There’s enough difficulty in life.
Loving Emma? Choosing Emma?
This is easy.
She squeezes my hands and looks straight into my eyes, fearless joy dancing in hers. “Jonas, I had no idea how much meeting you would save my—”
“Aaaaaaa-ccccchhhhhhhoooooooooo!”
The sneeze reverberates across the beach. Birds squawk and take flight. A dolphin changes direction mid-leap and dives for safety. Hayes and Begonia’s twins, who recently celebrated their first birthday, simultaneously burst into sobs.
“Bless you?” my mother mutters to the offensive sneezer.
“Goodgod, I’d heard rumors, but is it really like thatallof the time?” Keisha mutters.
Loudly.
“Stop it, Uncle Theo!” Bash yells.
I turn and look at my very-soon-to-be brother-in-law and lift my brows.
Don’t miss the way Grey’s nearly doubled over laughing in the small crowd gathered around us.
Or the way Mike Monroe’s cringing so hard I can feel it in my own face, even though I’m actually about to laugh myself.
“Any more you’re saving in there?” I ask Theo.
He stares back straight-faced. “Allergies. Never know. New pollen here.”
“I’m gonna get back to marrying your sister now.”
“Your wedding, man. But I strongly suggest you say your vows like you’re Ryan Reynolds.”
“I can take him out,” Hayes murmurs to me. “Begonia’s never seen me go full caveman. I think she’d like it.”
I look back at Emma, who’s clearly trying to stifle a laugh while she wipes more tears from her eyes.
“That shake loose any last minute things you need to say first?” I ask her.
Theo sneezes again.
Beside Emma, Laney is clearly trying to keep herself from laughing. She’s three months pregnant, which I’m not supposed to know, but Sabrina and Emma both figured it out, and there aren’t secrets among the six of us, so now we all know.
Sabrina’s crossed her arms and is staring at Theo like she’s next in line behind Hayes to go caveman on Theo’s ass if he sneezes again.
“Stop scawing da birds, Uncle Theo,” Bash says.
Emma grabs him by the shoulders on his little march to have words with his uncle. “Stay here with me,” she whispers. “I have to say my vows and marry your daddy, okay?”
“Dat’s dumb,” Bash mutters.
Loudly.
Theo sneezes again.
His own daughter starts crying.
And Emma cracks up.
