A Merry Vested Wedding - Melanie Moreland Page 0,44

should have worn a coat.

I should have brought the bottle of scotch outside instead of just asking for a triple shot.

I should have pitched Brayden over the balcony when I had a chance.

I drained the glass, holding it against my chest.

Addi looked to Brayden now for comforting. It was his arms she sought for protection. His counsel she listened to. The little bastard had usurped me.

“Bent, you’re growling.”

I startled at the sight of Aiden and Maddox standing beside me. I hadn’t even heard them come outside. Aiden handed me my coat.

“Emmy said you needed this.”

I shrugged it on, not letting go of my glass.

Maddox chuckled and held up a bottle of scotch. “I thought maybe you needed this as well.”

“You’re going to have to share.” Richard VanRyan appeared beside Maddox.

“I brought glasses,” Reid offered.

Hal Smithers chuckled darkly. “I brought a second bottle.”

Van’s deep laughter echoed in the dark. “You guys are a sorry lot.”

I glared at him. “Wait until Sammy’s getting married. When some little shit steals your baby girl.”

“Hey, that little shit is my son,” Maddox protested.

I waved my hand. “I was talking in general terms.”

He laughed. “You were talking in scotch-soaked terms. You know they were meant to be together, Bent.”

He was right. Brayden was perfect for Addi. He respected her. Encouraged her. Let her fly. No one could be as proud of her as he was, aside from me. She was smart. Brilliant at running ABC. Another man might have felt diminished by her, but not Brayden. He was comfortable enough in his own skin to know how special she was. He knew the real Addi. The sweet, loving woman behind the stern mask she wore as a businesswoman. She was lucky to have him.

Maddox added some more scotch to my glass and filled up the other ones. We toasted in silence and sipped the liquor.

Jen appeared, a hand on his hip. “A BAM convention on the balcony. Six sorrowful-looking men, drowning themselves in scotch.” He shook his head sadly, although his eyes danced with glee. “Six hot-looking men, I might add. I had hoped you would bypass the sob fest, but I came prepared.” He walked over and lit the propane heater, the warmth almost instant. He indicated the cleaned-off table and the closed box on the surface. “You can sit and drink. I don’t want any of you pitching over the edge into the water. And there are some cigars. At least be civil, sit, wallow, and have your smoke. Your wives will drag your sorry asses home when you’re done.”

“Our asses aren’t sorry,” Aiden chuckled. “We’re here to support Bent.”

Jen pursed his lips, ignoring Aiden. “And soon you’ll all be crying about whose turn it is next. Wailing about the lost years.” He sighed. “I’ve seen it before.” He focused his gaze on me.

“Brayden and Addi are perfect for each other. You should be thrilled your daughter fell in love with such an upstanding young man. Have your little sulk and be done with it.” He grabbed the second bottle of scotch. “One is enough. My god, for such brilliant businessmen, you’re all such idiots at times. We’d be pouring you all into the limos.”

He left, and we all stared at his retreating back.

“That was uncalled-for. We can handle our liquor.” Aiden frowned.

“Some of us better than others.” Maddox smirked.

“Shut up all of you,” I grumbled, leaning forward and snagging a cigar. “It’s not your daughter who got married.” I cut off the end and lit it, letting the smoke escape. I rarely indulged, but I decided today I deserved it. “And I am happy. Brayden is an amazing partner for Addi. I just don’t have to like it. Not right this minute. Right this minute, I get my goddamn wallow. My baby girl is all grown up, and I feel old.”

Maddox blew out a perfect smoke ring. “So do I. Wasn’t it just yesterday they were babies and Reid here still dressed like a homeless bum?”

Aiden chuckled. “Remember the day he sat in his office with no pants on because he needed to do laundry?”

Reid laughed. “That was a long time ago. Before Becca.”

“Thank god for Sandy,” we all said in unison.

“Remember Friday afternoon meetings?” I mused. “Us and the babies.”

“I loved those,” Maddox mused.

“The baby circle of truth,” Reid sighed.

Richard laughed. “You guys are a sorry lot. We have awesome kids. They have to grow up—it’s part of life.”

“I’ll remind you of that when Gracie drags some schmuck home to meet you.”

He