Page 91 of Snowed In With The Second Chance Daddy

Oliver comes up to my shoulder.

I hold out my free hand to him. “Thanks, man.”

Oliver takes it and pulls me in for a half hug. “Anything, Trev. We’re brothers.”

I laugh to disguise the strangled sound that threatens to crop up.

I never had siblings. Don’t even have parents anymore. I’ve always considered the Hawthorns family, but the idea they might consider me family as well never occurred to me.

We are swarmed by all our friends.

I didn’t realize this many people would care to celebrate Iris and me. Almost my entire floor from the hedge fund is here, my old boss, the owner. Friends from college, from childhood. Hell, there’s at least a hundred and fifty people waiting for us.

And Iris’s friends are here. Coworkers. People she’s met through the gaming world.

Iris’s body jolts forward. “Oh my god, Ben?”

A man stands out from the crowd, the spitting image of my wife. Just the dude version. Without the pink hair.

“That’s my brother, Ben.” Iris’s face flushes with excitement.

“Go, go! I’ll be right behind you.” I release her hand.

Iris kisses me again, then rushes over to her brother. They engulf one another in a huge hug and, for a second, the rest of the world disappears.

I could watch Iris the rest of my life, like she’s my own personal form of entertainment. I want to worship her, make her feel seen and supported the rest of her days.

That’s love.

Ash approaches me, breaking me from my haze. “You’ve got a married glow about you.”

I blush. “Do I?”

Ash embraces me, further heightening the chaos of my emotions. “I’m so proud of you, Trevor.”

“Yeah?”

“Of course.” Ash clutches my shoulder and looks into my eyes. “You’re like a son to me, Trevor.”

“God, Ash–” I look down, trying to hold back the tears.

“Not only because you did things the other way around,” Ash says with a humored look at his milling family.

My family.

“I’ve gotten to watch you grow. Fall in love, figure out what you want from life. Now I get to watch you become a husband and a father, and perhaps I haven’t earned the privilege to feel proud of you, but–”

“No, you have, Ash. You absolutely have.”

Ash smiles, taking off his glasses and then pinching the bridge of his nose. “I’ve gotten soft in my old age.”

“You’re not old. Just vintage.” I elbow his side.

“Oh, thanks.” He rolls his eyes. “Tell my kids that, especially the little one.” Ash points to Ivy, who is running around in a fluffy dress with all the kids.

My chest puffs with pride.

Soon, I’m going to be watching my own kid running around with all the Hawthorns.

---