“What’s going on?” I whispered back. Both girls looked up at their mama with big smiles.
“Well, I’m going to say it if she won’t.” Dylan shrugged, and Ashlan gave her the slightest nod. “This one got knocked up, too. We’ve been waiting to tell you today, but we were supposed to wait until after the wedding.”
“Are you kidding? Hugh and I love babies, and we’re both thrilled to hear you guys are growing your families. That’s what today is all about, right? Family and love and all being together.”
“Damn it, Lila Mae James. I mean Lila Mae Reynolds,” Delilah said as she swiped at her face. “Why do you always have to make everything so sweet? Sloane, you need to fix my makeup.”
“All right. Are there any more baby announcements before I clean up this mess?” Sloane said with her hands on her hips.
Charlotte chuckled. “Nothing to report over here. The twins keep me plenty busy.” She glanced at the stroller with her two sleeping little angels.
“Hey, if I got lucky enough to have one of each on my first try, I think I’d be done,” Sloane said before turning her attention back to her makeup sprawled on the counter.
“Um.” Vivian winced. “I haven’t even told my sisters yet because we literally found out yesterday. But baby number three is officially on board. I knew something was up when I was craving all those cupcakes these last few weeks.”
There was lots of squealing and laughing and hugging going on.
“What in the world are they putting in that Honey Mountain water?” I teased, and we took turns hugging one another all over again.
It was exactly how it should be today.
The love in this room was impossible to miss.
Vivian, Dylan, Ashlan, Everly, and Charlotte all grabbed the little ones and made their way out the door. They wanted to go see Hugh before they found their seats.
We finished getting ready, and Lila stood up when her father knocked on the door.
Delilah shook out Lila’s long train, and we got emotional at the sight of her.
“It’s time,” Sabrina, the wedding planner, said. “Let’s get you all lined up.”
Georgia and I kissed Lila’s cheek as my mom whispered something in her ear and hugged her one last time. The three of us headed out first to go find Hugh.
Lincoln and Wyle were just walking outside to take their seats when he saw me. He tugged me close and kissed me. “You look fucking stunning.”
“You look pretty good yourself, handsome.”
He held on to my fingers before pulling away and winking. I watched him walk off in his black suit beside Maddox’s brother.
I had a vision of this being me and Lincoln someday.
I’d never been the girl that sat around dreaming about my wedding day. I was always so focused on volleyball and school and then on my career. But lately, I thought about it.
This was the first man that I ever saw myself with long-term.
I wanted things I’d never wanted before.
And it was making it difficult to choose where I wanted to accept my next position. Football Live had interviewed me remotely, and they’d offered me a great job. I’d be focusing primarily on football if I signed with them, and they’d come with a very impressive package.
But now, Audrey from Stride Forward was also in the mix, and I’d had such an amazing experience working for her when I was in college.
Sports Today was the holy grail in the world of sports. I’d dreamed of working for them someday and never thought in a million years that it would happen this quickly. They were having me come to the city next week for an interview. It was the place every sports journalist wanted to work. I wasn’t as certain about the package, as the man I’d been in touch with was very focused on the story I’d written about Lincoln, but he insisted it would be wrapped in a full-time offer.
Well, I’d know soon enough where I’d be living for the next few years.
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.