Tied with Me (With Me in Seattle, #6)(9)

“This is a wedding, dude,” Will replies. “Feelings are running rampant around here.”

“Well, in that case, now’s as good a time as any to give a toast.”

And get your focus off of me, for f*ck’s sake.

I walk to the center of the yard and motion to Alecia, who speaks into her wrist, and magically, the music hushes.

“Okay, everyone, it’s time for a toast,” I announce in a loud voice. Everyone turns to me, and I tuck one hand in my pocket and shift awkwardly.

I’ve never been comfortable being the center of attention. That’s Will’s job.

“First, I want to say congratulations to both of you.” I turn my eyes to Caleb as he stands behind his bride and wraps his arms around her waist with his chin resting on her shoulder. “You each went through your own private hell to get where you are. To find each other. And, honestly, I can’t think of two people who deserve to be happy more than you.”

Brynna’s eyes fill with tears, but I keep going.

“Brynna, you’ve been a part of our family for a while now. I know that I’ve thought of you as a sister for quite some time. Your daughters, despite being little extortionists, are beautiful and wonderful, just like their mother. You have the strength and humor to put up with this sometimes overwhelming family, and we love you. It’s my pleasure to officially welcome you to our family.”

There are whoops and hollers as everyone applauds. When the noise dies, I continue.

“Caleb, you’re not just my little brother. You’re my best friend.”

“Hey!” Will interrupts, but I ignore him and continue.

“You’re here, whole and healthy, thank God, because you were meant to make Brynna and her girls yours. I believe that. I’m just glad you pulled your head out of your ass and realized it yourself.”

“Love you, too, bro,” he replies softly.

“You’re my hero,” I tell him earnestly and with a strong voice. Our brothers and Jules all nod and murmur in agreement. “So, to Brynna and Caleb.” I raise my water, and everyone follows suit. “May you always be as happy as you are today.”

“Here, here!” our father exclaims.

“And now for the gifts!” Jules announces and claps her hands.

Dom steps forward with a grin. It’s still surreal to look at him and know that he’s my brother. Where the rest of us are all fair, with blond to dark blond hair, Dom is dark, with black hair. But he shares our blue eyes.

“You know that I own a villa in Tuscany,” he begins. Brynna’s eyes widen, and Caleb laughs. “I’d like for you to spend two weeks there. Enjoy it. You’ll have Maria, who will come in to cook your meals, but other than that, it’ll just be the two of you.”

“We’re keeping the kids!” Bryn’s dad calls out.

“Is Maria a good cook?” Will asks, earning a punch in the arm by Meg. “What? Maybe we should go there, too.”

“Thank you so much,” Brynna replies and blushes when Dom plants a kiss on her cheek, earning a growl from Caleb.

“That’s not all,” Luke adds. “You’re going to need to get there. We,” he gestures to the rest of the siblings, “have all pitched in to charter a private jet, so you can go whenever it’s convenient for you.”

“You don’t have to—” Caleb begins, but Nate interrupts.

“One thing you know about us, we don’t do anything we don’t want to. We want to.”

“So you just decide when you want to go, and it’s yours,” Dom informs them.

“But until then,” Natalie joins in, a wide smile on her beautiful face, “we’ve reserved a room for you at a bed-and-breakfast at the beach. You can go have as much sex as you want over the next four days.”

“Thank you all, so much,” Brynna replies with tears in her eyes, hugging everyone in turn.

“Let’s dance, sweetheart.” I hold my hand out to her and lead her to the grass where the music has started again. Need You Now by Lady Antebellum.

Appropriate.

I pull Brynna into my arms, and we begin to sway with the music.

“How are you feeling?” I ask her.

“Happy,” she replies with a grin.

“That’s not what I mean,” I respond, and she nods. She knows I’m referring to the injuries she sustained in the car accident a few weeks ago.

“I’m good, Matt. Much better.”

“Good.”

“Are you going to tell me about her?” Brynna asks with a knowing smile.

I don’t even bother pretending that I don’t know what she’s talking about.

“I hardly know her.”

“Didn’t seem that way to me.”

“It’s true.” I look over her shoulder when Nate swings Maddie up onto his back and runs around the yard with her, making her giggle incessantly.

“She’s a really sweet woman. I like her. Do you want her number?”

“I have it,” I reply and smile at her warmly. I never got around to getting it from Nic when I ran out of her apartment two weeks ago, but it wasn’t hard to track her down, since I know where she lives.

“You know where she works now,” she reminds me.