Same with my parents.
And as for any old boyfriends? Who cares if they were the wrong men for me? I should be happy about that since the right man is right here.
I just have to be brave and tell him how I feel.
* * *
Liam
Lulu is with Cathy.
Safely tucked into bed.
She promised she wouldn’t run off like that again.
She was sure “Mama” would find her right away, and when she didn’t, she says she got sleepy.
I’m still reeling from the events of today.
From thinking I’d lost Lulu.
My brother’s wedding is tomorrow, and I can’t sleep at all.
I’ve got so many thoughts churning round and round in my head.
The main one is a blond, blue-eyed woman with the best laugh I’ve ever heard, the best advice I’ve ever gotten, and the best ass I’ve ever seen.
I’m not going to let her walk away without a fight.
CHAPTERTWENTY-FOUR
“You ready?” I ask Hunter as I fix his tie.
We’re minutes away from his wedding, and he and I are hanging with Jared and Max inside Luke’s study.
Luke popped by to drop off four shots of whiskey as good luck.
“One hundred percent,” Hunter says. “I love Winter more than anything. I can’t wait for this next chapter in our lives.” He looks from me to Jared to Max, and his green eyes glitter with sadness. “The only hard part is knowing I’m going to look out at the guests and not be able to see Mom and Dad.”
“It will be hard for me on my wedding day too,” Jared says softly. “For each of us. You’re the youngest, and yet you’re dealing with it first, Hunt.”
“You always were the bravest, the way you didn’t shut down your heart,” I tell Hunter. “You’ll be fine. Despite not having Mom and Dad here. You and Winter will always have each other—and us.”
We all come together to clink glasses before swallowing down our shots.
“Liam?” Hunter turns to me. “You’ve always been a hero to all three of us. We owe you everything, big brother.”
I don’t know why my little brother’s wedding is making me so fucking emotional. I wipe my eyes and nod my thanks.
“And we’ve been talking.” Hunt gestures to himself, Jared, and Max. “About you.”
“About me what?” I say.
“We want you to be happy, Liam.” Max’s brown eyes assess me. “And after all you’ve been through, you seem like you want to be happy now.”
I clench my jaw. “You assholes are getting into my business. You know how I hate that.”
“Of course we know,” Hunt says. “And we always back off and give you your space. But this time, we decided that wouldn’t be right.”
