Page 56 of Sweet Redemption

Give that to Bodhi.

Promise me, Hendrix.

And don’t think I won’t be watching to make sure you do as I say. I’ll be just as bossy from beyond the grave. I’ll be there when you need me, watching and helping in any way I can.

Kiss my baby for me.

XOXO,

Britt

Fucking hell, Brittany.

HENDRIX

How do I make sure he doesn’t strip and run naked down the aisle?

You don’t.

Well then, what am I supposed to do if he does?

Laugh.

—Conversation between Hendrix and Everly

“You think she ran away?” I sign, joking as we stand at the end of the aisle less than a week later. Jamie, Maverick, and I are all lined up shoulder to shoulder with Ryker as we wait for the bridesmaids to make their appearance, and I say a silent fucking prayer that nobody loses my kid while he’s out of my sight.

Not that there’s any chance Delaney ran. Seeing these two together at the rehearsal dinner could have gotten everyone pregnant there was so much chemistry between them. At the very least it should have made everyone in the room believe in love again.

“Nah,” Jamie laughs, but his eyes flick toward the empty aisle where Delaney should be following her bridesmaids down the aisle any time now. “Ashton wouldn’t let Delaney leave without her, and there’s no way my wife is running anywhere these days. She sat on the couch crying two days ago because she couldn’t see her feet.”

Damn. I remember those days.

Britt standing in the middle of the living room, eight months pregnant, wearing one of my T-shirts and absolutely losing her shit because nothing fit, everything hurt, and she was the size of a whale.

Her words, not mine.

She wasn’t. She was beautiful.

Even when she threw the TV remote at my head for saying that.

“So that’s what I’ve got to look forward to?” Maverick asks Jamie, horror creeping into his voice. “I feel like Emmie’s barely pregnant, and she’s already crying more.”

Damn. We’ve got a hell of a lot of babies being added to our families over the next year. “Yeah.” I smile because how can I not? “Just wait. It’s going to get worse, then all of a sudden, you have this baby crying and your wife crying and no one’s slept. You probably smell like puke. And you’re going to look at your life and wonder how the hell you ever got so lucky.”

Jamie, Mav, and Ryker stop and turn to me, the joking replaced with guilt.

“Don’t do that,” I cut them all off, so fucking tired of the pity. “This is a good day. And I’m just here to remind you that life is short. Enjoy it. Enjoy your pregnant wives.” I throw a hand on Ryker’s shoulder. “Enjoy your new wife. The one you haven’t admitted you’re in love with yet, even though the rest of us have already seen it.” The music changes, and I look up to see Mav’s daughter Rosie and Bodhi standing at the end of the aisle with Ryker’s wife Delaney’s pet potbellied pig on a pale-pink leash in front of them.

Not a sight I’m used to yet, but damn, my kid looks cute.

Bodhi stands beside Rosie, who takes charge, guiding him down the aisle, tossing her rose petals as the Notorious PIG pulls her forward. My kid makes it approximately six feet before he spots my mother. His entire face lights up as he drops Rosie’s hand and beelines for Mom. Full sprint on chubby legs. Mom catches him against her chest as everyone laughs, and for one perfect second, so do I.

That right there is why I took the trade.

Britt was right, Bodhi needs his family.

And maybe, so do I.