“Dadadadada,” she shrieks when she spots me, trying to run to reach me faster.
Not gonna lie; the way my little girl looks at me, like I’m the center of her universe, turns me to mush every time. I didn’t think it was possible to love anyone as much as I love Presley, but the instant Shania entered the world, I realized how wrong I was.
I held our daughter for the first time as the medical team was stitching Presley up, and when she stared up at me with these big trusting eyes, I knew I would move mountains to ensure she grows up happy, healthy, and safe. From the second she curled her tiny little finger around mine, I have been completely and utterly in love with my daughter. This perfect little creation that is part Presley and part me. She has my eyes and my cheeky disposition, but she’s the spitting image of her mother in every other way.
My little princess is gonna break hearts someday.
Someday in the distant future, very far away.
Like, I might permit her to date when she’s thirty.
Or maybe forty.
I bend down as they approach, opening my arms wide, and Austen lets go of her hand when they reach me. Shania barrels into my chest, flinging her small arms around me, babbling “Dadadadadada.” My heart expands, like it does every time she calls me Dada. That shit will never get old. “Hey, princess.” I stand with her snuggled in my arms, dotting kisses all over her pretty face. She giggles, pressing noisy, wet, slobbery kisses to my cheek in return.
“You good, dude?” Austen asks, clamping a hand on my shoulder.
“Never better, man. Thanks for being a part of our day.” I wasn’t surprised when Presley chose Austen and Selena to be her best man and matron of honor today. She gets on well with all the spouses and my brothers love her too, but she is closest with Austen and Selena, so it was a no-brainer.
“I wouldn’t have missed this for the world.” He looks over my shoulder, blatantly eye fucking his husband, before he steps over beside Selena to await the bride.
Eliot cries out, and Keats and Austen almost give themselves whiplash turning to look at their son. Mom is struggling to hold the normally placid two-year-old in her arms. He has his arms outstretched, crying for his dads.
They adopted him a year ago, shortly after they moved back to Boston, and they are complete naturals with their son. My dad takes Eliot into his arms, whispering in his ear, and whatever he says works like a charm as the little boy settles down. I can visibly see the strain lift from Austen and Keaton’s shoulders, and I smile. I love how happy my triplet is, and I’m thrilled he got everything he has always wanted.
The music changes to “Loving You,” and I move Shania to my hip, pointing at the end of the aisle. “Look, there’s Mommy.” Mercifully, Shania keeps still, looking as mesmerized as I am by the vision walking toward me.
Warmth blooms in my chest, and a messy ball of emotion clogs my throat as Keven leads my bride up the aisle. I thought Presley might have asked Ford or Rafe to give her away, but she asked my brother, giving me another reason to fall in love with her all over again.
Presley and Keven share a special bond after he saved her life, and I’m glad she asked him. I can tell it means a lot. Keven is the unsung hero in our family, and I like that my bride wanted to acknowledge his importance in her life, inourlives, by asking him to walk her up the aisle. As they walk toward me, I can see how proud he is to be a part of our wedding because he’s not hiding his emotions today.
My eyes stay glued to my love as she approaches. Presley is perfect. Absolutely stunning. So beautiful she steals my breath, and I can only stare as she comes toward me, wondering how I got so lucky, how I ended up with this amazing life.
Tears cling to her long lashes, and her eyes are glassy and glimmering with emotion when she finally reaches me.
“You’re so beautiful,” I rasp, barely able to get the words out. “And I’m the luckiest asshole on the planet.”
Mom rolls her eyes while Dad fights a smile.
“I’m so happy for you guys,” Keven says, smiling. He takes Presley’s hand, planting a kiss on her knuckles. “Thank you for this honor, Presley. I will cherish this moment for the rest of my life.”
One of my brothers murmurs, “Pussy,” and a few chuckles ring out. My money’s on Kalvin, especially when Mom whips her head in his direction, drilling him with a warning look, no doubt. Dad passes Eliot to Mom before stepping up beside us. He clamps his hand on Keven’s shoulder. Kev releases Presley’s hand, nodding at me before he leaves to take his seat beside Cheryl and their son.
Shania wriggles in my arms. “Mama,” she screeches, almost jumping out of my arms.
Presley takes our daughter, kissing the tip of her nose. “Love you, baby girl.” She hugs her for a few seconds before passing her to my dad.
Dad holds Shania close, smoothing a hand up and down her back as her lower lip wobbles. Our daughter hates to be apart from either of us, and like me, she hates to feel like she’s missing out on something.
“I’m so happy for you, son,” Dad says, his eyes alight with emotion. “And I wish you both every happiness for the future.” He leans in, kissing Presley on the cheek. “You’re already a part of this family, Presley, but it’s good to make it official.”
He steps back, walking away to take his seat beside Mom. Eliot claps his hands in glee when Shania arrives, and Eva asks everyone to be seated.
The music cuts out, and I take Presley’s hand, stepping forward until we are in front of Eva. We turn to face one another, and I hold her hands in mine, my heart soaring toward the heavens as I prepare to make my beautiful bride mine forever.
Presley
“I can’t wait to see everyone’s faces,” I say, purposely avoiding looking at my husband, because I know I won’t be able to hold my laughter in.
