Short Stack - Lily Morton Page 0,56

my thigh and chuckles when I squirm. “I thought you’d want Dylan?” He looks anxious. “Is that okay? Did you want anyone else instead?”

I pat his hand. “You know there’s nobody like Dylan. Gabe wondered the other night if Dylan and I had been conjoined at some point. Who’s the other witness?” He shifts somewhat nervously, and I sharpen my gaze. “Who’s doing it?” He shifts again, and I narrow my eyes. “Who is it, Asa? It had better not be Philip.”

“What the fuck?” he chokes out. “Philip. Why the hell would I invite my ex to witness my bloody wedding?”

“He’d do it,” I huff. “You know he’d have you back in a second.”

Asa shrugs. “Not something I can say I reciprocate.” He smiles at me. “Much as I love the odd bit of jealousy from you, it’s completely unnecessary. There’s only one person in this world for me, and he’s sitting in this taxi.”

I smile and lean towards him. “Not sure the driver is on board with that, Asa. He doesn’t know you.” He pinches me, and I recall what we were saying. “So, go on, tell me. Who is witnessing our wedding on your side?” He shifts and mumbles something, and I lean forward. “I’m afraid I didn’t hear that. Can you speak the words this time?” He glares at me and says something under his breath, and I laugh. “I’m sorry. For a second there I thought you said Dean would be a witness at our wedding.”

He sighs. “He is,” he says quickly as if saying it fast will distract me.

“Dean. Your stepbrother? My ex fuck buddy?” He glares, and I smile placidly. “How’s that green eye now, Asa?” Then my brain comes back online. “Asa, the only thing Dean pays attention to is how tightly his joint is rolled. So, unless the registrar is rolling a doobie, I don’t think Dean will be witnessing anything.” He groans and shakes his head, and I push him gently. “I’m joking. I think it’s actually quite…” I pause. “It’s actually quite nice.”

He opens his eyes cautiously. “Why?”

“Because he’s family. All you have left.”

“He’s my stepbrother, so not my proper family. You and Billy are that.”

“He may be your stepbrother, but his actions scream family.”

“What?”

“Yep. He rings you loads.”

“Most of the time it’s accidental, and he’s arse-dialled me.”

“Granted. But he doesn’t hang up. He also sees you whenever he’s in London. He stays with us most of the time. He’s even been to Devon, which for Dean is the equivalent of going up the Congo. You know, with the hard water and Third World living conditions.” He laughs. “And you have to admit he loves Billy.”

His expression softens. “I know.”

I don’t know whether he’s more comfortable with a seven-year-old or Billy is way too mature for his years, but the two of them are lovely together. The other night I’d come home to find Dean reading a fashion magazine to Billy while they sprawled in front of the fire. Dean was putting on funny voices and telling a much-censored version of a photoshoot and Billy was lying with his hand twined in Dean’s long blond hair and laughing raucously. It has to be said that Billy loves his uncle.

I look at Asa. “Whether you recognise it or not, Dean loves you, Asa, and he’s your only family outside of us.”

He lifts my hand and kisses my fingers. “I love you,” he says softly. “I love that you see the best in people.”

“Not everyone,” I feel honour bound to point out. “The Pollyanna in this relationship is definitely you.”

He laughs, and the taxi slows. He glances out the window and then at me. “We’re here. Are you ready?”

I meet his gaze and hold it steadily. “There is no point in time where I’m not ready to marry you.”

We get out of the taxi, and, standing in the warm sunshine, I look up at the registry office in appreciation. Asa couldn’t have picked a more delightful place. Situated on Kings Road in Chelsea, it’s a beautiful late-Victorian building that sits solidly in the afternoon sunshine.

A loud shout of my name makes me grin, and I turn just in time to catch Dylan as he launches himself against me. He hugs me tight for a long second and then pulls back. “You’re getting married,” he exclaims. “I can’t believe it.”

“I can’t believe I’m doing it before you. Gabe proposed ages ago.”

He laughs. “We can’t work out what to do yet. We’ll make a