dirty look. “You told me to see her, so I see her!” I chuckle as Wes rolls his eyes, and Asher laughs along with me. “Man, you’re a jackass,” Wes says, rubbing his chest.
I scoff. “I was making a statement, and you took it too far.”
“Hey, not my fault your girl is hot. She’s nice to look at.” I go to smack him once more, but he blocks me, laughing uncontrollably. “Maybe, instead of Shelli, I’ll go check out Stella.”
I give him a dead-ass stare, which only makes him laugh harder as he walks away with no cares whatsoever. “I’m going to kill him.”
Asher smirks. “Ally told me that Stella is digging Wes.”
“Don’t care. Something’s changed with Wes since Boon got with Posey. Plus, he’s too old for her and is now the biggest manwhore I know.”
“So were you,” he interjects, and I laugh out.
“Touché.”
My brother laughs along, leaning into me as I watch him. There hasn’t been a moment in my life when I didn’t love this guy. I remember wanting a baby brother so bad, and when he arrived, I was stoked. We were instant best friends. Yeah, there is an age gap, almost as big as the one between Shelli and me, but there is no gap between our hearts. He’s my main dude, my best man.
“It’s crazy how all that changed,” he says then before meeting my gaze. “How you went from not wanting anyone for more than one night to only wanting Shelli.”
I smile. “Wish I hadn’t wasted all that time fighting it.”
Asher agrees with a nod. “I remember that like it was yesterday, but I always knew you two would end up together.”
“Everyone did but me,” I laugh, and he smiles. “But then, I knew you and Ally would end up together.”
He grins, his eyes leaving mine for his wife. Ally, the beauty that she is, stands with Shelli and Posey, now that they’re back from the bathroom. They’re rubbing Posey’s belly, and she doesn’t look happy about it. Ally must feel us looking at her, because she glances over, grinning at us. Asher waves, and she blows him a kiss. The look on my brother’s face fills me with such joy. “She’s pretty perfect for me.”
“I’d say so,” I say slowly. “Especially since you married her and all.”
Asher’s eyes widen, but he doesn’t look at me, nor does he deny it. “Who told you?”
“Shelli. Emery accused Ally, and she admitted to it.”
Asher inhales sharply, finally looking at me. “Are you mad?”
“Mad that you didn’t tell me, or that you didn’t invite me?”
Asher gives me a wry smile. “Both?”
I cup his shoulder. “Neither. I’m just happy for you.”
He lets out a long breath, which he was apparently holding. “Do Mom and Dad know?”
“Don’t think so, but you may need to pay off Emery not to tell.”
“Fuck me,” he mutters as he looks around. “Let me go find her ass.”
I laugh as he walks away just as my dad comes over to me. “He looks pissy. What’s wrong?”
“Emery.”
He nods as he crosses his arms over his chest. The fact that her name is an answer says a lot about my sister. “Well, I have a confession.”
I look to my father. He’s aged over the last couple months. The Cup run was hell, and Emery is more than likely gonna put him in the crazy house. It makes me sad that he’s aging; I don’t want to live a life without my dad. He’s my hero. “What’s that?”
His gaze meets mine, and the breath is knocked out of me when I see the tears gathering in his eyes. “I’m not ready for you to get married.”
I wrap an arm around his shoulders, leaning into him. “No?”
“Nope, means you’re really a man.”
“Dad, I’ve been a man.”
“Nope. You’re my baby, still fighting hippogriffs and thinking you can play baseball.”
I snort as he chuckles loudly. “God, I sucked.”
“So bad,” he says, shaking his head. “But I’m thankful you turned out okay.”
“I had great parents,” I admit, and he hugs me into his side.
“I’m proud of you, son.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
He hugs me tightly and then asks, “So, things are good with Shelli? New York?”
“Yup,” I say with a nod. “She’s going.”
“Good. She’s a star, Aiden.”
“I know,” I say, watching as she mingles with everyone, laughing and being her fun self. I love her laugh. I love her lips, and man, I love her ass. My heart explodes in my chest when her eyes meet mine. A sneaky little grin covers those