We both look over when we hear something and see Cami and their mom talking in the corner. I can’t see Cami’s face because her back is to us, but I see Jack go to Cami and put his arm around her. Whatever is said must not make Theresa happy because she turns and leaves, and I watch her walk out as if she’s going home. Cami turns, and her face is neutral. Jack slides his hand in hers protectively and pulls her close, kissing her forehead. I don’t know what just happened, but it didn’t look good.
“Hey, baby,” Ollie whispers.
“Yeah,” I whisper back.
“You got that lingerie on?” he says in my ear, and warmth pools in my core.
“Yes, you want to take it off later?” I whisper back, and his eyes darken when he smirks.
“You can count on it,” he says and kisses me. “Be careful, or we’ll leave right now.”
I playfully swat him. “We’re not leaving our reception.”
We eat excellent steak, every delicious side dish you can imagine, and then the best cake I’ve ever had in my mouth. It’s a traditional vanilla cake with buttercream icing, which she knows Ollie and I love. It’s a special day I’ll never forget, surrounded by the people we love.
Chapter 17
Ollie
Sleeping On The Blacktop by Colter Wall
Music thumps through the heated tents, bass humming. Laughter and singing spill into the cold night air, glasses clinking as people crowd together, dancing shoulder to shoulder like this is exactly where we’re all supposed to be.
I scan the space out of habit, and my chest loosens when I spot Owen.
The guys from the station have him completely surrounded. Bucky’s pretending to lose at some dumb game just to make him laugh. Someone else spins him around until he’s breathless, his laugh cutting through the noise, loud and wild and unguarded. Another lifts him onto his shoulders so he can see everything, like he belongs right at the center of it all.
Owen’s having the time of his life.
They watch him without hovering. Always within reach.Always circling back. Like it’s instinct now. Like protecting him is just part of the job.
I feel it settle deep in my chest. That familiar swell of gratitude I never quite know what to do with.
This is my family. The one I chose. The one that showed up and stayed. And somehow, without ever asking, they wrapped their arms around Owen too.
I glance back toward Poppy, watching her watch him, and I see it on her face. That soft ache. That realization.
I gave her my life without thinking twice. But tonight, standing here with music pounding and my people keeping her kid safe and happy, it hits me that I didn’t just bring her into my world.
I brought her home.
Walker and Violet did something for us I’ll never forget. Pulling this off as quickly as they did was a miracle. Me and Poppy’s moment before the reception was everything to me. It’s what I needed. I always said that when we got older, I’d marry my best friend someday. We’re older, and she’s right here now. And she’s my wife. How we got here doesn’t matter. We got here.
I watched my parents fight and have a horrible marriage. But I also watched my grandpa and grandma Wilder have an awesome marriage. And they were best friends. They loved being together, doing life together, and they made everything fun. That’s the kind of life I want to have with Poppy. I want to do everything with her and have the best life possible for Owen. That’s why I wanted her to have my grandma’s ring. Cami agreed, saying Jack had already wanted to buy her a ring, and she wanted a bigger diamond. Poppy has always loved older things, so this is perfect. Getting married on their anniversary is something special that just so happened to work out. I want tothink it was a part of them watching over us from up above and making things happen.
If she doesn’t want kids or whatever picket fence bullshit she thinks about, I’m good with that. Not sure how great a father I’d be anyway. I like kids, and I especially love Owen, but I just want her. Poppy is my endgame in life and always has been.
I keep catching myself looking across the room to make sure Poppy’s still there.
She’s laughing with Maggie and glowing in a way that makes my chest ache when I think about us and our life together now.
I still can’t believe she told me she wanted it to be real. I practically cried like a little baby with relief when she admitted that to me.
Someone bumps my shoulder, and I turn to see Cami grinning at me. “Dance with me,” she says.
I blink and tease her as a brother should. “Like… actually dance? Do you know how?”
She nods. “Like a sister-brother dance. Because our mom is lame and she bailed.”
