Page 110 of Yours to Keep

Together, we joined Bree and the group she was with, and while her parents pulled her into their embrace, I accepted congratulations from our friends. Well, her friends that had become mine, too. Kaden, Kody, Holden, and I got along well, and honestly, I’d been surprised that she’d given me as much hell as she had considering who her friends were married to.

Either way, a few minutes later, she was finally back by my side and she slipped her hand into mine, smiling up at me with incredulous tears glistening in her eyes. “You surprised me.”

“That was the idea.”

She leaned into my side, resting her head against my shoulder. “I love you.”

I pressed a kiss to her hair. The noise of the celebration faded into the background as I grinned at her. “I know, but I loved you first.”

It would never stop surprising me that there was no more fear in saying it out loud. No more hiding or uncertainty about whether she would ever feel the same way or say it back.

Ellora pulled Bree into another hug before turning to me and narrowing her eyes like she was evaluating a risky investment.

“You hurt her,” she said bluntly.

“I did,” I admitted just as directly.

Frankly, I’d known this would be coming at some point. I supposed it wasn’t much of a surprise that it was tonight, now that Bree and I were promising each other forever.

Ellora glared at me for another beat. “But you fixed it.”

“I’m still fixing it,” I said.

“That’s the correct answer.” She surprised me by breaking into a wide grin. “You know, I had a feeling all along that this was going to happen.”

Holden clapped my shoulder again, clearly satisfied with my survival of his wife’s vetting process. “For the record, she was rooting for you. Both of them were.”

“I’m just glad you proved to be worthy of rooting for.” Mercedes shoved her way in beside them, grinning up at me. “You had me worried there for a beat.”

“I had myself worried there for a beat.”

Kody came over with two champagne flutes in his hands, handing one to his wife before smirking at me. “Welcome to the extended family, and the wedding hell. All the wedding hell, man.”

Mercedes nudged him with her hip, her eyes rolling, but I saw the laughter she was trying to swallow. “Oh, come on. It wasn’t that bad.”

She bounced slightly on her heels as she turned away from us, her eyes flicking between Bree and Ellora before she leaned closer to Bree and stage-whispered, “Okay, don’t freak out, but she’s not drinking.”

“Ellora?” Bree frowned, her eyes widening as she looked back at Ellora. “Wait. Are you⁠—”

She groaned softly. “I was going to tell you privately, but apparently subtlety isn’t a thing anymore.”

“You’re pregnant?” Bree shrieked.

The small circle around us erupted instantly. Holden looked like he’d swallowed the sun. Mercedes burst into tears. Kody whooped loud enough to turn heads across the room. Bree tackled Ellora in another hug, both of them laughing and crying at the same time.

“This is incredible,” Bree said, pulling back but still gripping Ellora’s hands. “Oh my God, I’m so happy for you.”

“Same,” Mercedes said, swiping tears from her cheeks as she beamed at their friend. “But also, rude. You’re both responsible for my complete lack of emotional stability tonight.”

Holden caught my eye and grinned. “Sorry, man. We didn’t mean to steal your thunder. I seriously thought sparkling water in a wine glass would work, but uh, good night all around, huh?”

“The best,” I said honestly.

Eventually, Liana intercepted us, her arms already open. Bree hugged her tightly, the two of them swaying for a second like sisters. Once again, I just stood back and watched, wondering if it was possible that in a way, Bree was Liana’s soulmate too. She always had wanted a sister.

“I’m so happy for you both,” Liana said when she pulled back. Her eyes flicked to me, warm but knowing. “I told you he’d pull his head out of his ass eventually.”

“It was a team effort,” Bree said.