew how important you were—you are—to me.”
I knew about his childhood. When I was old enough, he had told me. He was worried he wasn’t a good enough dad, but I hadn’t lied when I told him I couldn’t have a better one. Maddox Riley was everything I wanted to be for my own kids. Strong, loving, and generous. I wanted to be the kind of husband he was to my mother. I wanted Addi to look at me years down the road and know she was as important to me then as she was when we began. More so, even. My parents’ relationship, although not perfect, was strong and unbreakable. They laughed and loved, fought and cried. Made up and carried on. Devoted themselves to each other and to us.
“I do know, Dad. You’ve always told me how much you loved me.”
He cleared his throat, but the words were still choked.
“I know wedding days are mostly about the bride. Bentley is having an inner meltdown over Addi getting married today.” He tried to smile, but his lips trembled. “But I am as well. You’re my boy, Brayden. Something I did right from the moment you were born.”
He didn’t let me say anything. “I wanted to give you something today. Impart wisdom and sage advice, but to be honest, you don’t need it. You’re amazing, son. You’re loving and giving. Your mother and I are incredibly proud of the man you’ve become.”
I felt tears gather at his words.
“Bentley gave Addi something today for her old. Something that meant a great deal to him. Again, I know it’s the bride’s tradition, but I wanted to give you something as well. Something as precious to me as you are.” He sucked in a deep breath. “Something for your future I hope you’ll use.”
I couldn’t speak. My throat was too thick, so I nodded.
He tilted his chin, and I turned, noticing something I hadn’t until now.
A small lamp I recalled from my childhood was sitting on the counter. I’d learned the history of it as I got older, finally understanding the reason it was so special to my father. A broken piece of his childhood my mother had restored. It sat in the nursery when I was a child, and I often touched the paint, gazing at the truck and the streetlight that stood over it, almost protecting it.
My dad would use it every night as he read to me. Turned it on when I was scared, to comfort me. Take off the shade and make hand puppets in the light thrown against the wall. It was always there when I was growing up.
The same way he was.
I met his gaze, not bothering to wipe the tears off my cheek.
“For your son,” he said. “Or daughter.”
Shelby never liked it. She preferred girlie things. Once I grew older, the lamp disappeared from the nursery and sat high on a shelf in his office. Protected.
And now, he was giving it to me. A symbol of his past so dear to him, I knew right then how deeply he loved me. More than I had ever imagined him doing. That was the real gift.
I embraced him, suddenly six years old again. Seeking his strength and warmth, which he gave freely. We stood for long moments, the love in the room tangible and rich. Then he stepped back and clapped his hands on my shoulders, letting me see his emotions.
“Be happy, Bray,” he murmured.
“I will. I love her, Dad.”
“I know. You’ll be a great partner for Addi. You were meant to be together.”
I nodded. He was right. She was my soul mate.
I indicated the lamp. “I’ll take good care of it.”
He smiled. “I know. I look forward to reading to my grandson with it.”
“I’ll get right on that.”
He threw back his head, the moment lighter.
“I’ll keep that to myself.”
For a moment, our eyes locked, and I knew I would never forget this moment with my dad.
He squeezed my shoulders. “Let’s go get you married.”
“Sounds good.”
Chapter 4
Addison
My stomach fluttered with nerves as I stepped into the cloud of tulle and lace. Cami slipped the dress up, making quick work of the hidden zipper and covered buttons that graced the back of the gown. I drew in a deep breath as the boning cinched in, and I ran my finger over the scalloped edge of the beading that hugged my breasts.
“This isn’t going anywhere.”
Cami met my eyes in the mirror, winking. “I’m sure Brayden will consider it a challenge later. Tell him to be gentle. I worked hard on this one.”
My breath caught as I looked in the mirror. “You’ve outdone yourself,” I whispered in awe. “It’s beautiful.”
“You’re beautiful,” Cami replied.
I felt like a princess or a fairy queen. The skirt billowed out around me, the sparkles catching the light. I never considered myself particularly beautiful. Brayden insisted I was, and the way he looked at me made me feel special and beautiful in his eyes, and that was enough. My dad called me lovely all the time and my mom insisted I was as well, but I always thought it was because they, like Brayden, looked at me with love. I was just me. Nothing special.
But today, in this dress, I felt beautiful.
My mom stepped behind the divider, her hand flying to her mouth. Tears filled her eyes. “Addi,” she breathed out. “Oh, your father is going to lose it when he sees you.”
“You as well, Mom. You look gorgeous.”
She smiled and stepped close, laying her head along mine. Her golden hair was interwoven with silver, highlighting the color. She refused to have it dyed, and my father loved it. It was gathered in an elegant braid that hung down her back, laced with sparkles and ribbon. Her dress, a rich green, suited her coloring. It was long-sleeved, cinched tight at the waist, the sweetheart neckline showing off her throat and the redesigned necklace she wore. She was elegant and beautiful.
She kissed my cheek. “We’ll both wow him.”
Chloe slipped in, grinning. Her dress shimmered in the lights, the soft gold creation perfect on her. “Dad is going to blubber like a baby when he sees us. He’s already emotional.”
My mom smiled. “Your dad is having a hard time that his baby is getting married and her sister probably not far behind.”
Chloe rolled her eyes. “I’m too busy for a man. I plan on staying at home until I’m fifty. Rent is cheap. My laundry is done, and the food is good.” She winked. “And dad has a driver for me, and he lets me shop. Why do I need another man?”
We all laughed. Chloe loved all the benefits of living
at home, including the car and driver Dad had at her disposal. He always worried with the hours she kept that she would fall asleep at the wheel, or worse yet, get mugged on a subway or bus. She had resisted at first, then decided she liked it. As for the rest—I couldn’t argue. She did, on occasion, do her own laundry, and I knew my dad gave her a budget for her “shopping,” although I was certain it was generous. Otherwise, she had it nailed. Our parents had been the same with all of us, including paying for our education. They insisted they wanted us to concentrate on studying, not having to juggle jobs and school. My mother had done it on her own, and my father didn’t want us having to go through what she had, struggling to keep up.
“Not my children,” he vowed. “I worked hard to make your life easier, so indulge me.”
And we did.
I was grateful—we all were—we knew how lucky we were to have Bentley Ridge as our father.
Mom smiled. “He will be very proud.”
She hugged us, and we stepped out from behind the screen. I gasped in delight at the girls. All in varying tones from cream and ivory to soft gold and their dresses styled to suit them, they were beautiful. The bouquets matched my headpiece, and each had a little piece of festiveness in her hair—a spray of holly, some ivy, the glitter of sparkles—some tiny sprig of the theme. They brought tears to my eyes.
They all loved my dress, oohing and aahing at Cami’s creation. Jen came forward, clucking as he fixed the hem, fussed with my headpiece, and tamed a stray lock of hair back into place.
“A masterpiece of loveliness.” He glanced over my shoulder. “Cami, you have done yourself proud. The entire wedding party is perfect.”
She hummed her thanks, smiling widely.
I leaned close. “Is he here? Has Brayden arrived?”
Jen smiled, his eyes soft. “Your groom is waiting anxiously downstairs for you.” He looked at Chloe. “You have the ring?”
She nodded, sliding her fingers into the hidden pocket added just for that reason. “Yep.”
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