by D. Kelly
Noah and I had some ups and downs, but one day—after being fed up with me, or maybe it was a last-ditch effort to bridge the gap between us—Noah invited me to Disney World. That day may have been the best day of my life to date. There was no drama or fighting, only fun and brotherly love. Mac was with us, which made it even more enjoyable. We bought out the park and shipped tons of toys and gifts home for the girls. I also invested a small fortune into a VIP family vacation for all of us next year.
Noah chastised me over it, but once I told him I wanted it to be our new family tradition, he let it go. I think he realized it was my way of apologizing and admitting how much I missed him.
When I had free time, I used it to work on our foundation. If Noah wasn’t off with Mel at appointments, he covertly helped me. Working together strengthened our bond and brought us closer than we’d been in a long time. As excited as we were to share the project with Mel, Noah wanted to wait until the dorm was complete before bringing her into the loop. Since we’d already waited so long, he wanted to make it special.
As usual, I spent time during the day chatting with Luther and Harold while they were driving. Over the years, the three of us have become friends—hanging out with them is always a blast. The two of them are full of stories. Sometimes, they talk about their earlier days with other bands, but we usually talk about their families and life in general.
At times, I feel guilty we’re keeping them from their families, but Harold is quick to remind me everyone has to have a job and this one is theirs.
In April, Darren and Belle’s daughter Cadence made her entrance into the world and stole our hearts. Her tiny little fingers wrapped around mine the night she was born, and I think they wrapped around my heart at the same time. Suddenly, life seemed different. We were raising the next generation of our family, and it made me realize I wanted more than random groupies in my life. I wanted more, period. Not that I was ready to go looking for anyone because, every once in a while, I still ached for Amelia, but I wasn’t longing for her. It was progress.
My friendship with Mel blossomed. It was like the night at the hotel never happened. Her happiness exuded from every pore, and her belly seemed to appear overnight. We had a small moment between us, but it wasn’t a romantic one. I think it was her extending the olive branch of familial love and me accepting it—happily.
The two of us were on our bus doing our weekly interview. Mel had just sat down on the opposite end of the couch I was already on when she gasped.
“Sawyer, come here!”
I wasn’t sure if she was excited or if something was wrong, so I jumped up and went to her. She grabbed my hand and put it on her belly, and that’s when I felt it. Little Nate was kicking around inside her.
“That’s him. My nephew is strong.” My smile was as wide as hers at that moment, and she covered my hand with hers.
“You Weston men start your hell-raising early. I can’t imagine the trouble the two of you must have given your mom while she was pregnant.”
Her hand resting on top of mine didn’t hurt. The love between us had shifted, and it felt good to share this moment with her and not be drowning in unrequited love.
“Mom said it was like we were always playing kickball and her stomach was the ball.”
Mel laughed, released my hand, and we went back to work.
That moment was one I’ll never forget. The tide had shifted, at least for the moment.
My phone dings with a notification from Facebook. The old Sawyer would have rolled his eyes, but the new me is smiling as I read Noah’s most recent post.
You’ve probably seen this photo already, but I decided to start posting important updates to my page instead of letting only the media run with them. This is my fiancée, Amelia Greyson, and as you probably already know, we’re expecting. I’ve never used this page for much more than keeping up with my friends who I rarely get to see. I’m hoping that will change after our tour ends. If you’re on this page, it’s because you’re my friend and you’re important to me. I’ve never posted much about the band because what I do with my life isn’t who I am. This photo portrays me to the fullest. I’m a family man and always have been. This is your first look into my new family, but not your last. #BabyWestonComingSoon
I can’t even pretend to hate the hashtag because it’s completely Noah, and I’m almost as excited as he is about their baby. He’s planned to have the nursery decorated as a surprise for Mel, and since our shows just got canceled for a week due to tornado damage, I promised I’d oversee the project.
Noah took the opportunity to whisk Mel off to some island paradise where they can enjoy being a couple a little while longer before baby Nate makes his appearance into the world.
“God, can I tell you how excited I am to be home?” Belle squeals excitedly.
Ryan flew home with the rest of us for some R&R while Mac is going to be getting his R&R with Noah and Mel.
“You two are going to be busy making the rounds with Cadence all week. You’ll be wishing to go back out on tour,” Wyatt points out as Darren grabs a bottle for Cadence.
Darren narrows his eyes at him. “No way. Other than my parents, everyone can come to us. I’m tired as shit.”
“Amen to that. I’m looking forward to sleeping in my own bed with the sounds of the Pacific Ocean lulling me to sleep at night,” I say, leaning my head back against the headrest as Ryan navigates the freeway traffic.
“I’m just looking forward to spending a week with Sam.” Warren yawns then chuckles. “Well, maybe after a few z’s.”
Nobody will directly blame Cadence because we wouldn’t have it any other way, but since she arrived, I think everyone is a little sleep deprived.
Anna and Sam were in L.A. this week anyway, so they’re going to meet us at the house when they get off work. By the time we unload, everyone heads to their rooms for a nap. We’ve all learned by now that if Cadence is sleeping, we should too.
Once I get into my room, I kick off my shoes, open the windows, and strip down to my boxers before crawling under the blankets.
I wake up refreshed and make a quick call to Jordan to see what’s going on at the bar tonight. After that’s figured out, I get dressed after a quick shower and head straight to the kitchen for some food and a beer.
“Hey, sexy. Damn, I missed you.” Her voice reaches my ears before she hugs me from behind. Laughing, I pull her around to my front and wrap her tightly in my arms.
“Shh, don’t let your husband hear how you proposition me. He’s already jealous I had you first, Bethie.”
Her laugh is music to my ears, but she shoves against me. “You did not!”
“Did too,” I say, reaching for a beer. “Want one?”
“Yes, please.” She sits up at the counter and waits for me to open our drinks.
I pass her a beer. “Where is Wyatt?”
“Shower.” Her blush is all the evidence I need to know what they’ve been up to the past few hours.
“Why didn’t you join him?”
“Because he passed out afterward and I wasn’t tired. I showered while he slept, and when he finally woke up, I came out here when I heard you leave your room.”
“Aww, did you miss me, Bethie?”
“Not as much as you missed me, I’m sure.”
Leaning down, I place a kiss on top of her head. “You’re probably right about that.”
“Stop mauling my wife.”
I look up at Wyatt’s smiling face. This guy couldn’t fake being mad if he tried. But I do as he asks and release her because I know she’d rather be in his arms than mine.
“I’m going to head down to the bar later and hang out with J for a bit. You guys want to come?”
They exchange a look. “Sure, that sounds fun,” Wyatt answers and finishes off Anna’s beer.
“Hey!”
“You snooze you lose.” He laughs but reaches into the fridge, grabbing another one for her.
Darren walks into the kitchen with tousled ha
ir and a loud yawn.
“There’s the proud papa.” Anna jumps up and hugs him. “Where’s your little angel?”
“Sleeping.” Darren sits at the table, laying his head on top of it. “They should really warn you about how exhausting it is to be a parent.”
Anna giggle-snorts, and Wyatt does his best to hold back his laughter, probably because he’s experienced it firsthand these past six weeks. I’m about to give him a sarcastic reply when my phone rings. I answer it as I head to my room.
“Hey, Mel, sick of my brother already?”
“Not quite. Sawyer, I need your help. I really messed up.”
My heart races. I’d do anything to help her, but where is Noah?
“What can I do, Mel? Anything you need.”
“Here’s the thing. Noah and I are getting married tomorrow.”
I reach for the wall to steady myself as her words settle into my soul. A deep sense of sadness settles over me, but fury like I’ve never felt before quickly takes over.
“The hell you are. Not without me. What were you two thinking?”
“Noah was respecting my wishes. This doesn’t have anything to do with him.”
Fuck. I close my door and exhale. Mel doesn’t want me at her wedding, and my twin brother was completely okay with that. I blink back tears as I fight to get the words out. “Do you hate me so much that you don’t want me at your wedding because of what I said?”
She gasps. “I don’t hate you, Sawyer. I was trying to spare you … and myself. I was worried you’d be upset and get drunk and it seemed like a recipe for disaster. I know I hurt you that night and I’m sorry, but Noah needs you and I’m trying to make it right.”
I’ve wrecked everything. I thought we’d gotten past this, but those feelings are back at the surface, and if she’s this worried, things must not have been as good as I thought they were.
“We really fucked this up, didn’t we? I’m over it, Mel, I promise. You guys are perfect together and you’re having a baby. I don’t want my nephew ever finding out how reckless I acted. But it would shatter me to miss Noah’s wedding.” The sound of her crying guts me.
“Can you help me, Sawyer? Can you get everyone together and here by tomorrow? Including Eli. I know you don’t like him, but other than Belle he’s my only family.”
She thinks I hate Eli? Odd, but I can’t worry about that right now. This wedding is my only focus.
“You’ve got us now, Mel, don’t you ever forget it. Tell me how this is going to work and I’ll make it happen.”
We spend the next few minutes talking, and she walks me through everything. I’ve got to get my entire family to Vegas in the middle of the night and outfit myself and all my brothers in tuxes. I reassure her we’ll make this work and agree to email from now on with updates. After we hang up, I fall into my chair, stunned silent.
I’ve got a lot to do and not a lot of time, but right now, I’m numb.
A voice inside me is screaming for me to stop the wedding. A few minutes later, there is a knock at my door, and when I don’t answer it, the door opens and Belle steps inside, locking it behind her. She comes to me and throws her arms around me, and I don’t know why, but that is my breaking point.
She doesn’t let me go as she tries to ease my pain. “Shhh. It’s okay, Sawyer. Let it go, and then we’ll talk.”
This isn’t like before, and I don’t need to cry on her shoulder for long, but somehow, Belle understands me in a way I don’t even understand myself. When I finally move away, she pulls up a chair and sits across from me.
She reaches over and puts her hands on my knees. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. It’s not like we didn’t know it was coming.”
Belle looks at me with sadness in her eyes. “But it’s not just the wedding, is it?”
“How did you know?”
She sighs and crosses her feet at the ankles as she leans back in her chair. “Because if I’m mad as hell about being excluded and not knowing, I know you must be fucking fuming.”
“I am, but do I have the right to be?”
She looks at me like I’m crazy. “Hell yeah, you do!”
“Come on, Belle … I begged Mel not to marry Noah and confessed my undying love and devotion to her—while she was pregnant no less. She was so disgusted with me, she almost threw up. I thought it was in the past, that she’d forgiven me, but it’s clear I was wrong.”
With determination in her eyes and a flare of anger, she catches my gaze. “I’m going to break all the best friend codes right now, but it’s necessary. Amelia is terrified of repeating her parents’ mistakes. That isn’t to say she doesn’t love Noah, but she wasn’t disgusted with you, Sawyer. She was freaked out because she’s pregnant, but in the past, it’s been because she’s terrified of what she feels for you.”
“She said that?”
Belle’s tone softens, “No, but she didn’t have to. I know Mel as well as I know myself. Her feelings for you have scared her since that first kiss. Sawyer, she does love Noah with her whole heart. Running from what she felt for you led her to her happily ever after. Even so, if you’re still unsettled, maybe you should speak up.”
I run my hands through my hair and slump down in my chair. “I’m not sure what I want anymore. My feelings for Mel, that infatuation or whatever it was, it’s almost gone. But when she told me they were getting married, I couldn’t catch my breath, Belle. Call it guilt or sadness, but I don’t think they should be getting married if she isn’t comfortable being around me. Not because I should come first but because I think we need to tell Noah what happened. It’s not fair to Mel to have to keep all this inside. And it’s not fair to Noah to have his family removed from the best day of his life because of something I did. She should punish me, not them, and sure as hell not Noah.”
She blows out a breath and rolls her eyes. “Mel really fucked all of this up. Amelia Greyson loves you. You are one of her best friends, and I know she cherishes each moment she spends with you. But there are times she can be irrational and make things bigger than they are, and this is one of those instances. Unfortunately, time isn’t on our side, so you have to decide right now what it’s going to be. Are you going to stop the wedding and potentially destroy your relationships with them? Or are we going to bust our asses and help them celebrate the best day of their lives? I need to know if I’m in charge of buying dresses or doing damage control.”
Her smile calms my heart a bit. “Wedding, definitely wedding. I’m going to need Eli’s number. Why does she think I hate him?”
With a shrug, Belle pulls out her phone. “Maybe she figures you have Noah’s back because he doesn’t like Eli?”
“Hm, maybe,” I answer as she texts me his number.
“Call Eli. I’m going to gather the troops in the kitchen, and we’re going to split up tasks. Once we’ve figured all of that out, you need to call your family and get them ready to meet us at the airport as soon as we have a plane ready. Saylor, Emme, and Cadence need dresses, so have Diane call me so we can work something out.”
Belle stands and bends over to give me one last hug. “You’re a good man, Sawyer. Don’t ever forget that. Any woman would be lucky to have you.”
When the door closes behind her, I let out an exhale and firm my resolve. Mel might not have wanted me there, but I’m going to make sure this wedding knocks their socks off. Maybe then she’ll realize we can be family and friends. I won’t fuck shit up for her and Noah—not now and not ever again. I dial Eli’s number and hope he can make this wedding.
“Hello?”
“Eli?”
He hesitates. “Yeah. Who’s this?”
“Sorry, man, it’s Sawyer Weston. Belle gave me your number. I need your help.”
Eli laughs. “You need my help? I’ll bite. What’s up?”
“Are you on tour right now?”
“Actually, I’m at my L.A. house for a couple of days.”
“Is Rory with you?”
“No. Is everything okay?” Concern fills his voice.
“I’m sorry, there’s just a lot going on right now. Look, Mel and Noah thought it would be a good idea to go to Vegas and elope, but she just called and needs us to help put on a wedding by tomorrow afternoon. Mel asked me to get you there, but I was hoping you’d be willing to walk her down the aisle. I’m sure my dad would do it, but you’ve known her the longest. I think it would mean more to her if you gave her away.”
“They’re getting married?”
“Yeah, and I haven’t told my family yet. You were my first call since I figured you might be the hardest to nail down.”
“Ah, that’s why you wanted to know about Rory. I’m down, Sawyer. Whatever you need, whatever Mel needs. Why don’t I pack a bag and come over? Do you guys have a jet ready? Want me to book one?”
“Yeah, come over. I’m going to have Warren deal with the plane since he’s got the connections and because my family is large. Belle’s assigning tasks, so I’m sure she’ll put you to work.”
Eli laughs. “With Belle in charge, everything will work out fine. I’ll see you in a bit. Thanks for calling, Sawyer. It means a lot. Do you think Noah will be okay with me being there?”
“When Noah sees how happy Mel is, he won’t care one bit.”
Family
“I could just strangle him if I weren’t so happy for them,” Mom says as she fusses with her pearl necklace.
We managed to get everything and everyone together and to the chapel in The Aria, and now we’re just waiting for the happy couple to show up.
“Mom, relax. We’re here now, and Noah had better at least pretend he’s happy to see us,” Diane says as she ties the bow on Saylor’s dress for the third time.
“Of course he’s going to be happy, Mommy. Uncle Noah loves us.”
Jesus, this little girl has a heart of gold. I swoop her into my arms, spin her around, and kiss her cheek. “You’re right, Saylor. Uncle Noah is going to be very happy.”
Maybe if I keep telling myself that instead of wondering if it’s best to stop the wedding, I’ll be better off. Mom isn’t the only one who wants to strangle Noah. No one was happy to hear about the failed elopement.