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“It’s hard not to when my fiancée looks like this.” Gavin pulled me closer to his chest.
I rolled my eyes and then turned my attention back to Callum. “It’s good to see you again, Callum. How was your flight?”
“It was okay.” He smiled that boyish grin. “Congratulations on the upcoming nuptials. I know I said it over the phone, but it only feels right that I say it in person, too.”
“Thank you. So let me introduce you to everyone.”
I started pointing to everyone individually.
“That loud one over there is my sister-in-law, Maddison, and she is married to my brother, Marcus, who is in the pool with Axel. That broody guy over there is Grayson and the beautiful woman over there is Jade. On the chair next to Jade is Lily, who is almost engaged to Ethan. Ethan isn’t here right now. He is working at the hospital. He got called in to consult on a case. And the little baby in Maddison’s arms is Ryan, her first, and Belle, who is Lily and Ethan’s daughter, is sleeping upstairs.”
“Damn. So no single women here,” he joked.
“It’s marriage. It’s not that serious,” Maddy teased, earning her a glare from her husband. “I was kidding, babe. You know I only got eyes for you. There is no one else in this world for me.”
“Interesting bunch you have here.”
“You will fit right in.” Gavin patted him on the back. “They are all good people.”
Nightfall rolled around, and Maddy had set up a lovely garden dinner for everyone. All the kids were inside being babysat by my mother, and all of us adults were enjoying some nice adult time. The summer night was beautiful and the fairy lights made a twinkly canopy above us.
Ethan had finally joined us after his shift and, to anyone who didn’t know who was everyone but Lily, we could tell that he was nervous. I think this was the moment. It had to be the moment. After almost two years of asking, this man was finally doing it.
Ethan scratched the back of his ear, and that was my signal to play my part. I clinked my wine glass and stood from my seat, grabbing everyone’s attention.
“I would like to give a toast.” I raised my glass. “To love. One of the strongest things in this world. It conquers fears. Breaks down walls. And helps you to weather storms. So with this celebration of love, I decided to do a little special something for us all.”
I looked back at the porch, and my mom gave me a thumbs up from the window. A few moments later, he walked out with his guitar in hand strumming Lily’s favorite song. Ethan and Lily had planned to go to Fred Lucas’ farewell concert a few months back, but they had had to miss it due to Belle getting sick.
“Oh my god,” I heard her gasp. All heads turned to her. This was a good start.
“I think it’s time we take our leave,” I announced to the angel and everyone but Lily and Ethan got up from the chair. Lily looked at everyone, confused.
I grabbed Gavin’s hand and walked him up the porch with everyone else. I was sure that Ethan had it from here. Whatever moment they were about to share, it would be their moment and no one else’s. After all, they had been through, they deserved this.
“Thank you for flying him out,” I said to Callum.
“No problem at all. I am a man who loves love.”
Gavin scoffed beside him. “A man of love, yet you run at the first sight of it. When exactly was your last serious relationship again?”
“When I was 12,” he said in all seriousness. “Or maybe my freshmen year of high school. To be honest, I don’t know. I just don’t think relationships are for me.”
“Have you never been in love?” I asked him.
“Nope,” he popped the p in the word. “In all honesty, I just think love isn’t for people like me. I’m too caught up in my career for all that.”
“And what about after your career? Surely, you will want a family and a wife.”
He shrugged. “I doubt it. It’s rare to find what you guys have. Love is expensive nowadays. Sex is cheap or even free at times. There are no strings attached, and I get to live my life unbothered and untethered.”
“That kind of makes me sad for you, Callum. If I could have everyone feel what I feel when I am with Gavin, I would. Love is the greatest gift I was ever given, and I will never take it for granted.”
“And I am happy for you.” He clinked his glass with mine. “You should marry her soon, Gav. If you take too long, I might just come in and swoop her up.”
Gavin pulled me to his side and kissed the side of my head. “Not in this lifetime, buddy. I would marry her tomorrow if she would let me.”
“How about in two weeks?” I said in all seriousness.
