Page 55 of Wedlocked

Who’s the moron now, my bros?

Movement in the archway leading into the kitchen had me looking up from the table to see Arsen step in, his arm stretched behind him with Prism attached at the end.

I had a few reservations about Arsen when he first started coming around my brother. Okay, fine. More than a few. Enough to fill up a dump truck.

But I had to admit he was good to P.Fine.Better than good. But don’t tell him I said that. I still had to make him work for it. Truth is it wasn’t an easy adjustment for me, sharing my brother with someone else. Not being the automatic go-to for Prism was a tough pill to swallow. And another truth bomb? I didn’t realize just how much mental time and space it took to protect him.

Yeah,yeah, he was a grown-ass man who didn’t need protecting, but you know what? Fuck that because, yes, he did. And I wanted to do it. He was my ride-or-die, my second-in-command. Right next to Jess, he was the most important person in my life.

When Arsen came around, I had to loosen my grip a little, make room for someone else. I never realized just how tight that grip was. It was rough but also maybe kinda nice. Because now I had a little more time to focus on Jess. On the life I wanted to build with her.

Probably why I’m so obsessed with getting wedlocked.

Maybe that loosened grip on your bestie is making the grip on your girl even tighter.

Who’s in there?Whoever you are, I don’t appreciate the head shrinking.

“I thought you two were still in bed,” I said by way of greeting.

“Yeah, until the phones kept going off,” Prism grumbled.

“Sit down, princess. I’ll make you some coffee,” Arsen said, pulling out a chair at the table and pushing P into it.

He was disgruntled and a little rumpled-looking with dark hair sticking out over one of his ears, tired eyes, and wearing the sweater Arsen definitely wore yesterday.

“Do you ever wear your own clothes anymore?” I wondered.

P scowled and pulled the sleeves over his hands, crossing his arms over his chest.

A whirring sound over at the massive island brought my head around. “Arsen, what the hell are you doing?” I asked even as I watched him top a mug of coffee with a pile of whipped cream.

After returning it to the fridge, he pulled out a bottle of chocolate sauce and drizzled that over the cream.

Spoiled.He spoiled my brother.

“You planning to become a barista?” I cracked. “Maybe I should get you an apron for Christmas.”

Arsen gave me a stony look and carried the mug over to slide it in front of Prism. “Here, baby,” he said softly, then went back into the kitchen to get himself some coffee sans the sugar on top.

Back at the table, Arsen hauled a chair nearly on top of Prism’s and sat down. P gave him some googly heart eyes and uncrossed his arms to wrap his sweater-covered paws around the mug he’d been given. “Thanks, bear.”

I lifted my hands, palms up. “Where’s mine?”

Arsen thumbed over his shoulder to the coffee pot on the counter. The coffeeIhad brewed when I came in here. Grabbing my empty cup, I went to refill it.

“Why are you awake so early?” Arsen asked.

Feeling proud of myself, I answered, “I just booked me and Jess a honeymoon.”

“A honeymoon?” Prism asked, craning his head over Arsen’s shoulder.

“I know it’s unfair, P. Arsen gives you whipped cream and chocolate, and I hand out trips to Hawaii. But what can I say? I’m one of a kind.”

He let out a strangled sound. “Hawaii?”

I glanced at Arsen, silently wondering if he caught on to the surprise in his boyfriend’s voice. Arsen already had eyes on him, so I assumed that would be a yes.

“Well, yeah. I mean, I know this wedding was kinda a last-minute thing, but you didn’t really think I’d just marry her on the deck in the snow and then call it a day, did you?” I asked. “My final girl deserves a honeymoon.”

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