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“Are you doing okay?” he asked me. “You look like you have cold feet.”
“They are toasty warm,” I joked. “I was worrying and I…”
“What? That we wouldn’t get here on time?” he mocked while winking at me. “Have I ever let you down?”
“Never.” I smiled as Freddie, Dawson and Robert entered the room. I was truly touched that they were all here. The only people that were missing were Thomas and Lauren. I would find a way to make it up to them somehow. “Thank you for being here.” I hugged Robert and Dawson before I turned to Freddie.
They were all dressed in similar suits but Freddie was dressed in a pair of gray pin-stripe trousers, white shirt, matching tie and a waistcoat that was currently undone.
“I have to go and surprise our girl but I wanted to come in first.” He took my face in his hands and the action surprised me. Freddie was one of the people in my life that I tried so hard to develop a friendship with and for the most part, I think that we had established that. I had to lower some of my walls with him because I knew that he was Luke’s forever and I wanted us to be more than friends. I wanted him and I to one day be as close as Luke and I was. “Thank you, Freddie,” he whispered, pulling me from my internal monologue.
“For what?” I flicked my eyes to Luke and saw that he was stood next to Robert. Any other time I would have laughed at the way that he was leaning against Robert with his arm wrapped around Luke’s shoulder.
“You make her happy.” Freddie smiled and with how close that he was standing, I could see his eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I know that. Isobel is always putting other people ahead herself but you…” He swallowed harshly as his voice choked up. “Thank you for putting her first.” He grabbed the back of my head and pulled me roughly into his arms.
I was stunned for a brief moment before I returned his hug. We rocked from side to side for a moment and I was touched at his words. I knew that today was a turning point; not just for me and Isobel but it appears for Freddie and I as well.
I clapped him on the back and before I could greet Robert and Dawson, Freddie’s words stopped me.
“I’m going to see our girl now. Any message for her?”
“Just get her down the aisle and we’ll be good.” I clapped him on the shoulder as he turned away. I watched as he kissed Luke before he left the room, closing the door gently behind him. “It’ll be you two next,” I teased, directing my words to Luke.
He rolled his eyes at me. “Some of us move at a slower speed, man.” He chuckled as he stepped into the room. “Robert, you’re up.”
I watched as Robert pulled a bottle of single malt scotch from beneath his jacket. “Can’t have this day pass without toasting our groom.”
Dawson clapped his hand on my shoulder and gripped it in support. He placed four small tumblers down on the table and we all watched as Robert poured the glasses. He took a swig from the bottle before he handed us each a glass.
“To Christopher,” Robert started.
I glanced at Luke, feeling a little overwhelmed but when he gave me his signature cheeky wink, I looked back to Robert.
“I wish you all the luck in the world.” He smiled. “You found your lady. Here’s to a lifetime of happiness for you both.”
“Cheers,” Dawson said loudly.
We all clinked glasses and after knocking them back, I could feel my nerves start to relax a little.
“Can we have a word?” I asked Luke, pointing to the corner of the room.
“Of course.” He followed me and I paused, turning to face him, I blew out a breath. “I’m sorry to ask this…”
“Ask,” he said, cutting me off. “Ask and I’ll see what I can do.”
I blew out a breath. “Finding Isobel, it changed me. Marrying her today and having a baby with her, I know that it will change me further.” I cleared my throat, swallowing past the lump. “She brings out the good in me and it has made me realize something.” Luke nodded for me to continue. “I am forever worrying about her changing. I don’t want her to change. I’m not blind to the idea that one day my medication for my nightmares may stop working or that my hearing might get worse and that one day I may be completely deaf.”
“Christopher…” He shook his head as he searched for the right thing to say and I could see that I was frightening him.
“This is me being honest, Luke. I don’t plan on getting worse. I don’t plan on succumbing to my hearing disability. I plan to live a long, crazy and healthy life with my pretty girl.” He smiled at me when I said that, looking a tiny bit relieved. “I just want you to promise me something.” I grabbed his face in my hands, using him to ground me. “Promise me that if anything happens, that if I start to get worse…” This time I didn’t stop the tears. “Promise me that you’ll be there.” I stared into his eyes. “She is my saving grace Luke but you… You are my strength, my lighthouse in the dark, my brother. Promise me that you’ll never let me forget that.”
He shook his head and I worried that he was saying no but as he crushed me to him, the action rocked us a little and I knew right here, in the arms of my oldest friend, that forever was a path I would never have to walk alone.
“I’m so damn fucking proud of you, brother,” he whispered. He held my head as he pressed his lips to my cheek, holding them there for a moment, hugging me tighter to him. “I am so proud of how far you have come with Isobel by your side. You’re my brother, Christopher. For always.” He rubbed his hand up and down my back as we pulled back from each other. “Now, let’s get you up that aisle and make an honest man out of you.”
I chuckled at him, pausing as I wiped the wetness off my cheeks. “Will you stand up there with me?” I asked him.
He smiled at me, big and beaming, before he nodded his head. “Of course, I will.”
