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She nods. “I know. It’s not the wedding that’s important, or the date. It’s the man. It’s the future. I’ve never wanted to be a part of something more.” She pauses and twists her hands together in her lap. When she finally looks up, she squares her shoulders and takes her time going around the fire and making eye contact with every single person. “There’s this man. He’s strong, and hardheaded, and he loves so damn hard.” She swallows. “He once told me I could be anything I want to be. You all keep telling me that I’m family, and I love you for it. However, I want that to hold true. I don’t want to be an Astor anymore. I don’t want to be a part of what that represents. I’m starting therapy next week because of the guilt I feel about the way my mother died. I feel that guilt, but that doesn’t change who she was. That doesn’t change that I hate her for what she did to me, to all of us, and then that causes even more guilt. I know I have to work through all of that, but I know what I want.”
She turns now and gives me her full attention.
“I want to be your wife. I want our kids to grow up having moments just like these. I want Sunday dinners and babysitting for date nights. I want the chaos and the love. I don’t know what I’m doing with my life as far as my career goes. That’s something I’m hoping to decide in the coming weeks and can work on that once this comes off.” She points to the cast on her leg. “However, whatever I do, I want it to be with you by my side.”
“Damn,” Merrick mutters. “I kind of just fell in love with your fiancée, bro.”
Jordyn’s head falls back in laughter. The sound surrounds everyone here like a blanket of love and happiness. Something I wasn’t sure I’d ever get to witness from her again.
“Well, that settles it,” my mom speaks up. “Ladies, we have a wedding to plan.”
“Really?” Jordyn asks.
“We can start now. Let’s go back to a cabin and get to work.”
“No.” I wrap my arms tightly around Jordyn, making her laugh. “Not tonight. Start tomorrow. Give me this tonight.”
“Tomorrow,” Jordyn agrees. “Carol? Can we really do this in that amount of time?”
“What kind of wedding do you want?” Kennedy asks.
“One with all of you and my best friend, Gianna. I don’t care about the rest.”
“Dress?” Palmer asks.
“I never really put too much thought into my wedding because I knew my mother would control every aspect.”
“Then we’ll figure it out together. We’ll talk about what you want and pick a date based on making it your special day.”
“That would be wonderful. Thank you.”
“Of course.” Mom smiles kindly.
Everyone starts talking about anything and everything, while I sit quietly and bury my face in Jordyn’s neck. Soon, this incredible woman will be my wife.
All of the hurt, the pain, and the worry brought us to this moment. It was hell, but as they say, nothing worth having comes easy.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Jordyn
I’m bouncing with excitement. Ryder just smiles over at me because I am literally bouncing in the passenger seat of the truck. “Can this thing go any faster?” I ask him.
“Relax, sweets. Palmer and the baby will still be at the hospital when we get there.” He chuckles.
“I know, but I can’t wait to meet him.”
“It’s pretty cool that our nephew was born on your birthday, huh?” He glances over quickly before turning his eyes back to the road.
Our nephew.
My grin grows even wider. “So cool. I’m an aunt.”
Ryder laughs. The sound is deep and throaty, and it does things to me. Things that I should not be thinking about as we are headed to the hospital to meet Brooks and Palmer’s new baby boy.
“I hate to break it to you, sweets, but you were already an aunt.”
I don’t know how to describe this… melting feeling in my chest. It’s warm and comforting and feels like home. I have a home. A happy one, where I can be me, and I’m loved for it.
It’s still something I’m getting used to. I’ve been in therapy for a couple of weeks now, and it’s helping me. It’s only been a short time, but I feel, dare I say, better? I’ll always harbor some form of guilt, but I’m getting there.
“I know, but this is the first one I get to be there for from the beginning. It feels different.”
“I promise we’ll still celebrate you.”
I whip my head around to look at him. “Are you kidding me? This is the absolute best birthday present ever. Ever,” I repeat with conviction, being honest. I can’t remember a birthday I’ve ever been this smiley for.
