“Two hundred what?” Jesse exclaims.
“You’ll see,” my father says, taking Jesse by the arm and leading him away. “You’ll see.”
Chapter Nineteen
Jack Dumas keeps his massive, fatherly hand firmly on my shoulder as he directs me down a long, narrow hallway. We stop in front of a closed door and Jack kinda spins me around to face him. Both massive hands are now both gripping my shoulders as he looks down at me from his superior height.
He’s a big dude and I have to tilt my chin up pretty high to meet his gaze.
I feel like we’re about to have a moment.
About his daughter. Or about me. Or about his wishes for her future. Or my level of commitment.
Something to make this event… I don’t know. Worthy, maybe.
I proposed to Emma last summer. I didn’t hide a ring in a cupcake, or drop it into a glass of champagne. I didn’t have a plane write it in the sky or do it in front of a restaurant filled with people. I didn’t make up a dance or recite her a poem. I didn’t do it in front of her family.
In fact, the entire event—important as it is in the grand scheme of my life, and her life, and many other lives surrounding ours—was a small, nearly wordless moment that involved a sailboat and a stretch of sand in the middle of the water, and didn’t even come with a ring.
Because I didn’t know I was gonna do it.
We had taken Luke’s trimaran out for an afternoon sail just after Johnny got back from his failed attempt to find Charlotte Kane. It was a warm, sunny day with clear, bright-blue skies. The water was calm and there was just a little hint of wind. We rolled out the sails after motoring a few miles west, but the wind wasn’t catching them. So we just drifted, and talked, and enjoyed the sun and the break from all the crazy that comes with the last name Boston.
It was just… a nice day. A really nice day.
Emma was in a new yellow bikini she had bought the day before from her family dive shop and the way it contrasted against her long, dark hair just kinda took my breath away. She was standing on the deck gazing out at the seemingly endless horizon, dark sunglasses shading her eyes, and smiling.
That’s what I remember most about that day.
Emma was smiling. Happy.
And I was thinking, How does she do that? How does she just… live in the moment and let the stress and worry of the wider world slip away?
Johnny came home from his trip. He brought a girl with him and she seemed cool. He seemed satisfied with her, at least. And he told us things were gonna change, but he couldn’t tell us why. He told us he failed. He told us that there’s a lot more to this story. And then he dropped it. Joey and I were confused, but also relieved.
Relieved that Johnny was handling things, I guess.
But the stakes were still high, the danger still real. And Emma had had no idea that I came with all this baggage. So how could she possibly be happy?
But then I thought, Well, I’m happy. So why can’t she be happy?
Does internal satisfaction depend on external factors?
You can’t ever know if you make someone happy. They can tell you with words or you can assume that you do, but you can’t ever really know what’s going on inside someone else’s head.
But in that moment, I knew.
I knew the meaning of happy.
Happiness comes from being right where you’re supposed to be. Happiness comes from that feeling of total acceptance and belonging. Happiness is a moment. It doesn’t come with a guarantee. There’s no promise of more to come, it just is.
And every moment of every day you get to choose to feel it or not.
I said, “Hey. You wanna swim out to that sandbar with me?” And I nodded my head in the general direction of a thin stretch of white sand surrounded by a swaying ocean of hidden life.
She turned, slowly, still smiling. Didn’t say a word. Didn’t say yes, didn’t say no. Just slid her sunglasses down her face, tossed them onto a nearby table, climbed up on the railing of the side deck, and dove straight into the water.
That’s when I realized something.
That’s when the meaning of happy hit me.
Emma Dumas is my happy.
I climbed up on the rail and dove in after her. She was floating on her back, just smiling up at the sky as she drifted in the middle of this massive body of water. A tiny speck in a universe of everything.
So small. But so big too. Because she was my everything.
We swam out, dragged ourselves out of the heavy water and collapsed onto the sandbar. My arm was underneath her and her head was resting on my shoulder. Our feet were still in the surf and every ten seconds or so, a wave would crash over our knees and remind us to be happy.
Remind us to cherish the moments.
We stayed like that for a long while. Saying nothing. Doing nothing.
And then I took a deep breath and I said, “You’re my happy, Emma. We could be drifting in the middle of nothingness and as long as you were there, I’d be happy.”
She propped herself up on one elbow and looked down into my eyes. She leaned down, kissed me on the mouth, and whispered, “Yes.” Then she placed one flat hand on my cheek and kissed me again.
We lingered in that kiss for many lifetimes. All of it suddenly became clear.
We were in love and we were getting married.
There was a more formal announcement later that evening in front of our family and friends and that was perfect too.
All our people in this one place, for this short interlude of time. Something between then and now.
And it seemed… right.
“Jesse,” Jack Dumas says, as he looks down at me.
“Yes, sir?”
“I’m handing her over to you now.”
“I understand, sir.”
“And I know you… maybe didn’t have the best role model growing up. But I see a good man inside you, Jesse.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“And I’d just like you to know that you’re one of us now. We’re on the same side, son.”
I nod, kind of understanding, but not really getting the specifics of that declaration. Wanting to ask more questions. But then he pushes on the door, swinging it open, and on the other side is Johnny, and Joey, and Zach.
I walk forward, momentarily forgetting about Jack Dumas.
Because these three men—these three fucked-up, dangerous, rich, powerful, weak, imperfect men… they were what was missing from this day.
They look at me and I look at them.
And just like that day I proposed to Emma, we don’t need a lot of words to understand what this moment is.
It’s just… happy.
Johnny nods at me. Joey starts taking off my tie. And Zach is slipping my fancy coattail jacket down my arms.
“Shirtless,” Joey says. “Mermen get married shirtless.”
Zach slides a chair up behind me and Johnny pushes me into it
“And barefoot,” Joey adds, as Zach starts taking off my shoes and socks.
I laugh and then suddenly that dream I had the day after Emma gave me the one-up dream date comes flashing back into my head.
We were all mer-people. Emma and me. Alonzo and Johnny. Tony and Joey. Luke and Zach. Jack and Silvia. And there was Saturday night dinner. And dolphins who might’ve been dogs.
And that’s when I know that no matter what happens after this wedding is finally over, this day is perfect because we’re all here.
Together.
Johnny leans down and grabs me by the shoulders, much the same way that Jack did. He looks straight into my eyes. “He would be proud of you, Jesse. I think you should know that. He wasn’t the greatest father, but I really believe he did his best with us.”
I swallow hard and nod, suddenly overcome with emotion. Suddenly overcome with love for these brothers of mine. Because yeah. Johnny might be my only true brother in this room, but the four of us… we are the definition of brotherhood.
&nb
sp; It took a while to get here. There were many moments of silence. Many times when we were small specks floating in a huge ocean. Separate and on our own paths.
But we were never alone.
We have never been alone.
“This isn’t a second chance,” Johnny continues. “This marriage isn’t some way to make up for what you think you didn’t have. We don’t need a do-over. You understand me, Baby Boston? We’re allowed to be this way. There is no wrong or right way to love each other.” He straightens up and looks at Joey, then Zach, then me. “We’re allowed to be this way.”
And that moment is back.
The silent one.
The lingering one.
The happy one.
“Awww, man,” Zach says, pulling me to my feet and then wrapping his arms around me in a tight bear hug. “I love you, Jesse. And I want you to know that I understood what you did for me.” He pulls back, wiping a tear from his eye. “You’re the best brother a guy could ever ask for. And I didn’t even have to ask. You just… showed up.”
Joey reaches for me, putting his arms around me. He hugs me tight for several moments too long, saying nothing. Because nothing needs to be said.
We’re brothers.
That’s all we need to know.
Joey sucks in a deep breath as he releases me from his embrace. And then we’re all looking at each other.
Happy.
When my brothers walk me out to the backstage area of the aquarium, the safety officers attach weights to my legs to make it easier to stand in the tank.
I go in the water first. They lower me on one of the mermaid swings and I stand with my bare feet on the sandy bottom of the huge tank, breathing through a hose attached to a regulator, nervous and excited that this time, for sure, is our real wedding.
I know this because on the other side of the glass, everyone is here.
Mila’s husband and kids. Hannah’s boyfriend, Darrel. Natalie’s boy toys from the Christmas party the other night. I guess guy number two is gonna give this thing a shot? Maybe? He showed, at least. Gotta give him points for that.
Megan and Johnny are out there. He’s got his arms protectively around her middle. And Joey is surrounded by his… God, what do I call that group? A posse? Partners? Lovers? Doesn’t matter, I guess. They’re all here. For me or him, either way, I’ll take it.
And the Dumas family. Silvia is right up front waving a sign that says, Welcome to the family, Jesse! Which is super cute, but then again, that woman defines the word cute. Alonzo is doing that I’m-watching-you gesture with two fingers pointing to his eyes, then me.
Whatever, Lonz. You do you, dude.
Tony has his arms crossed, studying me from the other side of the glass. I’m not sure what to make of him, but I’m sure we’ll make it work. Eventually.
And Luke… Luke is pressing his open mouth against the glass, wiggling his tongue at me.
What the fuck? Freak.
But then I realize he’s actually doing that to Zach, who is standing next to me, also barefoot and shirtless, as my best man.
A splash from above me makes me look up and I see Hannah slipping into the water. Natalie and Mila enter next and then…
The swing lowers and there’s Emma and her father descending together.
He jumps in first, then helps his daughter into the water.
Her dress isn’t the one she came here in. It’s the one she designed this morning. Slim and form-fitting. Hugging all her deliciously sexy curves and specially weighted so it looks pretty in the water.
Jack Dumas kisses his daughter on the cheek before they both reach for their air hoses, and then they settle to the bottom. He takes her hand, turns, and offers it to me.
Fucking Jack Dumas. I shake my head and smile. Gonna walk that only daughter of his down the aisle even if there’s no aisle and it involves getting into a tank of water fully dressed in a tux.
I take Emma’s hand and help her float up next to me.
Then I have a moment of panic. Who will officiate? How are we gonna do this? We don’t have rings!
Then I can hear the faint sound of talking through a speaker. The ceremony is being held outside the tank, obviously. For the guests.
But you know what?
We don’t need the ceremony. We’ve done this four times today. We’re good.
And it’s kinda fitting that our marriage begins in this subdued, nearly silent, underwater world.
Because who needs words when you have happy?
I take the air regulator out of my mouth and toss it aside, then take Emma’s from her mouth too.
And I kiss her.
For the first time today, I kiss the bride.
Chapter Twenty
The details that happen after Jesse kisses me don’t really matter. It’s all the usual stuff. Zach opens his hand to reveal a set of wedding rings. Jesse puts on mine, and I his. I toss a bouquet of peach water lilies and yellow water poppies. Well, toss probably isn’t the right word. It kinda floats off about a foot, and then there’s a flurry of mermaid tails as Natalie and Hannah make a mad dash to “catch” it.
Natalie wins. She’s always been a cutthroat competitor. And she waves it around, blowing bubbles like crazy.
Then we get out of the tank and change into new clothes. Karen picked out a reception dress—and I have to admit, it’s kinda pretty. A short, yellow sundress that shows off my almost perpetual tan now that Jesse and I have been spending nearly every weekend in Key West.
My hair is blow-dried and left loose. My make-up is applied by the same professional team from the Shotgun Wedding and I come to the conclusion that Karen isn’t a kraken after all. I might even have to like her after all this effort she put into me and my happiness. She brought her whole family to Vegas for the wedding. Turns out Chauncey and Chance are about the same age as Mila’s kids, Donny and Stephanie. They spent the entire day at the resort pool.
All the Fingers’ Fantasy Wedding people are there too. The rollercoaster couple even ditched their regularly scheduled reception plans to be a part of this. The entire cast of the Treasure Island battle comes dressed as pirates and entertains the guests. Sven and his skydiving crew are drinking at the bar with my brothers, and both the bride’s and groom’s families from the Shotgun Wedding come still dressed in their wedding-day finery.
It’s… pretty fucking perfect.
Even if I didn’t plan a single moment of it.
I watch my bossy mother from across the room. She’s dancing with my father. They are the most adorable couple even though my father towers over her. She’s resting her head against his chest, eyes closed, smiling like this is the best day of her life.
And me?
Well, I’m slow-dancing with my new husband. Jesse is dressed in tan linen pants and a white linen button-down shirt that’s mostly not buttoned, showing off his spectacular tanned chest muscles.
We’re exhausted, and sore, and excited, and happy, and ready to get the fuck out of here and be alone.
Miles and Christopher are already waiting for us on the little jet. We’re spending our wedding night in the jet bedroom as we fly home for Christmas day. Everyone else is taking the Bright Berry Monster.
But we’re not going where Jesse thinks we’re going.
My mother isn’t the only Dumas woman who can plan a surprise.
Chapter Twenty-One
I walk my bride backwards as we enter the jet. And when we get inside the jet bedroom, I wink at Miles and pull the pocket doors closed.
“Finally,” I say, laughing as I kiss her mouth.
Her knees hit the edge of the mattress and she falls back onto the bed. And then I just… look at her. In that bright yellow sun dress. She put her hair up in pig tails on the way over here. Even though thirteen years have passed since that first day I saw her in Mallory Square, it feels like we’ve been together the whole time.
Hell, it feels like we’ve lived a lifetime in the past twenty-four hours.
“Mrs. Boston,” I whisper. “You are my jam.”
She giggles and sits up. Then in a flurry of movement, she’s got her dress over her head and tosses it off to the side. She grabs my shirt and pulls me onto the bed with her. I crawl up her legs and she slowly lies back until her head hits the pillow. She’s still holding my shirt with tight fists. Like she never wants to let me go.
I never want her to let me go.
But she has more in mind than just keeping me prisoner in her tight grip. Because one hand deftly pops the button on my pants and slides down inside, holding me in her palm.
I close my eyes, reminding myself to enjoy each moment.
But then she’s sliding my pants and briefs over my hips, and I’m kicking off my shoes. I brace myself over her with one hand and use the other one to reach back and pull my shirt over my head.
That goes flying and then we’re skin on skin, the heat of our stomachs melding together as I kick off the rest of my clothes and kiss her lips.
There’s a version of this night that starts with dirty talk, a bunch of “Fuck me nows” and “I want your big, hard cock inside mes.” A version where lust takes over and we get lost in the heat of the moment. A version where this is filthy, hot, sweaty sex. A version where I fuck her face and come in her throat.
And yeah. All that sounds pretty good.
Tomorrow.
But tonight… nah. I don’t want to get lost in the lust or lose myself in the moment.
I want to savor this woman.
I ease over until I’m resting on my side, pulling down her bra so I can put her nipple in my mouth. I kiss and nip it as my fingers slip underneath the waistband of her pretty panties and begin pulling them over her hips. She lifts her legs up, bends her knees, and those panties come off without any real effort. I toss them away, then pop the clasp of her strapless bra and it falls to the side. My tongue is busy swirling around her nipple while my other hand grabs her breast firmly and squeezes.
Her hand is back on my cock, slowly sliding up and down my shaft. This slowness, it’s almost agonizing. And when the tip of her thumb begins caressing the tip of my cock head, I have to close my eyes and remember to breathe. She feels that good.
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