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Mason stood in the front row facing Bridger and Jane under the flower-draped arbor, towering granite peaks framing the joyous scene. He angled the tablet toward the couple. “You got it. Can you see now?”
“Perfect, thanks Mason.”
Pastor Zach was nearing the end of the ceremony. Jane glowed with bridal radiance, while Bridger looked happier than Mason had ever seen his friend.
But it was Kellen whose unrestrained joy made the hard lump rise in Mason’s throat. The boy vibrated with excitement beside his adoptive parents, rocking back and forth from heel to toe, his formal clothes hanging off his thin frame.
Mason doubted he’d ever seen a child so utterly transformed by happiness. After years of hardship, Kellen had found his family at last. Swallowing the lump, Mason lifted the tablet higher, determined to capture every detail for Jason.
Mason studied his friend’s pixelated face. Seeing Jason’s longing even through the poor video link made his chest ache.
There was no good reason for the guy to take on the Consortium alone. Bridger had shared Jason’s logic, but to Mason none of it washed.
Family was family. Brotherhood was brotherhood. And Jason was as much their brother as if they shared blood. Whatever his reasons, Mason knew one truth—the guy needed their help, whether he admitted it yet or not.
Mason’s jaw tightened with resolve. When this wedding ended, their focus would return to bringing Jason in from the cold, whatever it took.
He would make his isolated friend see that this family’s love and strength multiplied when united. Mason silently renewed his pledge—no one left behind. Even if they wanted it that way.
The sun hung over the highest peak by the time the preacher announced, “You may kiss the bride.”
Mason looked away, coughing softly. They deserved privacy, right? Or maybe it was his own feels getting in the way. For all that he loved these guys—and he loved his makeshift family more than anything—he knew he’d never have what they had. It wasn’t in him to commit. No Ortiz male ever had.
Not in any meaningful way.
“Yo, Mason, I can’t see, dude.” Jason’s complaint interrupted his sad-sack thoughts. Thankfully.
“Sorry,” Mason muttered and readjusted the tablet just as the happy couple finished their kiss.
Kellen had both hands over his eyes, exuding the sort of disgust only a nine-year-old boy could muster.
“Dude!” Jason called out to his new nephew from the screen. “What’s this about? Grown-ups kiss. Get over it. I’ve seen you eat dirt.”
“That was a dare, Uncle Jay,” Kellen called back. “And it wasn’t that bad, actually. Not like…” The boy trailed off, apparently too disgusted to finish.
Jason’s rich laughter exploded from the screen, the sound quickly drowned out by laughter and applause from the crowd. The entire town had shown up. Lots of old friends from the military, too. Enough folks to fill the small meadow.
Tai’s drone fleet swooped overhead, executing a spectacular aerial display.
Hand in hand, the newlyweds descended the few steps from the stage.
“Take me to my sister,” Jason ordered.
Mason obliged, holding the tablet at head height so Jason could get a sense of the surroundings. “Bride’s brother coming through,” he announced and handed the tablet to Jane before backing away.
Jane, Bridger and Kellen crowded around the device, laughing, crying and in Jane’s case, kissing the screen.
Mason shoved his hands in the pockets of his slacks and melted into the crowd. Between the milling crowd, the building breeze and his own pounding heart, it took a minute to realize his phone was buzzing in his pocket.
By the time he pulled it out, the call had already gone to voicemail. He punched Play.
“Hey, bro, long time no see.” The too confident voice sounded thin to Mason. Or maybe it was his own emotions coloring his judgment.
James. Mason rolled his eyes. Hard. Of all the times for his pain-in-the-neck of a brother to call. He hadn’t heard from the guy in two years. No. More like three. Yeah. It was at Mom’s funeral. Not that James had shown up. Nope. Just a quick call full of lame, self-serving excuses for why he couldn’t make it to their own mother’s graveside.
Pure James.
He pulled the phone away from his ear and hit the Stop button on the voicemail. Now was not the time to delve into his brother’s latest problem. Today was for eating, rejoicing, and dancing badly.
