AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Dad put down his phone. “I agree, Jellybean. He’s a keeper.”
“Thank you, Mom and Dad,” I said, my voice thick with emotion. “That means a lot to me.”
“Of course, sweetheart,” she replied, reaching across the table to squeeze my hand. “We just want you to be happy. And if Knox is what makes you happy, then we’ll support you both every step of the way.”
A feeling of warmth and love filled my chest as I looked into my mother’s eyes. She had always been there for me, through the good times and the bad, and knowing that she approved of my relationship with Knox only made my heart swell even more.
“Also,” she added with a sparkle in her eye, “grandchildren would be nice, sooner than later. I’m just saying.”
Chapter 26
Knox
Thereweremomentsinlife that settled around your shoulders like a heavy, draping weight. Those poignant moments weren’t easy to shake off; they insisted that you stand up and take notice, a palpable force that made it hard to breathe. Their significance was felt deep in your bones. They were crossroads. They were moments that changed everything, whether we wanted them to or not.
Today was one such turning point. I was with my four best mates in the entire world and I knew we were all feeling the weight of this change. A wedding was such a happy occasion, but if I was feeling this reflective about Ryder getting married, I couldn’t imagine what he was feeling right now.
Ryder had been with Talia for almost three years, and no one had a doubt that they were meant to be together. She, along with Kaylie and now Summer, and been incorporated into our inner circle, but marriage was something more permanent. There was no turning back from this. We’d never be the same five guys again. We’d never be able to recapture the craziness of those early days as a band.
It wasn’t bad; it was just different. We were growing up and embracing life. It was scary and exciting at the same time. Ryder could still be a wild and impulsive guy. He could still be the life of the party, but Talia brought out an even better side of him.
As I stood there in the groom’s dressing room, surrounded by my bandmates adjusting their tuxedos, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of nostalgia and circumspection. Ghost, Ryder, Sid, Bash, and I had been through so much together. And now here we were, preparing for Ryder’s wedding.
“Never thought I’d see the day when our very own Stroke would be tying the knot,” Sid said with a grin, tugging at his tie as if it were trying to strangle him.
“Me neither,” Bash chimed in, teasingly nudging me in the side with his elbow. “And Scotty, of all people, as the best man? What the hell?”
“Hey now,” I retaliated playfully, trying to act offended despite the smile that tugged at my lips. “Ryder is a smart man. He owed me after living on my couch for months.”
“True,” Sid admitted with a chuckle, giving me a friendly pat on the back. “I guess you did earn your stripes there. And how about all the love advice? Who would’ve thought that Mr. Rock’ n Roll over here had such a romantic side?”
“Romantic or not,” Bash retorted, fixing his cufflinks with a smirk, “you still better watch your back, Knox. I fully expect to be the next best man, even though no one has officially asked me yet.” He turned around and pinned Sid with a stare.
Bash and Sid had been best mates since they were lads, so there really was no doubt who’d be the best man at Sid’s wedding.
Sid held up his hands. “Don’t rush me. I’ve still got time before I have to get sucked into the wedding planning insanity.”
Laughing, Ryder picked up a baseball cap laying on the table and threw it at Sid. “We’re only scheduling our whole upcoming tour around your wedding, Sid, so you better not fuck it up.”
“I’ve got it all under control.” He walked over to Bash and laid his hands on Bash’s shoulders. “Bash, will you be my best man?”
Ghost scoffed. “Don’t you need to get down on one knee first?”
“At least give the man some flowers.” Ryder shook his head with disappointment.
I couldn’t help but pile on. “Seal it with a kiss.”
Sid looked back at us. “Fuck off, you fuckers.”
Bash nodded his agreement. “About time you asked me. I will be your best man. As long as you never joke again about fucking my sister.”
Ghost knocked Bash on the arm. “It’s not a joke, bro, if it’s reality.”
Everyone snickered. Poor Bash had to endure a lot of teasing that his best friend was marrying his little sister.
“All right, mates, it’s almost time to leave.” The good-natured teasing reminded me of how close we were, beyond just being members of the same band. We were brothers, and even though things were changing, that bond would always remain.
“Any last-minute advice from my best man?” Ryder asked.
