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A murmur ripples through the crowd, but I hold up a hand, manicured nails catching the light. "Yes, I hired them," I confess, gesturing to Wilder, Wyatt, and Emrys. "But not for the reasons you're thinking. This started as a fake relationship—three, actually. A way to avoid the endless questions, the pitying looks about my single status."
Emrys shifts, his usual stoic expression tight with worry. Wilder's jaw clenches–I can tell he's itching to turn this dinner into a brawl. And Wyatt...he stands tall, ex-lawyer that he is, ready to defend our case.
"But somewhere along the line," I continue. "Something real happened. Something shifted. Feelings grew—real, messy, wonderful feelings. These guys," I flick a glance over at them. "They showed me there are different kinds of adventures in life." My voice softens, a smile tugging at my lips as I think of everything we’ve shared together in such a short amount of time.
"Each of them brought out a side of me I didn't know I needed. With Wilder, I got back that fun part of myself. The one who is down for adventure and excitement. With Wyatt, I learned the value of patience and trust after heartbreak as well as how it feels to be understood and treasured. And Emrys reminded me that sometimes being vulnerable is the strongest thing you can be, while also somehow completing the passionate part of me."
The room is still now, every pair of eyes locked on me as if I'm revealing the secrets of the universe. But these are just the secrets of my heart.
"Judgment is easy," I say, my voice ringing clear. "Understanding takes effort. Is it unconventional? Sure. Unexpected? Absolutely. But genuine."
I swallow hard, feeling the prickle of tears I refuse to shed. "You can call me names, you can mock or scorn us, but you can't deny the truth. We found something special, something that doesn't fit into neat little rows. And I won't apologize for that."
I hear my voice crack just a touch, but it doesn't matter. This is raw, this is real, and there's no turning back now. "We found a connection, genuine and undeniable. It's unconventional, sure. Some might even call it scandalous." A corner of my mouth lifts in a wry smile. "But love doesn't check boxes or follow rules. And neither do I."
There's power in standing here, in laying my soul bare before friends and family. Maybe once, I would have cowered under their judgment, but not anymore. Not with Wilder, Wyatt, and Emrys at my back.
And Brody still groaning on the ground behind me.
I catch Wilder's eye, his own twinkling with that thrill-seeker spark that urges me to dive headfirst into the unknown. Wyatt's gentle nod gives me the courage to stand tall, his quiet resilience reminding me of what we've weathered together. And Emrys, ever the enigma, simply smiles, that soft expression telling me more than words ever could.
"Life's too short for half measures. And when it comes to them, I'm all in." I declare, the mic a conduit for my newfound conviction. "Now, let's get back to celebrating Annabelle and Ethan. Because today is about love–their love–and that's something we should all get behind."
With that, I set the microphone back in its stand, a decisive click sounding the end of my confession, the end of letting others narrate my story. I turn and stride toward Wilder, Wyatt, and Emrys, with my head held high.
"Let's get out of here," I whisper to them, and together, we turn toward the rest of the evening–a night meant for celebration, for love, and for the unexpected joy of finding everything you never knew you needed.
We stride toward the exit, our steps synchronized in silent solidarity. The murmurs of the crowd fade behind us, inconsequential against the heartbeat thrumming in my ears. We step out into the cool evening, the night brimming with possibilities, and I can't help but think–this is where our story truly begins.
The elevator to the hotel suite slides shut behind us, sealing off the chaos of the outside world as we return to our temporary haven. I lean back against the wall beside it, my breaths coming in short bursts from the adrenaline still coursing through me. Wilder's hands find my shoulders, pulling me away from the wall and kneading away the tension with a gentleness that belies his rugged exterior.
"Hey," he says softly, tilting my chin up. "You okay?"
I nod, letting out a shaky laugh. "Yeah, I just punched a guy at a rehearsal dinner. Totally normal evening."
Wilder grins, his thumb brushing the edge of my jaw. "You were incredible out there."
Before I can bask in the praise, Wyatt appears with four glasses of champagne and hands one to each of us. Emrys stands by the floor-to-ceiling window, moonlight casting his features in a soft glow as he watches us with an unreadable expression.
"Here's to Kat," Wyatt declares, raising his glass. "The most badass woman we know."
"Cheers to that," Emrys adds, his voice a warm rumble that fills the room as he returns to our little circle.
We clink our glasses together, the sound crisp in the silent suite. I take a sip, the bubbles tickling my nose, and it feels like the first full breath I've taken all night.
Wilder pulls me into a loose embrace, his chest a comforting wall against my back. "We meant what we said, Kat. We're here for you. All of us."
Wyatt nods, his eyes holding mine with unwavering support. "No matter what, we stick together."
Emrys steps closer, his hand finding mine, his touch grounding. "We won't let anyone hurt you. Not now, not ever."
Their words wrap around me like a protective cloak, and something inside me unfurls–a sense of belonging I hadn't realized I'd been missing. These men, so different yet so perfectly attuned to me, have become my anchors in a sea of uncertainty.
"And I'll protect you guys too. We're a team."
"More than that," Wyatt says, his gaze deepening. "We're a family."
"An unconventional one, but yeah," Emrys agrees, his lips quirking up in a smile.
