“They’ve written their own vows,” he says once he concludes his opening.
My stomach swoops, but Boone is ready, lifting a hand to show he’ll go first. I turn to him, Chance’s arm still wrapped around my hips and Dillon’s fingers tight around mine.
“Roxanne,” he says, his voice a little rougher than usual but no less certain than he’s been since he first told me they didn’t really fit into conventional boxes. “You brought peace to this home when we needed it most.”
I arch an eyebrow at him, and he chuckles before quietly adding, “You did, you know. The mob might’ve followed you here that one time, but that’s not what I’m talking about and you know it.”
I smile, tears brimming in my eyes as he continues. “You showed me I could trust again. Love again. Live again. I promise to protect you, to listen to you, and to build a life with you. I choose you, Roxie. Every day, for the rest of my life, I will choose you.”
He kisses my knuckles, and I tremble, but then Chance turns me toward him when the officiant nods the go-ahead. He cups my cheeks gently, those eyes tender and loving on mine.
“Sunshine, you saved me. Not from danger, but from myself. You taught me how to find light after darkness and family after pain. I vow to be your shield, your partner, and your safe place. I vow to love you with everything I have and with every part of me, even the broken ones.”
Tears stream down my face by the time Dillon takes my hands, smiling like he’s about to burst. “It never stops amazing me that you took one look at the chaos that is our life and said, ‘Yeah, sure, I’ll marry all three of these lunatics.’”
He pauses when the audience chuckles, then continues, “Seriously, as far as I’m concerned, that deserves a medal. But you make everything brighter, Rox. I vow to make you laugh, to make you feel loved, and to help build a life full of joy, stupid inside jokes, and holidays the size of small festivals. You’re my heart, and I’ll spend my whole life proving that you’re making the right choice today.”
A sob rises in my throat as I look into his gorgeous blue eyes, but the officiant saves me from dissolving into a mess of tears when he nods at me. It’s my turn, and one of the babies kicks as if encouraging me.
“My loves,” I say, looking at each of them in turn. “When I first got here, I thought I was running for my life, but somehow, I ended up finding it instead. I found the life I had always dreamed of, the kind of love I never thought I would have.”
I inhale a shaky breath. “I’m so grateful to have found my family. My true loves. And I promise to stand with you, to grow with you, and to raise our family with you. I vow to love each of you wholly, fiercely, and endlessly, and to love all of us together no matter the challenges we may face in the future.”
The officiant nods at Boone, and he kisses me first, his lips meeting mine in a bruising kiss that makes me forget where we are. Chance is next, smiling as he guides my mouth to his with a hand on my throat, his lips gentle and loving, like he’s making another unspoken vow. Dillon takes over long before I’ve had enough. The tent erupts in applause when he sweeps me right off my feet, careful of the belly, and kisses me as fiercely as he ever has.
After we break apart, he takes my hand and leads me over to his parents, the first in the small crowd gathered to congratulate us.They embrace us all warmly, smiling just as wide as their son once they let us go.
Boone’s mom is a bit more reserved, but her gaze keeps flicking to my belly, and I have a feeling that once the babies are here, she’ll be around a lot more often. Chance’s dad draws me in for a stiff hug, excusing himself immediately after to get another drink from the bar.
We move from person to person while the caterers bring out canapés, the reception kicking off in a blur of laughter, congratulations, and more hugs and kisses from my husbands than I can count.
Eventually, Madison pulls me aside, champagne in her hand and mischief dancing in her gaze. “So, that happened. You married three ridiculously hot men, all of whom adore you. On a mountain. While glowing like a goddess. Maybe I should’ve come out to the cabin and left you to the wolves.”
I laugh. “Maybe, but you didn’t, so I guess we’ll never know.”
“True.” She lets out a deep, pretend sigh and winks at me. “Think maybe you could share the wealth?”
“Nope,” I say cheerfully, watching across the tent as Boone talks with his mother and Chance laughs at something Dillon says. “Sorry, but these ones are all mine.”
Madison chuckles. “That’s fair. But hey, you never know. My husbands might be around here somewhere. You guys don’t have any neighbors, do you?”
“Not as far as I know, but I’ll find out.”
She grins. “Thanks. Can I grab you another water?”
I nod, but as she flits off toward the bar, I take a second to myself just to soak up the moment. As I look around the tent, my gaze snags on the three center points of my universe.
My husbands. My family.
My chest swells with a warmth that has nothing to do with the heaters as I stare at them openly, not at all ashamed. This isn’t the life I expected.
It’s better.
And the best part is that it’s only just beginning.
35
BOONE
