I let my gaze drift, just for a second, over the front row.
My father stood there beside Vivian, his posture straight, his expression soft in a way I wasn’t used to seeing. He was smiling—really smiling—and there was pride in his eyes that made something in me ache.
A few seats over, Charlotte was practically glowing, Liam and Amelia beside her barely containing themselves, their excitement bubbling over in quiet giggles, trying very hard—andfailing—to look subtle as they edged closer to the aisle, craning their necks for a better view.
All of them here.
All of them watching.
The music changed once more, and the first notes of the song I’d chosen poured into the room. When Henry had played it for me earlier, I hadn’t even tried to hide my smile. In a funny way, it had been ours from the start.
I leaned slightly toward my brothers, eyes already locked on the staircase. “Watch his face.”
At the top of the stairs, Ethan appeared, and the world narrowed to just him.
He stood there for a breath, framed by light, golden curls a little wild, his suit fitting him like it had been designed by someone who knew exactly how to love every inch of him. His eyes lifted, searching—and they found me. That shy smile settled on his mouth, soft and devastating all at once.
Then the song hit him. His shoulders loosened, emotion slipping through, and he shook his head with a quiet laugh before mouthingfuck youin my direction.
Henry and Oliver both chuckled beside me, and my face hurt with how wide my grin was as laughter rolled through me.
Ethan’s lips curved into something wicked as he started down the stairs, his gaze never leaving mine. He mouthed the lyrics as he descended, picking up speed with every step, energy practically sizzling around him.
He held his arms slightly open at his sides, eyes blazing, fixed on me as he mouthed the words straight to me.
But you dragged me through the fire…
I had.
And I would again.
For us.
His pace quickened, and I couldn’t stop myself from moving too, meeting him halfway with my arms already open. One hand flew to my neck to pull me in as I caught his waist. Foreheads touched, eyes closing as the weight of everything around us pressed in, charged and electric.
We were getting married.
He and I.
Who would have thought?
“You just had to use that fucking song,” he muttered, lips a breath from mine.
“Iamfeeling particularlyluckyright now,” I said, biting down on my lip as he pulled back just enough to glare at me, a smile he wasn’t even trying to hide tugging at his mouth.
Our eyes were locked together, the music still swelling around us, the room full of people and light and expectation.
“You ready?” he said, his tone changing to match this moment.
I smiled. “For a while now.”
His thumb brushed under my jaw, that small, gentle touch igniting something in me—something that had only ever been his.
Ethan’s grin was bright as he tilted his head. “Then let’s go get married.”
And together, we turned toward the stage.
The reception had already slipped into motion around us.
