Page 103 of Offside Angel

“Again, just to reiterate, we’ve only been engaged for one week.”

“But I’ve been watching you put yourself last for years.” Taylor gives me a sad smile. “Up until a few months ago, you never showed any interest in dating.”

“That never stopped you from trying to set me up on terrible dates.”

“I would’ve respected your pledge to singlehood if I hadn’t been able to see how lonely you really were.”

Tears prick the back of my eyes again. I chew on the corner of my mouth to keep my chin from wobbling.

“I know I’m the here-for-a-good-time-not-a-long-time friend in this relationship. I take my duties to keep the mood light and never take things too seriously very seriously.” She folds my hands against her heart. “But I want to tell you that you’re my best friend in the world, Mimi. Even when I knew you were keeping secrets from me. Even when you were scared of your own shadow and refused to buy new furniture.”

I laugh, a tear finally slipping free.

“Even when you’d run off and bail on me for months at a time.” She gives me a quick, stern look that softens just as fast. “You’ve always been the best, most loyal person I know. I’m so glad you overcame the bullshit your family put you through so you can finally get the happily-ever-after you deserve.”

Before she can even finish, I throw my arms around her neck and squeeze.

“God, you are a real softy now,” she teases, squeezing me back.

She isn’t wrong. But I’m not sure I mind.

“You’re my best friend,” I whisper. “I love you.”

“I know.” She draws back and swipes her fingers under my eyes, cleaning up my mascara. “Now, pull yourself together, woman. We’ve got a shotgun wedding to get to.”

39

MIRA

“Why is everyone crying?”

Aiden is holding my hand as we walk across the flower-strewn patio towards the makeshift aisle that cuts across the lawn, casting horrified looks in every direction.

We have a small gathering of people. Zane’s teammates and their wives are in the first few rows of chairs. Owen, Evan, and a woman who looks suspiciously like a nurse I recognize from the hospital are in the back and the only people I can see from this vantage point, but every single one of them is crying. Owen keeps squinting up at the cloud-covered sun as if it’s simply the light bothering his eyes instead of the ooey-gooey emotions he claims not to have.

I squeeze Aiden’s hand. “I think it’s because they’re so happy for us.”

Aiden frowns like he doesn’t buy it, and I can’t even blame him. One day, he’ll look back at pictures of him in a tiny tuxedo, leading me down the aisle to his dad, and he’ll understand why no one can keep their shit together.

Actually, the thought of him as a teenager, reminiscing about the day we legally became a family, has me teetering on the edge of losing my shit, too.

I hear Taylor’s warning in the back of my mind. If you ruin your makeup before you get down the aisle, I will not forever hold my peace. I’ll object to your wedding, Mira McNeil, I swear to God. Do you hear me?!

But the second the orchestral music swells and Aiden and I pause at the top of the aisle, my makeup doesn’t stand a chance.

Zane is waiting for us, looking sharp in a navy tux and a wide smile. His eyes flick from me to Aiden and back like he can’t believe we’re his, and I’ve never loved him more.

I know there are other people here, but I don’t see them. I can’t focus on anything except the little boy holding my hand and the man just in front of us, who has always held us both.

When we make it to the top of the aisle, Zane kneels in front of Aiden and offers him knuckles. “You nailed it, kid. I couldn’t have walked her down the aisle better myself.”

Aiden fist bumps his dad and then throws his arms around his neck. It’s already an adorable moment, but when he reaches grasping little fingers towards me, my heart melts. I kneel down next to them, not caring at all if I get grass stains on my dress, and hug my boys.

“You’re crying, too?” Aiden shakes his head, and I can’t help but laugh.

“Happy tears, A. I’m crying very happy tears.”

And I continue crying happy tears while Aiden climbs up next to Reeves and Jalen in the front row and Daniel welcomes everyone to “the wedding of the decade that we’ve only known about for three days.”

---