Nash Brothers Box Set - Carrie Aarons Page 0,319

kiss the back of hers.

It’s been a while since we’ve been back in Fawn Hill. After Ryan quit her job upon the competition of the Copenhagen project, about two months after I’d flown out to win her back, she decided to completely change her career. Now, she runs one of the largest nonprofit STEM training programs for kids in the world. My wife, the superstar, badass hacker, just flying around the world to teach the next generation of little coders. I’m so proud of her, but more importantly, she’s so fucking happy doing her job. It’s a sight to see.

We bounce around from country to country depending on which branch of the nonprofit needs help or re-vamping at the time, and we just spent almost six months in Madrid. Yes, I miss my family and my hometown, but seeing the world isn’t a bad trade. It’s actually pretty damn cool, and of course, I get to be with Ryan.

Someday, I know we’ll settle down, move back to Fawn Hill and live in the country. But right now, it’s her time. My job is flexible; I started my own woodworking business after settling in Denmark. I make smaller pieces, since I can’t outfit a studio in every city we move to, but I make do and have made friends in a lot of international places. I work out of other’s spaces and do what I love … I have no reason to complain.

“They’re going to try to make a big fuss about this wedding reception.” She rolls her eyes, but in a good-natured way.

To say my mother was upset about our elopement would be an understatement. Not that she doesn’t love Ryan, but the minute I finally convinced Ryan to marry me, I wasn’t about to wait a year planning a wedding. We tied the knot two weeks ago on a beach in Madrid, and it was exactly what we wanted.

We’ve had discussions over the last five years about how we didn’t know if marriage was right for us. Yes, we knew we’d be together for life, but Ryan wasn’t keen on marriage. Argued that it was just a piece of paper, and I didn’t really give a damn about a wedding. But then I’d been fooling around with making some wooden jewelry and thought wearing a wedding ring would suit me well. So I started bugging her, and it took a good eight months to convince her to get married.

“Let them. It means free food and they’ll be happy about it.” I nuzzle my face into her hair as the small crew at the Fawn Hill airport begins to open the plane door.

We soothed Mom’s bruised ego by allowing her to throw a wedding party in our honor.

“I love you, husband. I have to admit, I like the sound of it.” Ryan gives me a sassy wink.

We exit the plane, ready to haul our bags to the car, when a dull roar greets us on the grass in front of the hangar that serves as the airport.

Our entire family stands there, cheering and holding a banner that reads, “Welcome Home Newlyweds!”

Keaton and Presley’s four-year-old son, Maxwell, comes bounding towards me, as my oldest brother pushes his one-year-old twin daughters in their double stroller. They ended up doing in vitro fertilization for both of their pregnancies after trying with no luck. There had been some rough patches, one time Keaton had broken down to me on the phone, but they finally got the family they wanted.

Ryan slams into Presley, their hug going on for minutes, each one half-yelling about how much they miss the other. I hug my oldest brother and then move along the crew, fist-bumping Penelope’s boys and then hugging my twin brother while kissing Penelope on the cheek. Mom envelops me in a bear hug, wiping her eyes more than once, and then I greet Lily with a hug and smile.

Bowen stands next to her holding their son, Jeremy, who is three. Molly, now a smart aleck at six, throws me a peace sign and sticks out her tongue.

“We missed you all so much,” Ryan gushes, and by the emotion in her voice, I know she really means it.

For as much as she tries to play the lone wolf, she’s come to love my family just as much as I do. And they love her.

“Let’s get going, we’ve got ribs in the smoker. And Hattie is baking her famous raspberry pies.” Forrest rubs his stomach.

I’m amazed when Travis