Consolation Prize (Forbidden Men #9)(133)

“Sure,” I answered, sitting at the table and yawning some more. It already felt as if Julianna were my wife. To me, this whole wedding business was just a formality. But I knew the women were making a big deal about it, so…okay. I’d be excited or whatever.

Mostly I just wanted people to stop telling me I couldn’t see Juli until such-and-such a time, like when she was walking down the aisle. Fuckers. Life was better when I got to see her whenever I wanted. So I was just ready to get to that point again.

My niece and nephew flanked me on either side, chattering animatedly, while Noel and Aspen served us breakfast. I smiled, thinking back fondly to when I’d lived here with them as their legal ward.

I didn’t want to return to those days; I liked where I was now, and who I was with, who I’d become. But I still felt a bit sentimental, realizing this probably was the last time I’d ever eat breakfast with them as one of their immediate family. I’d been raised with them since I was eight, they were my secondary parents. I’d always remember the amazing foundation they’d provided for me. But after today, all that changed. I was no longer their responsibility. I’d just be their younger brother and uncle to their kids.

It was about time things returned to how they were always meant to be.

After breakfast, I showered and changed into my tux. I was standing in front of the mirror tacked to the closet door of Beau’s room cursing over my bow tie, when a voice asked, “Need some help?”

I dropped my hands gratefully from my throat and spun toward Aspen. “God, yes, please.”

With a smile and eyes sparkling as if she was actually honored to assist me, she stepped into the room and lifted her hands to my throat. I lifted my chin and bent slightly at the knees to make it easier for her.

As she began to twist the material expertly, she said, “I feel as if I should say something important right now.”

I chuckled. “Like what? That you can’t believe your little boy’s all grown up and about to get married?”

She huffed out an amused sound and straightened the bow tie. “Well, you are. And I’m so very proud and pleased by the man you’ve become.”

When she blinked rapidly, I had to clear my throat. Stupid dust in my windpipe.

“Want to know something crazy?” I asked as she dropped her hands, finished with her task.

“What’s that?” Her eyebrows arched as if she thought I was going to say something flirty and funny like I’d always wanted to marry her when I was eight or something.

But what I said was, “I’m kind of glad my real mom sucked ass because it brought me here to you. I liked having you for a mom so much better.”

“Oh… Dammit, Colton,” she muttered, waving a hand in front of her face before she burst into tears. “I promised myself I wasn’t going to get all nostalgic and cry today, but you’ve already ruined that. Come here.”

As soon as she opened her arms for me, I stepped forward and folded her into a huge, encompassing hug. The top of her head fit perfectly under my chin.

Sniffing, she pulled away to look up at me with a sad, but proud smile. “I know I wasn’t always there for you like I wanted to be—”

Stopping her right there, I put my hands over hers and said, “Yes, you were. Even when you were sick”—and thank God she was finally and completely over that phase— “you were always still there, and you were always the best mother I’ve ever had.”

“I love you,” she sobbed, tears spilling down her cheek as she reached up to cup my cheek. “You’ll always be my Colton.”

I smiled back, really feeling the dust clog my throat now. “And you’ll always be my Aspen. I love you too.”

“Hey, what’s all this?” Noel’s voice came from the doorway. “You moving in on my wife, little brother? I thought you were about to get your own today?”

Ignoring his joke, I turned Aspen so that we were both facing him while one of my arms went around her shoulders. “Did I ever thank you for finding this woman right here and roping her into our lives?”

“No,” he murmured thoughtfully. Then he winked at Aspen. “But I know I did good, anyway.”

“Oh,” she muttered, blushing madly as she waved a bashful hand to stop us. “You two.” Easing out from under my arm, she went to Noel to hug him. “I think I’m the lucky one who found you guys.”





I drove to the church not long after that without Noel’s family.

Brandt, my best man, was already there, waiting outside for me.

“About time,” he called as I strolled up the walk to the front doors. “Sarah’s been in there with the rest of them trying to doll your wife up for the past twenty minutes.”

“Hey, I needed to make an entrance,” I told him with a wink, frowning when I spotted the boutonniere pinned to his lapel already. It just didn’t seem right that he got his flower before I did. I hated being second. “Where’d you get that?”

He rolled his eyes but took my arm, leading me inside. “This way.”

Inside, we found the wedding coordinator, and she got me all flowered up only for Julianna’s father to come storming my way.

“Where the hell have you been, kid? We thought you were going to be a no-show.”