Westley stands behind McKenna, never leaving her side. Throughout the morning, he checks on her, serves her, and tolerates all the teasing the Lawson boys throw his way.
Ethan walks over when Carli’s back at my side, my arm wrapped loosely around her waist.
“It's going to take a minute for us to adapt to this,” he tells us both.
I tug Carli just a millimeter closer, my grip on her waist tender, but unmoving.
“Take all the minutes you need,” Carli says, smiling.
“Would it help if I kissed her right now?” I tease.
“No. Not at all,” Ethan fakes a gagging noise, the one we’d all make when Dad would walk into the kitchen and kiss Mom when we were growing up. “Man,” he says. “I need brain bleach.”
The three of us laugh.
Luke joins us, addressing Carli as if I’m not even here. "Are you sure about this one? There are other, more handsome Lawson boys around this ranch, you know."
Carli’s answer is swift. She looks to the left and the right and then back at Luke. “I don’t see any.”
“Ouch, Carli!” he shouts. “You wound me.”
Ethan says, “Luke, you’re going to have to find another woman to pester now.”
Mom saves Carli and me from more teasing by ushering all the guests into the kitchen.
Dad clinks a glass.
“Thanks, everyone, for being here—for making it back after such a big night. We just wanted to gather with those closest to the couple this morning after their wedding. You know,” he looks at Mom and smiles. “I’m a firm believer in interrupting my children’s honeymoons.”
Laughter fills the kitchen.
“Seriously, though, Westley, welcome to the Lawson family. I couldn’t have asked for a better match for our Mac. And McKenna, I got you this.”
He pulls a compass out of his pocket. “It’s so you can always find your way back home.”
“Awww,” Carli says, wrapping her arm behind me and leaning in.
I look down at Carli.
“She’ll be back,” I promise, even though none of us know what McKenna’s real plans are down the road.
She nods. “I know. She’ll be back or I’ll be hunting her down.”
I smile, and not only because I love Carli’s humor and spunk. I glance around the kitchen at our family and the friends who are our family of choice. We hid in the shadows for their sakes. In the end, our plan ruptured, but our hearts were in the right place. And now, I get to hold her in front of all of them. They may not all be thrilled about it yet, but they’ll get there. I know it.
I give Carli a squeeze and she leans into my side.
“I love you,” I whisper into her hair.
She tips her head up and stares into my eyes. “I love you too, Cody.”
Mom announces, “Okay, everyone, fill your plates and grab a seat anywhere you’d like to eat. There’s room at the table, or the living room. Make yourself at home, as always.”
We form a loose line and fill our plates and then people sit all over the house, on couches and stuffed chairs, at the table, a few even sit on the porch swing. Carli and I eat with my brothers, McKenna and Westley, and Jace on the sectional in the living room.
“What are you two doing when you finally take a honeymoon?” Ethan asks.
“We were talking about Bali,” McKenna says. “Or maybe Australia.”
