The song ends, and I bend down to kiss Savi on the cheek. “Thanks for the dance and for pulling me out of my slump.”
“Anytime,” she smiles.
“I see Maverick and Noah at the bar. I’m going to go over and say hi. You good here?”
“She’s more than good,” Sophia says, grabbing her hand and pulling her into their dance circle.
Savi immediately starts laughing and joins in. Chuckling, I head to the bar. Even though she’s the youngest in the group, the girls welcomed her in like a little sister. I’m glad she has such strong, beautiful women surrounding her. I see Eve walk toward them and start dancing by Savi as I approach the bar.
“Congratulations, man,” I pull Mav in for a hug and slap him on the back.
“Thanks, Jake.” He’s grinning like he won the lottery, which is close to the truth. “I’m just glad everything went smoothly. I can finally sit back and just enjoy my wife.” His green eyes light up at the mention ofmy wife.
“This place is beautiful. You got married here too, right Noah?”
“We did. They had just renovated, and it was exactly what we were looking for.” He’s holding his sleeping baby girl in his arms, and I can’t help but wonder how it feels to know you created this tiny human being with the one you love.
When Travis brought Max home, I was only twenty-one, and I think I was just as scared as he was, afraid we would somehow break him.
I quickly got the hang of it, though, and would watch Maxwhen I could so Travis could have some time to himself. We even used to bring him to our tattoo shop on days we both worked…each taking turns watching him between clients. Now, I babysit for Ryder and Eve all the time and can’t help but want the same thing one day.
“Bell and I knew we wanted it here,” Mav says, pulling me out of my thoughts. “It’s kind of a special place for us, and it seems only right that we bring it full circle to where it all started.” He takes a sip of his bourbon to hide the smile that plays on his lips. He’s no doubt remembering that night.
“Yeah, unbeknownst to me, my sister and Maverick were having a little fun of their own when no one was watching,” Noah laughs, his blue eyes trained on Mav.
I’m sure it was a big surprise to find out your best friend is in love with your sister. I can’t imagine Savi dating any of our friends. There’s nothing but love, though, when Noah grins at him.
“You can’t stop what’s meant to be,” Mav shrugs and looks at his wife dancing with his sister, Sophia.
“No, you definitely cannot,” Noah chuckles, his eyes trained on his wife, Emma, as Bella grabs her hand and bumps her hip against hers.
“So which one does Miles have his eyes set on?” Mav nods his head, where Miles is dancing with several girls. It’s like watching wildcats circle their prey as they surround him.
“I have no clue,” I laugh. “Miles probably doesn’t even know at this point.”
“I’m surprised you aren’t over there with him,” Mav laughs. “He might need the help fending them off.”
“Miles can hold his own, trust me,” I chuckle. Usually, I would be over there with him, but tonight feels different. There’s only one I want in my bed, and she’s hiding from me somewhere in this hotel.
The DJ announces it’s time for the bridal bouquet and garter toss. “That’s my cue,” Mav grins, walking toward his wife on the dance floor.
Emma comes up to Noah and takes Lily from his arms. She does an adorable sigh as she snuggles against her momma’s chest. Noah brushes back her dark hair and kisses her head.
An ache starts to form as I peel my eyes away from their shared moment. I watch Savi, and all the single girls Miles was dancing with gather in a crowd on the dance floor.
“You are so missing out, brother. You are the worst wingman ever tonight.” Miles walks up to me and orders something from the bar.
“I don’t think you need a wingman tonight. From what I saw, it looked like you were doing fine on your own.”
“You’re right. I can’t keep them off of me,” he grins. “Still, it’s always more fun when you’re by my side.”
“Just not feeling it tonight.” I take another sip and enjoy the burn going down.
Luckily, the DJ saves me from any more questions from my brother as he announces the throw. We watch Bella throw the daisy bouquet over her head and hit Savi smack in the chest.
“Oh hell no,” Miles mutters.
I hear Noah chuckle behind us because he knows exactly what we are feeling. “Thank God, it wasn’t Luna,” he says, watching his youngest sister walk off with her friend. “The teenage years are killing me.”
