“You never let us have any fun, Baby K.”
“I let you haveappropriate amountsof fun. There’s a difference.” But I was smiling, and so was he. That was the thing about my family. We could give each other endless shit, but there was never any real bite to it. Just love, wrapped up in sarcasm. “Now. Groom goes first.”
I held out the helmet to Chris. He reached in, swirled his hand around dramatically, because God forbid a Kingman do anything without a little showmanship, and pulled out a slip. He unfolded it, and his face broke into a grin.
“Hayes.”
Hayes, who had been hovering by the bookshelf trying to look like he didn’t care, broke into the sweetest smile. “Yeah?”
“Yeah, buddy. You’re my best man.”
They hugged, that good kind of hug where they held on for a second longer than strictly necessary, and I felt my heart do something embarrassing and squishy in my chest. Chris had practically helped raise Hayes. Having him stand up at the wedding just feltright.
“Okay, who’s next? Declan, you and Kelsey are getting married in July. Your turn.”
Declan reached in and pulled out?—
“Jules.” He stared at the paper, then looked up at me with this expression of genuine delight. “I got Jules.”
“Best Jules,” I corrected, trying not to let on how much this meant to me. “I’m going to be the best Best Jules you’ve ever seen.”
“Kelsey’s going to love this.” He was grinning now, wide and real. “Alright, princess, you’re standing up there with me.”
“Obviously. Someone has to make sure you don’t pass out at the altar.”
“I’m not going to pass out.” He smirked and shook his head.
“You cried during the proposal.”
“Those weremanlytears of joy.”
We went around the room. Hayes pulled Everett and immediately looked panicked about Everett whispering the words “bachelor party.”
Everett pulled Declan, and I fully expected them to turn the whole bachelor party thing into some kind of elaborate competition. Isak pulled Chris, and the look on his face, like he’d just been handed something precious, made my throat tight.
Then it was the twins’ turn.
Flynn reached in first. Pulled out a slip. His face split into the most delighted grin I’d ever seen.
“Gryff.”
“No way.” Gryff snatched the helmet and shoved his hand in. His eyes went wide. “Flynn.”
“You definitely cheated,” Declan said.
“We didn’t cheat.” Flynn protested and threw an arm around his twin. “It’s fate. The universe knows we’re a package deal.”
“It’ssuspiciousis what it is.”
“It’sbeautiful,” Gryff countered. “We’re cosmically connected.”
I squinted at both of them. They were absolutely capable of cheating, but I also couldn’t figure out how they would have pulled it off. “I’m letting it slide,” I decided. “But I’m watching you two.”
“You’re always watching us, Jules. It’s part of your charm.”
Finally, it was my turn. I reached into the helmet, felt around the remaining slip of paper, and pulled the one name out, I’d hoped to get all along.
Isak.
