Page 167 of I Choose You

“Hey,” I told him. Even though he seemed to be in a good mood, I felt a word of caution was due. Also true to himself, he remained a rebel. He hadn’t brought a date. “Be on your best behavior.”

“You know, you were born like seconds before me.”

“Two minutes.”

“It’s not like you’re an older brother I need to listen to.”

I rolled my eyes. “Just behave.”

At the doors to lead outside, he turned to me and winked. “I can’t make any promises.”

Outside, everything was decorated and set up with a mix between earthy rustic and elegant gold. Mercedes had outdone herself arranging the décor. It was gorgeous out here, and I knew Dad admired it as he strode out for the aisle, smiling as he took in the scene for the first time.

Colette paused in fussing with a vase of dried and fresh flowers, smiling at us as we headed to the aisle.

I slowed to grab her elbow and squeeze. “It looks beautiful,” I told her in gratitude. Kody shook Tristan’s hand and patted his back in greeting.

“Hurry!” she urged us. “You don’t want to be late!”

I chuckled but Kody grimaced. “It’s not like either of us are the groom.”

“Not yet,” she teased.

Kody shook his head as we caught up to Dad.

We stood beside him, both of us together. Sharing the title of Best Man, I thought back to Pamela’s teary comment. I glanced up and smiled.

We miss you, Mom.

And I knew she’d be beaming down on us, glad that we were all happy and living the most fulfilled lives that we could.

“I swear she stabbed me with that thing,” Kody grumbled, fidgeting with his boutonniere.

I furrowed my brow at him and Dad shot him a look.

Margaux looked lovely, smiling so serenely as she came down the aisle. But I couldn’t watch. I kept seeking out Brooke in the crowd, and once I spotted her, I couldn’t look away. She beamed at me, then winked. Looking like a vision in that silver dress, she was the most beautiful woman in the whole audience. In the world.

I only had eyes for her. She looked incredible, and as I stared, my heart so full, I considered myself the luckiest man to have found my way to her.

Turn around. She mouthed it to me, raising her brows and spinning her finger in the air. I remembered making that same gesture at her to twirl for me and show off the green dress with the slit that should’ve been illegal. This time, she did it as she held in a giggle.

Kody elbowed me too, and I realized I hadn’t been paying attention. We were supposed to have shifted and turned to watch the bride and groom. I’d zoned out watching Brooke as Dad and Margaux stood together, holding hands as they said their vows.

“For fuck’s sake,” my brother said under his breath, amused.

I grinned. Whoops.

A moment later, they kissed, and the officiant announced them as the new Mr. and Mrs. Wagner.

White rose petals flew through the air as they left down the aisle to the applause and cheers of everyone gathered.

I ducked my head in the blitz of white pieces falling.

There.

“Hey, man.” Kody frowned at me as I veered off from the aisle to beeline for Brooke. “We gotta go stand in the receiving line and go get the pictures.”

I tuned him out, rushing toward Brooke.