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“For how openly you accepted me into all of this,” I tell them with a small smile. “For how respectful and caring you’ve been with me.”

Nobody interrupts.

The music from the party drifts across the yard, but back here, everything feels strangely calm.

“I know it isn’t easy for you to let people get close,” I continue, my voice softer now. “Especially strangers. And I know trust doesn’t come naturally after everything you’ve been through.”

Ethan watches me carefully, a hint of emotion flickering in his eyes.

“And I’ll always be grateful you made space for me anyway,” I whisper. “I love all of you like family already. And I honestly feel lucky that I get to be part of yours now.”

Silence follows for about two seconds.

Then I see Sierra swipe beneath her eyes.

“Oh God,” Thalia groans quietly, doing the same.

And just like that, I start crying too.

Again.

At this point, I’ve cried so much today that it barely registers anymore.

“Jesus Christ,” Ethan mutters, shaking his head with a laugh. “Can everyone stop crying for five minutes?”

“That’s impossible now,” Sierra says immediately through her tears.

“Group hug,” Aiden announces from somewhere to the right.

A moment later, we’re wrapped around each other in one giant mess of limbs and laughter—the girls crushed in the middle, the guys circling around us.

I laugh against someone’s shoulder when Kai loses his balance.

“Careful,” Noah warns. “If we fall, we’re taking the bride down with us.”

“Doamne,” (EN: Jesus.), I chuckle as we all stumble back to our seats.

“Looks like the family keeps getting bigger,” Aiden says.

“Three weddings in such a short time,” Noah adds.

Kai grins, glancing around at everyone. “So who’s next?”

The question earns several reactions at once.

Theo groans.

Thalia laughs.

Someone tosses a napkin at Kai’s head.

Meanwhile, I lean back into Zayn’s chest, smiling as his arms slide around my waist again, anchoring me securely against him.

But honestly?

I kind of want to know the answer too.

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