Page 186 of His Boys to Protect

Dakota gasped as tears started collecting on his eyelashes. “Oh my god,” Dakota gushed. “Are you sure?”

Charlie nodded again.Secret! Surprise!

“Oh fuck. Okay.” Dakota fanned a hand in front of his face, blinking rapidly. “That's so fucking sweet! Shit. Here I go again,” he said, wiping away more tears. “Okay. Yes. I'd love to help. Let's do this.”

Charlie beamed at him. For Ward and Skylar's sake, he hoped this worked.

He couldn't wait to surprise them.

Chapter 64

________

WARD

WARD WAS nervous.

The past few weeks had been an absolute whirlwind. With the help of their friends, the initial move had taken no time at all. Ward's entire apartment had been emptied out over Thanksgiving weekend. He'd thought he'd get stuck paying for another thirty days, thanks to the management's one-month notice policy, but it turned out they had a waiting list for an available unit, so he was off the hook for that.

Still, he would have happily paid it. Anything to make sure his boys were in a place where they felt comfortable. But the savings appeased Skylar, which was more important than the money itself. Plus, it allowed Ward to take that money he would have spent on additional rent, and set it aside in a secret fund instead. Charlie had told him that he wanted to buy a piano for Skylar someday, and Ward was bound and determined to help him make that happen.

The weekend after the move, he'd taken Charlie back to his parents' house to pack up his things. The only furniture that they brought was Charlie's desk, while the bed and dresser remained behind so the Pratts could turn the space into a guest bedroom.But all of Charlie's clothes and other belongings got packed into boxes. The books seemed to take forever. The boy had so many! But Ward hadn't been about to complain. He happily carried every one of those boxes out to his truck, knowing it meant Charlie was coming home with him.

Skylar stayed behind. He didn't want to go anywhere near the city ever again, and Ward couldn't blame him. But Skylar hadn't been idle in their absence. He'd started putting up Christmas decorations to surprise them. They already had a tree, so all Skylar had to do was string lights around it and hang some ornaments. Charlie had insisted they get a tree the day they moved in, wanting to be able to enjoy it right away. It had meant yet another trip to town, but it had been so worth it.

Ward grinned. Charlie had been so excited when they got the tree set up. Even more so when they came home to find it decorated. The boy spent long moments every day, just staring at the lights with a huge smile on his face. It was so breathtakingly beautiful.

There was still a lot to be done with the house, though. They needed more furnishings to make the place really feel full and homey, but they were happy. They had their quiet retreat away from the world, where the boys felt safe. A place to call home. Nothing else mattered.

As for the wedding, that had been taken almost entirely out of their hands. When their friends found out they wanted to get married on Christmas Eve, Beau had stated that they'd host the wedding there at Living in Zin so there would be space for all their friends to attend. And their friends had managed nearly everything. They made the house extra festive for Christmas, then also arranged for a cake and a catered dinner, keeping Charlie's dietary rules in mind.

The sitting room had been rearranged, tables removed and chairs added, all turned to face the front window. It lookedso cozy and casual. Not big and ostentatious like Ward's first wedding had been.

And with the colors, scents, and sounds of Christmas all around them? It was perfect.

Even with all the help, there had still been a lot to get done. Deciding on music. Making a list of guests they specifically wanted to invite. Picking out rings. Ward laughed at that particular memory. He'd fully expected Charlie to struggle with the idea of wearing a ring, worried that it might be a sensory issue for the boy. Yet Charlie had cheerfully stood at the jewelry store counter, trying on rings until they all agreed on what they wanted.

That decision had been simple enough. Skylar just wanted a ring. Any ring. He didn't care what it looked like, so long as he could wear a symbol of their union. And when it came right down to it, Ward felt the same. Once Charlie was satisfied, Ward and Skylar happily seconded his choice.

And it was perfect. Simple. Matching. Made to last. Just as the three of them intended to be.

But Ward was still nervous. He stared at his reflection as he stood there in one of the guest rooms at Living in Zin. Beau had put each of them in a separate room to get ready. Ward could practically feel his boys on the other side of those walls.

He wondered if they were as nervous as he was.

Ward blew out a heavy breath and fussed with his shirt. They weren't doing suits and bowties, though they had discussed it until Skylar started kicking himself for leaving his suits behind when he fled the city. Besides, Charlie hated being all stuffed up inside a jacket. And he didn't like dress shirts, saying they were too stiff and scratchy.

So they decided to be completely comfortable, getting married in flannel.

Ward chuckled. It was so non-traditional, but he loved it. It felt cozy and fitting, considering the season. Skylar was going to wear blue, because Charlie said it would bring out his eyes. Charlie himself would be in red, because it was a happy, Christmas color. And Ward was wearing green, another Christmas color and—according to Charlie—because it was like the earth. Solid. Steady. Full of life and growth. A safe foundation. Ward couldn't help smiling at that.

Ward fastened his shirt all the way up to the collar, then yanked the top button back open. He took a slow, deep breath, reminding himself that everything was going to be okay. This was his forever. His Happily Ever After.

This was meant to be.

He tucked in the shirt, fastened his jeans, put on a belt, then checked his reflection once more. His back straightened, and a smile took over his face.

In a few minutes, Ward would be marrying his boys.Geez. He couldn't wait.

---