Crazy Stupid Bromance
Page 29
“It should go to family,” Candi said. “You’re family.”
Tears pricked her eyes again, and Alexis sought the comfort of Noah’s hand. He wrapped her fingers in his and squeezed. “I—thank you.”
Lauren hugged her own torso. “Nothing I say will ever be enough to tell you how sorry I am for everything and how grateful I am that despite it all, you did this for him. For us.”
“Lauren—”
“It would be disingenuous of me to say that everything is going to be normal and fine after this. I can’t promise that. I’m . . . I’m still reeling from all of this, just like you are, I suppose.”
Empathy flared. Alexis didn’t resent it this time. It was part of who she was, and it always would be. “It couldn’t have been easy for you to find out about me the way that you did.”
Lauren smiled in thanks. “I don’t know what happens now, or if you even want anything to happen now. But I hope that you will give us a chance.”
The last part came out weak, uncertain, as if she was afraid how Alexis would respond. Alexis looked up at Noah. His smile was reassuring, strong, and it healed her fully. No matter what, he would be there. He would always be there. And they could get through anything together.
“Well,” Lauren said. “I should . . . I should get back to Elliott and leave you two alone.”
Her shoes squeaked as she turned to leave, Candi right beside her.
“Lauren?”
She stopped and turned around.
“I’d like that,” Alexis said. “I’d like to give all of us a chance.”
Lauren nodded, her smile real and grateful. “I’m glad.”
After they left, Noah returned to his seat alongside her on the bed. “That was a nice gesture.”
Alexis set the ring on the table and settled again against her pillow. “It was, but just so you know, you are my family.” She stifled a yawn as fatigue made another run. “And my answer is yes.”
He brushed his thumb across her bottom lip. “Yes, what?”
“Yes, I’ll marry you.”
He laughed thickly. “Did I propose? I don’t remember.”
“You will. And my answer will be yes.”
He dipped his head and whispered against her lips, “You’re not supposed to make any major decisions in recovery. Didn’t you read the fine print?”
“Then ask me again when the drugs wear off. My answer will be the same.” She tugged him close and kissed him. “But I promise not to make you pick out the flowers.”
“Why not? I’ve gotten really good at it.”
Alexis let her hand drift down his chest and stop just above the waist of his jeans.
He groaned. “Six weeks, really?”
She sighed and closed her eyes. “I was exaggerating to get you to kiss me.”
Noah chuckled in that low, warm way of his. She felt the tug of the blanket as he pulled it higher to cover her torso and then heard a soft hum as he lowered her bed flat again. She wanted to open her eyes but couldn’t. The warm, dark water was too tempting.
He kissed her forehead. “Go to sleep. I’ll be here when you wake up.”
She hmm’d a quiet thank-you as darkness dragged her under.
But just before it closed in fully, his lips found hers once again. “What’re friends for?”
EPILOGUE
“You promised not to laugh.”
Alexis peered up from the table where just moments earlier, she’d dropped her forehead out of pure desperation. She might have actually burst an incision. Noah rested his hands on the back of her chair and blocked her in as he bent to kiss her.
“You should have warned me,” she breathed against his lips. “I had no idea what I was promising.”
Mack and his attendants had just finished their surprise dance routine, complete with hip thrusts, an over-the-head toss of their tuxedo jackets, and a booty smack.
“I’m glad you enjoyed it, but I’ve never hated anything as much in my entire life.”
“You had fun. Admit it.”
“I had fun making you laugh.” He kissed her again, lingering just long enough for her to start looking forward to the end of the reception. They were getting naked tonight for the first time since the surgery.
Noah dragged an empty chair close to hers. He sat down and hooked his arm over her shoulder. “You doing okay?” he asked, nuzzling her hair. His softer tone meant he was serious this time. He’d been hovering over her for weeks like she was going to break. He wouldn’t even let her carry her own coffee mug in the morning, and he’d damn near tackled Mack at the rehearsal dinner when Mack tried to pick her up in a bear hug.
“I’m perfect,” she murmured, burrowing her nose into his neck. His skin smelled warm and tangy from exertion, but so uniquely Noah. She ran her fingertips along the hard, smooth line of his jaw. She was still getting used to the clean-shaven version of the man she loved.
With a contented sigh, she leaned her head on his shoulder. “I can’t believe Mack pulled this off. He should seriously become a wedding planner.”
“Dear God, don’t tell him that. He’ll make all of us join him.”
“But you guys did such an amazing job. I’ve never seen such a beautiful wedding reception.”
“Ours will be better.”
Alexis leaned back so she could peer up at him. “Noah Logan, did you just propose to me?”
“You tell me.” He winked when he said it.
“I think you did. And the answer, as you know, is yes.”
He dropped a kiss on her upturned lips. She smiled, because she knew someday he’d propose for real, and she’d say yes for real, and they would live happily ever after.
A disgusted noise to their left brought them apart. “God, you guys are as gross as them.”
Sonia dropped into a chair at the table and waved her hand toward Liv and Mack, who were so wrapped up in each other on the dance floor that the rest of the room might as well have disappeared.
Colton suddenly jogged over and leaned down, hands pressed to the table and color high on his cheeks. “Holy shit, you guys. You are not going to believe it.”
It must’ve been something really big, because this was the first time he’d left the side of Gretchen all night. Something was definitely brewing between them, and Alexis planned to get the full story out of Gretchen as soon as possible.
“What won’t we believe?” Noah asked.
“She’s real.”
Alexis scrunched up her face. “Who is real?”
“The Russian’s wife!”
Noah stood and looked over Colton’s shoulder. “Holy shit.”
Alexis peered around him and followed his gaze. A tall, impossibly gorgeous woman stood just inside the entrance to the ballroom. Next to her, looking both shocked and slightly pitiful, was the Russian.
“I thought she couldn’t come to the wedding,” Noah said.
“Looks to me like he wasn’t expecting her,” Alexis said.
As if on cue, the woman turned on one dangerously high heel and began to walk out. The Russian raced after her.
“Uh-oh,” Noah breathed. “That doesn’t look good.”
“Maybe we should follow them,” Colton said.
Noah shook his head. “Leave them alone. Something’s obviously wrong.”
“Oh, I hope not,” Alexis said, leaning on the table. “He’s so tenderhearted. It would destroy him if he’s having marriage trouble.”
Colton smirked at Noah and left the table. Noah returned to his seat, and Alexis once again rested her head on him. “How long should we stay?”
“If that’s an offer to leave so I can finally get that dress off you, then my answer is now.”
She laughed and brushed the tip of her nose against his jaw. “Looking forward to that, are you?”
Noah’s long fingers slipped inside the back of her dress. “You should too. I have some fun stuff planned for you tonight.”
“Fun stuff we’ve done before?” Her voice was suddenly breathless.
Noah caught her earlobe with this lips. “And some that we haven’t.”
Alexis tilted her head and sighed as he kissed behind her ear. “And where did you learn these new fun things?”
He turned her face toward his. And just before lowering his mouth, he murmured, “The Bromance Book Club, honey.”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This was a very personal project for me because it tells a story I know well. Shortly after I married my husband, he donated a kidney to his sister in an emergency, fast-tracked donation. Just two months after finding out he was the only genetic match in his family, the surgery was successfully performed at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
So my first thanks has to be to the doctors, nurses, and entire transplant team who cared for him then—and the amazing health care professionals who continue to take care of transplant donors and recipients today. Every donation experience is unique. And though I had to employ some creative license in a few details in Alexis’s kidney donation for the sake of the timeline, the heart of the story is based on firsthand experience and a simple fact: living-organ donation can save lives. For more information, including how to become a kidney donor and the donation process, please visit the National Kidney Foundation at kidney.org.
As always, enormous thanks to my agent, Tara Gelsomino, for the reassuring patience and unwavering belief in the Bromance boys. Equal gratitude to my editor, Kristine E. Swartz, who knows how to talk a panicky writer off the edge. And to the entire marketing, publicity, and sales teams at Berkley Romance—you are the best in the business.
Thank you to my friends—Meika, Christina, Alyssa, Victoria, and all the women of my beloved Binderhaus. I couldn’t do this without you.
And finally to my family. Thanks for putting up with me. You’re the reason I do this.
Photo by Lauren Perry of Perrywinkle Photography
Lyssa Kay Adams read her first romance novel at a very young age when she swiped one from her grandmother’s stash. After a long journalism career in which she had to write too many sad endings, she decided to return to the stories that guaranteed a happy ever after. Once described as “funny, adorable, and a wee bit heartbreaking,” Lyssa’s books feature women who always get the last word, men who aren’t afraid to cry, and animals. Lots of animals. Lyssa writes full-time from her home in Michigan, where she lives with her sportswriter husband, her wickedly funny daughter, and a spoiled Maltese who likes to be rocked to sleep like a baby. When she’s not writing, she’s cooking or driving her daughter around from one sporting event to the next. Or rocking the dog.
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