On the Shore (Cottonwood Cove, #3)(76)

I turned my attention to my brother as he and all the guys walked out.

Hugh looked so handsome in his black tuxedo, his long hair wavy and resting on his shoulders, just like it always did. Lila wasn’t the type of bride to demand he cut it off for the wedding or pull it back in an elastic band. She loved my brother exactly as he was, and he loved her just as fiercely in return.

Cage was Hugh’s best man, and then Finn, Lila’s brother Travis, Brax, Dylan’s husband Wolf, and Maddox were his groomsmen.

Hugh walked over to me and Georgia as Wolf strode beside him. We took turns hugging and turned our attention back to our brother. “You both look gorgeous. Did you see the girls? We’ve got more babies coming into the family.”

“Yes. We’re so excited,” I said, squeezing Wolf’s hand.

“Congrats.” Georgia beamed.

“Thank you. I couldn’t be happier.” Wolf nodded.

“Did Dylan tell you what they’re naming the baby?”

“No,” we both said at the same time, looking from our brother to Wolf.

Hugh reached into his tuxedo pocket and pulled out a onesie. “They gave me an early wedding gift.”

He held it up, and it read: I’m named after my Uncle Hugh!

“Oh my gosh. Two Hughs, huh?” Georgia clapped her hands together. “That’s amazing.”

“He’s a pretty cool dude to be named after,” Wolf said with a nod. “And Dylan said she liked the idea of having a Wolf and a Bear in the house.”

We all shared a laugh.

“Pretty special,” Hugh said, and he used the back of his knuckle to dab his eye as if something were in it. But we knew better than that.

“That’s an honor. Your name lives on.” I pushed up to kiss his cheek. “Happy wedding day, brother.”

“Thank you. And thanks for standing up beside Lila. She loves you both like you’re her own sisters.”

“We feel the same,” I said, with no hesitation.

“Okay, Mama. I’m going to walk you down to sit with Dad.” Hugh wrapped his arms around our mother before offering his arm for her to hold on to, and he led her out the door to where everyone was seated.

There were rows of chairs with a walkway between them. The views of the water were breathtaking, and a gorgeous arch wrapped in pink and white flowers with greenery threaded all around it sat at the end of the aisle.

Once Hugh returned, he nodded at their wedding planner.

“All right. Let’s do this,” Sabrina said as the violinist started to play.

One by one, we each walked down the aisle.

Georgia and Maddox.

Me and Brax.

Rina and Wolf.

Shay and Travis.

Sloane and Finn.

Delilah and Cage.

Gracie made her way down the aisle, dropping flower petals along the way and looking like a little princess. She took her seat beside my parents, and my mom pulled her onto her lap.

Every time I looked over at Hugh, he’d smile at me, and I was unable to hold back the tears. My brother was one of my best friends, and seeing him find his happily ever after did something to me. He was the first of the five of us to get married, and he’d found his forever in Lila.

They were made for one another.

I searched the crowd and found Lincoln and Wyle sitting with my cousins. And Lincoln’s gaze locked with mine.

Just like it always did.

The wedding song began to play, and I pulled my gaze from him as Lila made her way down the aisle. She looked like a princess, with her dress swooshing around her.

The sun was just going down behind the clouds, and the sky was a mix of yellow and orange. A slight breeze moved around us, and it was a perfect evening for an outdoor wedding. I glanced over at the ocean in the distance. The cove was a special place for all of us.

My attention returned to the gorgeous woman making her way toward my brother.

Hugh moved to stand in front of her as he shook hands with Tate James, Lila’s father, and smiled down at Lila. Tears were streaming down her face, and he used his thumbs to swipe them away.

“They’re happy tears, Bear,” she croaked.

“I know, baby.”

They moved to stand in front of Father Davis, who was marrying them today. They said their vows, and Ever and Hawk’s son, Jackson, waddled down the aisle with a pillow holding the rings.

They were pronounced husband and wife, and everyone cheered.

My gaze found Lincoln’s once again, and in that moment, I knew that this man was not only my right now… he was my forever.





twenty-eight





Lincoln





I couldn’t believe it was almost time to head to New York for official training camp. I had a realtor looking for homes not too far from our training facility, and my mother had already found a house not far from the city, and she’d be making the move next month.

I’d worked my ass off as far as my workouts had gone this summer, and I was definitely in the best shape of my life. I was ready to make this change and play for the Thunderbirds. There was only one thing that wasn’t clear, and that was what would happen with me and Brinkley and where we’d live. She didn’t know where she was going to be, and I was determined to show her that it really didn’t matter.