Page 125 of One Touch

“Again!”

Cole laughed.

His first wife, Stephanie, was standing with her boyfriend Bryce, and they were looking after Rhea and Lexi while Cole had a couple of drinks. He was lucky to get on so well with his ex these days. Cole really did have it all. The amicable ex. Two great kids. A pregnant wife. Me? I had Ava, of course. But I’d always hoped for a bigger family, for a house full of fun and laughter and chaotic family mealtimes. Maybe I just needed to get a dog, like Cole. A dog might do the trick.

“I’ve got a feeling this one’s gonna stick,” Cole said.

I smirked. “So long as Elara doesn’t come to her senses.”

Cole laughed, but then his expression turned serious. “Listen, Ethan. I just . . . hope you find this kind of happiness too, you know? You deserve it.”

My throat tightened. “I’m happy for you, Cole. Really.”

I saw his eyes wandering. I followed them.

Lily was with Ava. She had her hands on her hips and was pulling a funny face, saying something that I couldn’t hear. Ava was bent double with laughter.

Cole looked at me. “I know this isn’t the time, but I think you should know . . . Marie would have loved Lily.”

My jaw tightened. “You’re right, it’s not the right time.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No worries.”

“Feeling loved-up is all.”

I glanced again at Lily. Ava was hugging her now, holding her close.

“If life was different—” I began.

“Different?”

“If I could guarantee that she was the one, that she wouldn’t cheat or get bored or decide she wanted to be with someone her own age. . . .”

“Then what?”

“Then maybe I could try.”

“But life isn’t like that. Be nice if it was. If we had a crystal ball.” He scratched his chin. “But if you’d had a crystal ball, you might never have married Marie. And then you wouldn’t have Ava.”

My chest tightened. “True.”

“Look how much Ava loves her. Lily’s opened up a whole new world for her. She’s been an awesome nanny.” He gave me a pointed look. “And she could be an amazing mom.”

I felt my gut lurch. Cole was taking it too far. I had to let it go, though. This was Cole’s big day, and he was a little drunk and emotional. His brown eyes burned with feeling.

“You don’t get it, Cole. The fact that she’s so special . . . that’s why I can’t be with her. I can’t be ripped apart again. Nor can Ava.”

“But—”

“No buts. It’s gone too far already. I need to cool it with her.”

Just then, the celebrant tapped a knife against a champagne glass, the gentle ringing sound drawing everyone’s attention. “Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time to begin the speeches.”

Dad spoke first. He’d done two of these gigs before, with mine and Cole’s first weddings, so he was an old hand at them now. A mixture of heartfelt sentiments, a touch of humor, a fewpearls of wisdom about the key to a happy marriage. Maybe it was his more advanced age, but the speech seemed a little more sentimental than his other, too. He looked at Susie a lot as he spoke.

“Remember,” he said, his voice softening as he glanced at her, “marriage isn’t the important thing. It’s every day after it that counts. Never stop communicating. Never take each other for granted. You don’t know when each new day will be your last.” The room fell silent, and I could see a tear glistening in his eye as he raised his glass to toast us all.

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