he collided with Abby, he easily scooped her up and swung her around, looking entirely too grown up and too happy to see a girl for either Mike or Joe to be comfortable with.
“We better go chaperone,” Mike grumbled. “I don’t want to have a kid and a grandkid in the same class at school.”
Joe burst out laughing, until he realized that wasn’t exactly impossible. “Let’s go.”
11
Mr. Prickles, the hedgehog, trotted between the rows of guests toward a treat that Ollie dangled from his fingers where he crouched at the head of the aisle. He’d been training his beloved pet for this moment for months. Of course, Mr. Prickles chose that exact moment to hesitate, halfway to his goal, and take a pretty impressive dump.
Good thing the ceremony was outside. Trevon quickly followed behind and scooped the poop while everyone in attendance—especially the kids—cracked up. Mike leaned out into the aisle to snap a picture of Ollie’s horrified face with Van, his soon-to-be husband, in the background trying to stifle his own grin behind his hand. It was the perfect way to cut the tension in the group of usually laidback and ultra-familiar friends.
The guys looked sharp but not completely unrecognizable in the black jeans and coordinating sport coats they’d chosen for their big day. The one where they would commit to the woman they shared. Ollie had paired his outfit with a pair of funky black-and-white sneakers while Van wore glossy black boots that made it clear he could kick just about anyone’s ass if he so chose. They stood shoulder to shoulder, grasping for each other’s hands when the acoustic guitar music being played by one of Kyra’s band members changed and the bride appeared from where she’d been waiting at the edge of the woods.
Though Kyra was a badass drummer for Kason Cox’s band, she seemed more like a woodland sprite when she materialized from the lush greenery wearing an ethereal dress in muted blush tones.
Mike had no idea what you called the kind of material it was made of, but the way it floated around her on the gentle breeze was downright magical. Especially when paired with the crown of wildflowers she wore and those she carried while Tom walked her up the de-pooped aisle to her fiancés. Wren, the Hot Rides’ welder, stood off to the side holding Mr. Prickles so he could witness his people making things official. After all, living in the campervan with them as they toured the country, he’d watched just about every other part of their relationship as it unfolded.
Mike could see why they’d decided to turn their original engagement party date into a full-blown, if modest wedding. He wouldn’t have wanted to wait a whole extra year to be joined with his soul mates simply to have some fancy party afterward.
Kate sighed so dramatically Mike thought she might pass out. When he looked over at her she smiled back, her eyes a bit teary. He couldn’t help but lean in for a quick kiss before taking her hand in his and turning his attention to the ceremony. He shushed Abby and Nathan, who whispered conspiratorially about the mushy vibe from the row in front of them.
Thankfully, the wedding wasn’t very long, but it didn’t have to be in order to be profound.
Relationships like theirs—Kyra, Ollie, and Van’s, as well as those of most of the people in attendance—defied traditional ceremonies and recognition, so they kept only the stuff that spoke to their hearts and validated the love the three people standing in a triangle before their friends and extended family to share a part of their souls for everyone to see.
And when it was done, sealed with one hell of a three-way kiss, Wren handed Mr. Prickles to Ollie so the trio could head off for some pictures and a moment to gather themselves before returning for the reception. Mike would be shocked if there wasn’t some making out involved too. At least there had been on his wedding day with Kate, which he couldn’t help but relive every time they were lucky to share a similarly sacred moment with their friends and family.
While the guests of honor were gone, the Hot Rides guys transformed the clearing, rearranging the chairs and setting up tables laden with about a billion candles for the dinner that Devra had prepared along with help—and a big-ass cake—from Morgan. Mike tried to help but was assured it was under control.
“Dad, can we go play