“Don’t think I’ve ever seen Derrick blush,” Evan adds as the boys all stare at me.
“Hey, this isn’t the fucking zoo, stop looking at me.” For the first time in my life, I’m uncomfortable in the spotlight, not for me but for Chance, because I can see how uncomfortable he is sitting there listening to what happened last night, and no one knows he was there too, enjoying it.
“This is a first.” Christian chuckles.
“It’s a first that y’all are interested in my sex life,” I bite back.
“You’re always so interested in ours.” Axel smirks.
“Fine. I get it. I’m a nosy bitch.” I huff.
“We’re joking, D. If you don’t want to talk about the stripper, that’s fine,” Christian states.
“Night, guys,” Chance says, jumping out of the pool, interrupting the conversation.
“Wait up, I’m coming too,” Blake says as he gets out of the pool, as do the rest of the guys until it’s just the Dirty Texas guys and Finn’s brothers left.
“I sure know how to clear a pool.” I chuckle, taking a sip of my beer.
“Thanks for letting me hang, guys. I’d better head back and get my beauty sleep for tomorrow.” I say my goodbyes to the gang, until Evan is the last one, and he gives me a hug. “I don’t want to sound soppy, but thank you for loving my girl.”
“I’ll never stop loving her, D. She’s it for me. I’ve never loved anyone more than I love her. Never thought it could be possible to feel this happy.” Aw, this man. He’s going to have me a crying mess tomorrow.
“Thank you for letting me marry the two of you tomorrow. I promise I will be on my best behavior.”
“Having the most important person in her life marry us means something.”
“Fuck you,” I say, wiping my tears away. Evan pulls me into a big hug as I bawl my eyes out.
“I promise to look after her, D. And know this, you’re family. I mean, we’re brothers now, Mom and Dad have adopted you. Just so you know, you will always have a home with us,” Evan states.
“Fucking hell, Evan. You’re killing me here.”
“I love you, D.” He grins as he hugs me again.
Damn him.
14
DERRICK
Sienna and Evan are married!
And I, of course, killed it as the person marrying them.Honestly, I was shitting my pants the entire time.Sienna looked breathtaking, as did Evan. I tried so much not to cry while I married them. It was hard to keep all that bubbling emotion down, but once I pronounced them husband and wife, I let myself sob because I’ve never seen two people more in love. I can’t wait for that kind of love to find me.You won’t find it getting messed around by a fuckboy rock star.This is true, but dammit, does Chance look good in a suit.Stay strong, Derrick.It’s hard when I’ve had one too many glasses of champagne and I want to start off the new year with a bang.And by bang, I mean getting laid.I look around the party and try to scope out any single gay men.I’m still looking.I’m disappointed in my friends not catering hot single men for me after I delivered the best wedding ceremony and, of course, best man speech.
The countdown for the clock to strike midnight starts, and I’m all alone. I turn and leave my friends partying and move into the darkness. In that moment, I feel the loneliness, everything that has happened this year seems to come back and hit me,then because I’m a machoistic, I think about what my parents are doing this New Year’s Eve. They’re probably already asleep after being at church, they were never a pair of party animals. My mind wanders, wondering if they think of me every now and again because I do, especially after being around so many amazing parents. Why did I have to have such shitty ones? Urgh. Stop acting like a moody bitch, Derrick, and celebrate the new year with your true family, the people who love you for you. The ones who have shown up for you when you needed them, the ones who will always show up for you. Your parents don’t deserve one second of your thinking about them. You’ve got this, D. New year. A new life. There are so many things you have to look forward to in the new year. You’ve found your dream home. I walked through it before I left for Australia, but things were crazy, and it was too much to organize while getting things ready for the wedding. I left it up to fate to decide, and she did. I got an email while away from the real estate agent letting me know the contract had fallen through, and they asked if I was still interested.There was my sign.Then I ran into trouble with the stupid banks, and I thought the chance of getting the home was lost until Sienna and Evan came to the rescue and bought the house. They set up an interest-free loan for me so I can pay them back.See, Derrick, these people are your family, you don’t shed one more tear over the people you share blood with.
“Happy New Year!” everyone screams, and I watch as the night sky lights up in a billion colors.
“Derrick.” I turn and see Chance standing beside me. “Happy New Year,” he says hesitantly.
Fuck it.
I reach out, grab his face, and kiss him. Chance stills for a moment before he kisses me back as furiously as I am to him.
“Derrick …” Chance pants as we pull away.
“Don’t. Please don’t ruin this moment,” I warn as I let my hands fall from him.
