“I can’t believe you kept this.” I tighten my grip aroundthe coin, and before I can reach to wipe the tear rolling down my face, he catches it with the pad of his thumb.
“Of course I did.”
When George, our officiant, gives me the go-ahead, every muscle begins to quiver. Denver holds my hands, tightening and loosening like a heartbeat until my pulse regulates. Taking care of me without needing to be prompted.Thisis why I’m marrying this man.
“Even when you weren’t in my life, you were. You were in the country song on the radio, the sound of a diesel truck, and the creak in my apartment floorboards. Finding our way back to each other has felt like coming home after a long trip, and I can finally drop the heavy bags that have been weighing on me all these years. I didn’t know if we’d get back here, or if we’d be able to make up for lost time, but time’s never mattered when I’m with you. You’re my person, Denver, and I’m so happy we’re picking back up where we left off. I love you.”
The tanned skin around his eyes crinkles with his smile, and he mouths an “I love you.” George has us repeat the marriage vows after him, while slipping rings onto each other’s trembling fingers, and two small pools of tears form in Denver’s dimples.
Then we kiss, with his hands sliding into my hair and my arms looping around his neck. Kissing him comes as naturally to me as breathing. Making our love for each other known in the same place we have time and time again, wrapped in a warm wind that feels a lot like his mom’s reassuring hug. He and I are as inevitable as the passing of time, and as ineffable as a Wells Ranch sunset.
Denver
My wife.
Even in a crowd, I find her in a heartbeat—that invisible string between us tighter than ever. She and I have always shared a soul, but now we share a last name.
Blair Wells. My wife.Finally.
“Fuck, she’s gorgeous,” I mutter, mostly to myself.
Cecily nods enthusiastically. “She’s absolutely stunning. And you look so happy.”
“Never been this happy before, Filly.”
She leans into Austin’s chest. “And who would’ve guessed you could be so sentimental. You kept a penny from when you were thirteen?”
“Sure did.” I shift on my feet to get a better view of Blair standing with her parents. “Thirteen-year-old Denver Wells was a pretty damn romantic guy.”
“What happened to that guy?” Austin raises an eyebrow.
“Turns out, there was only one girl out there I wanted to do romantic things for.”
“Ooooh,” Cecily coos. “That’s pretty dang romantic, Denny.”
“Yup, that’s me,” I practically crow, nonchalantly brushing off my shoulder and stealing yet another glance at my beautiful wife.
Austin stares me down, seeing clear through the charade. “Proud of you, bro.”
At the same moment he says that, I’m startled by a deep voice paired with a massive hand clamping down on my shoulder.
“Proud of you, too, son.” My dad steps in next to me and peers around at Austin. “You too, Austin. And Jackson.”
My spine stiffens, hands slowly pulling out of my pants pockets in preparation for breaking up a fight. As far as I know, Austin and our dad haven’t said a word to each other since the day Dad left the ranch. The fact that Austin didn’t immediately leave the moment Dad showed up today is a small miracle. No chance he doesn’t bolt now.
Austin clears his throat, nodding but refusing eye contact. “Thanks.”
Holy fucking shit.
I speak up to take the heat off Austin. “Thanks for coming, old man. I know it was pretty last-minute—wasn’t sure you’d come.”
“Wouldn’t have missed it for the world,” Dad says. But fuck, he’s still staring down his eldest son. “Speaking of which, I hear congratulations are in order.”
Now it’s Cecily and I both trying to keep the peace. She beams at her new father-in-law, and gives him a firm handshake. “Cecily. So nice to finally meet you. I’ve heard plenty of stories from when the boys were kids.”
“Ah, yeah. They were a handful.” He squeezes my shoulder.
“Especially Blair and I,” I chime in.
