“Mommy!” Jayden wiggled out of Trevor’s hold, taking off down the aisle toward his parents. Beside me, Emmie awed as Josie easily swept him up into her arms, kissing his cheeks.
I smiled softly at my brother walking down the aisle with his wife and son. He truly hit the jackpot meeting Josie all those years ago.
Wyatt walked over and gave Steven a hug, murmuring something that had Steven nodding and patting him on the shoulder. The two shared a grin before getting in position, eyes facing the doorway.
A second later, my mom appeared. The sight of herwearing a simple white gown made my chest constrict. A small hand slipped into mine. It was like Emmie knew I needed it. My throat clogged as Landon walked my mother slowly down the aisle, her eyes only focused on Steven waiting for her.
The way my mom looked at him was wondrous. It was the same look she had after all these years of being together. I was helpless in holding back tears. Seeing my mom get her happy ending after so many years of being alone and putting her children first was… I couldn’t even begin to think of words to describe how happy I was for her.
When I glanced at Landon, arm looped through mom’s, I recognized the glassy look in his eyes. My throat went tight, jaw locking as I tried to keep it together. He’d been everything a father was supposed to be for Wyatt and me. And now, he was the one walking her to someone else.
At my side, Emmie squeezed my hand once. I held hers tightly, needing to ground myself. Around us, I caught bits and pieces of movement—Wyatt scrubbing a hand over his face, Mila blinking a little too quickly, Trevor and Bryton wiping at their eyes, Lydia with a wobbly smile as she held Kai in her arms, Josie’s shoulders shaking as she watched.
I let out a slow breath, eyes burning as I forced them back to the aisle. I sat down with everyone else as Steven stepped forward. He shook Landon’s hand, a quiet understanding passing between them.
When he took my mom’s hand, my breath faltered. Because just like that, everything was changing.
“Faster, Uncle Maty,”Kai squealed, hands gripping me as her feet balanced on top of mine. I moved us across the dance floor. I lifted one foot at a time, shimmying our hands together to the beat of the music.
Her giggles made me grin. Trevor and Tasha danced next to us, swaying in each other's arms, oblivious to anyone else. Josie and Mila were on our other side, dancing with Wrenley and Jayden in wild moves that had both kids laughing.
I glanced over Kai’s head at Emmie talking to my mom and Steven. My heart stuttered at the sight of her.
I’d seen her a thousand different ways—laughing, dressed, half asleep, but this? The navy dress, the way it fell against her, the quiet confidence in the way she held herself…it hit me all at once.
She was it for me. No question.
I brought my attention back to Kai as the music stopped. Time to finally ask Emmie to dance. Before I could utter a word to her, Kai jumped off my feet and ran over to Bryton.
“Well, thanks for the dance!” I called after her. Not even a backward glance, and here I was, hurting my own feet for her. With a shake of my head, I headed for Emmie, my steps purposeful, only to stop when Wrenley flew right past me and wrapped her arms around Emmie’s legs.
Well, that’s unfair.
Wren grabbed Emmie’s hand and pulled her over to the dance floor. The way Emmie smiled at Wren brought images of our own children to mind. It was way too soon for that, but I could easily picture little redheads running around years from now.
When Emmie passed me, she trailed her free hand along my arm, a soft smile gracing her lips. I was completely and utterly wrapped around her finger.
I kept my eye on the two as I made my way toward an empty table, falling into the seat with a sigh. Below the tableat my feet, Tucker slept, exhausted from the nonstop fun he had.
I rubbed my ribs, my suit jacket long gone, as I watched Emmie twirl Wren. I took a few deep breaths, wincing at the sharp pain. The doc told me I had to practice breathing deeply to make sure my lungs got used to expanding fully again, but damn, it hurt like a bitch.
“Still going to lie and tell us you feel fine?” Landon asked as he and Wyatt sat down in the chairs beside me.
“Would you believe me?”
“No,” Wyatt answered.
There was a pause before Landon spoke again. “You gave us a hell of a scare, you know that?”
“Thought you weren’t getting back up,” Wyatt added, jaw tight.
I swallowed, eyes dropping to my hands. “I did.”
“Yeah,” Landon said softly. “You did. Just…don’t make a habit out of it.”
The tension eased a little, but something heavy still lingered. The guilt that I disappointed the two most important men in my life.
“Didn’t mean to scare you,” I muttered.
