I walked past people from Fallen Crest Academy. I walked past people from Fallen Crest Public High School. There were others from Cain University, some from the country club, still others from the carnival. And even more from my family, biological or not. But this wasn’t about them. I didn’t really see them.
This was about Mason and me.
This was about me getting the happily ever after I’d always had; I just never knew it.
And then there he was. I saw the same wetness swimming in his eyes that had been there last night, but he wouldn’t shed them this time. Not in front of others. That was only for me to see.
Hi,” I whispered, swallowing back my own tears.
He laughed. “Hi.”
Then he took my hand, and I remembered his soft plea from right before I fell asleep. “Don’t leave me. Please.”
We weren’t linked by that plea. We’d been linked so long ago, and it wasn’t even a request he had to make. He’d broken down his wall for me when we first fell in love. He’d taken care of me over the last years, and I knew others sometimes forgot to take care of him back, but not me. I would never forget, and just as I had this morning, I reached out and took his hand.
I glanced down at the tattoo both of us had gotten.
As we exchanged vows and professed our commitment to each other, we each stole glances down at our fingers. The tattoos were permanent, and the butterflies stood for our sanctuary. Mason’s was sketched in black, whereas mine was colorful, but one at a time, we placed our rings over them.
We said “I do” and my fingers slid through his and clasped down. Forever.
“Okay.” Logan raised his glass, holding a microphone in the other hand. He tapped it softly against his glass to get everyone’s attention.
The room was filled with conversation and laughter, but he gave the signal, and the deejay cut the music.
“It’s that time, folks.” He dipped his mouth closer to the mic so his voice boomed, “Toast time.” He laughed. “Say that five times fast, huh?”
A smattering of laughter came from our wedding guests.
He smirked at everyone, then turned to Mason and me. He had a twinkle in his eye.
“Aren’t you guys lucky? I like you both. No, that’s not true. I love you both.” He laughed, glancing to where Analise and James sat. “And you guys are lucky too—that it ain’t your wedding. I never did get the private jet, Dad.”
James sat back, his arm resting on my mother’s chair. He raised it now and motioned to his youngest son. “Anytime. Let me know.”
“I will.” Logan leveled him with a hard stare. “I mean it. I’m taking that jet.”
James gave him a thumbs-up, appearing unconcerned.
“Dude.” Nate leaned forward from the other side of Logan’s empty chair. “Toast, please. Some of us are in line still.”
“Chill.” Logan motioned toward him. “Simmer down. Your time is coming, but now it’s mine.” He focused on us again, and I saw him melting already. He was softening, but with the slightly glazed look in his eye.
I wasn’t sure what he was going to say. Logan was unpredictable.
Mason’s hand touched mine under the table.
I had to laugh.
We were literally hanging on now.
“Talk, Logan,” Mason ordered.
There was no quick retort for his brother. Logan merely rolled his shoulders back and turned to the crowd. “I think you all know how much I love my brother. I worshiped him growing up, and then I started worshiping Sam when she moved in too. You guys all know the story. Mason and I were like orphans.”
People began laughing.
I did too.
Mason cracked a grin.
Logan winked at us. “Our mother cheated constantly on our dad, and when he decided to leave her, he left us too. Then we found out our mom wasn’t even our mom, and we were really in a situation. Who was our real mom? Could it be a magical lawyer from Boston? Maybe it was our neighbor across the road the whole time. Maybe we really had a secret brother? No one knew.” He kept a straight face until the end, then he began laughing. “I’m kidding. That’s Nate’s life story.”
“Hey!”
Logan ignored him. “For real, this is a weird moment for me, because I remember when Sam and Mason first met. I was there. I think I was there for everything, except a few sex scenes. Although . . .” His grin deepened, and a dimple appeared in his right cheek. “I heard plenty of those too. That’s the uncomfortable part of living together, and holy shit—we lived all over the place. The mansion. Nate’s house. Mom’s house.”
He glanced to Helen, then turned back. “Malinda’s house. The house in Cain. Shit. I’m sure I’m forgetting places, but we lived in a bunch of different spots. And no joking here, but we may have switched houses, but I never felt like I didn’t have a home. You guys were my home. You guys were my family. You guys are my family. That’s never changed, and I know it never will. Through everything, we were there for each other, and holy fuck—”
“Logan, there are children here,” someone hissed.
“Oh. Sorry.” He held a hand up, but didn’t look away from us. Only Mason and I saw the moisture building in his eyes. He stopped, and his Adam’s apple moved as he swallowed. Then he gripped the microphone with both hands. “We’ve been through a lot—a lot of hospital visits, a lot of middle-of-the-night phone calls, a lot of good old-fashioned schoolyard fights, and some nastier ones. Yeah.” He drew in a breath, so solemn now.
I felt a tear slipping free, sliding down my cheek.
Logan saw it and gave me a soft grin. “I love you guys. And I’m so goddamn honored to have you in our family, Sam.” A rueful laugh slipped out. “Despite your bloodline.”
“Logan!”
He ignored James, and his voice dipped low. He said softly, “I am proud to be in our Threesome Fearsome, and I wouldn’t do a damned thing to change us.” He kissed the side of his fist and met it to both of ours, then rocked back on his heels.
He raised his glass. “So I’m ending this toast, because I have a feeling it’s the most sober one you’re going to get tonight. Please help me welcome Samantha officially into our family. You know, besides the fact that she’s already our stepsister.”
His grin turned wicked, and he looked back at us. “Welcome to the family, Samantha. And just so you know, you’ve always been one of us, whether you wanted to be or not.” He raised his glass one more time, then finished it in one gulp.
Everyone drank, and Logan added, “Now I send my apologies, because you have to endure everyone else’s toasts.”
Nate stood up and his chair scraped backward. He held his hand out.
“Especially Nate’s, but be kind. We love him.”
Nate took the microphone, half scowling and half laughing. “Sit down. We all know you’re going to be trying to do a second, third, and fourth toast.”
Logan took the seat beside Mason and nodded. “Oh yeah. That was the censored toast. These folks don’t know what they have coming later.”
“Hi, everyone.” Nate stepped back from the table, his drink in hand, and gazed at Mason and me for a moment. His voice grew thick as he let out an uncomfortable laugh.
“Sorry.” His head dipped low, his voice was hoarse. “I’m—I knew I’d have to wrestle this thing from Logan, so I wasn’t fully prepared. Now I’m standing here and staring at someone who I’ve considered a brother all my life, and wow.” His mouth curved into a half-grin. “It’s overwhelming. Man, Mase. I can’t believe you got married. I mean . . .” His eyes found mine. “I knew you were the girl for Mason, but the whole journey we’ve taken. It’s just, wow. It’s a lot.”
He lifted his head and looked to the crowd. “I’m not an orphan, just so everyone knows. I have some incredible parents.” He pointed. “Right over there.”
An older woman and man waved.
Nate cleared his throat. “Yeah. Since I came back, I haven’t left your side. And we’ve had times, like Logan said. I was one of those hospital visits.” He gestured to me. “Sam too, but we’ve gotten through everything, and I know I don’t regret anything. I wouldn’t trade anything with anybody, no matter what was promised to me. Thank you, Mason. Thank you for being my best friend growing up. Thank you for bringing me into the family. Thank you for never turning your back at some of the worst times. And thank you, Sam, for making Mason who he is today.”