Brother.
You know, now that I look closer, I see the resemblance with their unique gray eyes.
“Wills is Sadie’s husband, and Jackson’s brother-in-law,” Nate adds.
I shake his hand, trying to mask my face, not wanting to embarrass myself anymore. “Nice to meet you. How are Sadie and Jackson? I haven’t seen Sadie in a long time. Ten years at least.”
Sadie and Jackson grew up with the brothers. Jackson is older and closer to Seb and Harrison, and Sadie is closer in age to Nate and Leo.
They also spent a lot of time at the Moraleses’ growing up, where I met them a few times over the years.
Wills’s stoic face lights up. “She’s perfect. She’s home with our girls, otherwise, she would have come this year. They all fell ill with the flu, along with Jackson.”
“Fucking, pussy.” Leo shakes his head.
Wills lets out a deep chuckle. “His wife dropped him off at ours yesterday. Told Sadie she was returning to sender, and she could take care of her own brother.”
“Jackson is married?” My eyes bulge. I never thought I’d see the day; he’s the older version of Leo.
A born Casanova.
“Long story,” Nate mumbles, and the rest laugh.
We chat a bit longer before they say goodbye, and then Harrison and Juliette return forty-five minutes later to find me, Leo, and Nate dancing with Seb and Claud.
I have to admit, they look a bit disheveled.
Juliette extracts herself from Harrison’s hold and walks into Leo’s arms. She places her head on his shoulder and rubs her pregnant stomach.
I watch their interaction until I realize Nate’s staring at me.
It’s been a long time since we were a unit. A lot of things feel like nothing has changed, but I realize, watching them, that I’m wrong. So much has changed.
Everyone’s grown up.
Harrison is married with a family.
I’m not Leo’s only best girlfriend anymore.
Claud has a new mom.
“You okay?” Nate pulls me into his chest, and he holds me tight.
“Uh-huh.”
I’m too tipsy to fight the connection, so I let him hold me. Linc never showed up, and that’s the coworker I was most worried about.
“When are the speeches?” Juliette yawns.
“Don’t worry about them.” Leo kisses her head. “Take my niece home and relax. Put your feet up.”
“We’ll leave after.” She waits for someone to respond, then deflates. “We missed them, didn’t we?”
“They’re boring anyway,” Leo assures her.
Harrison takes Claud, who doesn’t protest, then pries his wife out of Leo’s arms. “I’ll come home with you.” He leans down and kisses her.
“Aww,” Claudina says, promptly hiding her face in the crook of Harrison’s neck when we all start to ooh and ahh at how adorable she is.
