Page 90 of Irresistible

“Night-night, Wyatt. I love you,” she said.

“I love you too, Sweets.” My voice was thick and when I looked back, Marlow stood there watching us with glossy eyes.

This morning when I left their house for a second time after bringing back pastries, I was still thinking about her telling me she loved me and how it’s funny that we said the words to each other before Marlow and me.

I’ve come so close to telling her, but something holds me back each time. I think part of me is still trying not to scare her off and to take it at her pace. It’s all going at rapid speed, but definitely too soon to be talking this way.

But since I know how I feel, too soon or not, it’s like a secret burning its way through my chest.

I pull up to Sutton’s and get my suit and shaving kit out of the car. Marlow and Dakota are getting ready with the girls at Sofie’s, and the guys are taking over Sutton’s place so we can be out of the girls’ way.

It’s loud when I walk in. Music is playing through the speakers, and my brothers and Jamison are spread out around the kitchen and living room, having a beer. Jamison’s brother and football god, Zac Ledger, is also here for the wedding from Boston, and their grandpa, Pappy who we’ve adopted as family now too. Owen is in his element having everyone over here, hair wet from the shower and running around in his briefs, his gappy grin as big as Christmas.

“Hey, Uncle Wy, you’re the last one here. Dad said he was gonna send a search and rescue team out for you if you didn’t get here in the next few minutes.”

“Did I say that, or did I say I’d send them straight to Marlow Hennessy’s place?” Sutton smirks that devil-may-care grin and I lay my suit over the back of a chair, ignoring him except to say, “Walker,” under my breath.

“What’s that you say?” Sutton, the shit stirrer asks.

“Marlow Walker,” I say louder.

“Oh, is she going by Walker now? I hadn’t heard.” His grin deepens and he smooths his hand over his jaw. “Jamison was just telling us how he keeps seeing your car over there.”

Jamison clasps the back of his neck and looks at me apologetically. “Sorry, man. I was just talking about how I went looking for you in the hotel after I’d seen your car in the parking lot, but then I realized Marlow’s condo is—” He shakes his head. “Not my business.”

“Might be your business if he’s using your parking lot all night,” Sutton says.

I shoot him a look and he laughs, holding up his hands.

“So things are good?” Theo says. He hasn’t laughed as much as the rest of the guys; in fact, now that I look at him closer, he’s actually tense.

“Things are great. Are you okay? You nervous?” I ask.

“What? Nervous? No, not at all. I can’t marry Sofie fast enough. I…what are your intentions with Marlow?”

“My intentions? What are we doing right now?” I laugh.

“Well…she’s Sofie’s best friend, and it wasn’t that long ago that the two of you weren’t getting along. She’s been through a lot and has a daughter to think about, so I just want to be sure you’re thinking this through.”

I take a deep breath and count to ten before saying anything. When I do, it’s measured and through slightly gritted teeth.

“Since it’s your wedding day, I’m going to give you a pass. If you think I’m taking any of this lightly with Marlow, think again. I care about her, probably way too fucking much given the timing of things, but I do nonetheless, and I’d never jump into something with someone who has a child to think about if I weren’t serious.”

The room has become silent and tense, and then Theo smiles. In two long strides, he’s in front of me, wrapping his arms around me and pounding on my back.

“You love her,” he says.

“Yeah, I do.”

“Then I’m not gonna worry about her for another second,” he says.

“You should probably be more worried about me than her.” I laugh, shoulders relaxing. “Marlow and Dakota already have me wrapped around their little fingers.”

“Happy for you, brother,” Sutton says, pounding me on the back.

“Goddamn,” Callum says, squeezing my shoulder.

“Congratulations,” Zac says. “I’m glad we had this talk before the wedding. Autumn was going to see if you’d want to meet a friend of hers. I’ll nix that plan.”

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