Page 78 of Hextreme Measures

Felix gave him a disgusted look. “Dude, lay off the schmaltz.”

Sully shook his head. “Today is the day for the schmaltz,” he said. “I’m going to be the king of the schmaltz.”

“Does that do it for my sister?”

“No. She makes the same faces you do.”

“Well, at least she hasn’t completely lost her mind.” Felix sobered as he regarded the man who would be his brother-in-law in less than an hour. “I don’t think I’ve said this to you before, but you’re the only guy I would let my sister marry.”

Sully snorted. “As if you have a say in it.”

“You know what I mean. There weren’t a lot of guys before you, and the only one who stuck around for a reasonable amount of time was a real turd.”

“Yeah, let’s not talk about Sebastian on my wedding day, huh?” Just thinking about the guy made Sully want to punch somebody. “He’s a memory now. Not a good one, but he is gone from our lives.”

“You’re missing the point.” Felix was firm. “My sister is the best person I know. Only a really amazing guy could deserve her. Before you showed up, I didn’t believe that guy existed.”

“And now?”

“And now I know that he does.” Felix placed both of his hands on Sully’s shoulders. “You’re not just my sister’s husband. You’re my brother. I’m going to give you a hard time and drive you crazy. There’s no stopping that. I’m also going to respect the hell out of you because nobody could ever love my sister like you do.”

Sully had known he wouldn’t get through the day without crying, but he didn’t think for a moment that Felix was the one who would draw first blood.

“When I first met you, I thought you were the worst brother in the world,” he admitted when he found his voice. “Your sister coddled you, even though you were the older sibling. You seemed aimless and not all there. I didn’t think it was fair that she was the only adult in the family.”

Felix made a face. “Well, thanks for that, I guess,” he said dourly.

Sully chuckled. “I was wrong, Felix. That’s what I’m saying. You give your sister exactly what she needs. Sure, sometimes that’s somebody to mother, but most of the time you’re giving her the sort of fun she never seeks out on her own.”

Sully took a deep breath. “I guess what I’m really saying is that somewhere along the way, you became my brother as well. You’re a good brother. You’re a good man, too. I’m pretty sure that you’re going to be a good father on top of everything else.”

“Does that mean that you love me more than your sisters?” Felix asked, somehow keeping his face straight.

“It depends on the day.” Sully shrugged. “I wasn’t the best brother. That’s why it took me so long to realize that you are the best brother your sister could ask for. You’re kind of a pain in the ass when you want to be, but that’s what makes you the best brother. That’s what your sister needs.”

Felix blinked back tears. “I need you to make my sister happy, because nobody deserves it more than her. You were right with your first instinct about me. I wasn’t the best brother. I do want to be the best brother now, though.”

“Well, with you being the best brother and me being the best husband, maybe your sister will get all of the support that she deserves.”

“Yeah. That would be nice.”

The two men embraced and held on a bit longer than either of them expected. When they pulled back, they smiled at one another.

“Are you ready to say goodbye to your single life?” Felix asked. “You know, adopt your ball and chain and all that?”

Sully smirked. “I’ve been ready since the moment I met her.”

“Yeah, I can see that. My sister is a catch.”

“She most definitely is.” Sully turned nostalgic. “I’m just glad that I’m the one who caught her.”

20

TWENTY

The park was decked out in twinkle lights — some physical, some magical — and Dora had cast a spell so looky-loos from outside the park wouldn’t know what was happening on the other side of the fence and stop to stare. Sully couldn’t help but marvel at the fact that the Frenchman Street witch was now not only a casual acquaintance, but also an actual friend.

When he took his place at the head of the aisle, Ben, Felix, and two cousins lined up with him. He clasped his hands together in front of him and listened to the music.