Page 54 of Break: Vol. 2

He shrugged, swiping a thumb over his bottom lip as he looked away. My eyes zeroed in on how that thumb pulled the fullness of his lower lip to the side. My panties grew damp. But there was no time.

“It doesn’t matter,” he said. He turned back to me and pressed another kiss to my lips. I whimpered when he pulled away. “I love you, and I always will. It’s you and me, Jamie. And the guys; they’re my family too.”

I closed my eyes and squeezed him tight. “I’m so sorry,” I whispered.

“Jamie,” he framed my face with his palms once more and forced me to look at him, “they made their decision and I’m making mine. I choose you. Don’t ever apologize for that. I sure as hell won’t. Do you understand me? You are it for me. It’s just you. Hell, maybe it always has been. I don’t want to lose you. Iwon’tlose you,” he said.

“I love you,” I said as tears began to gather behind my eyes.

He shook his head with a grin and released my face, leaning down to press a quick kiss to my forehead. “And I love you,” he replied. “Now, are you ready for this?” he asked.

I reached up and wiped some of my lipstick from his mouth. It was the expensive kind—the kind that wasn’t supposed to rub off for hours, but making out had definitely transferred some of it. I finished and turned to the mirror to check that I didn’t have any smudges myself. I grabbed a tissue from the vanity and patted my face, fixing my make-up and taking a deep breath before pivoting back to him. “As ready as I’ve ever been in my entire life,” I replied.

He grinned and took my hand as the door opened and Roxi’s head popped inside. “Alright, lovebirds, let’s go,” she demanded.

“We’re ready,” Cody announced.

“Oh great, then we can begin the ceremony everyone else has been waiting forever for. Let’s get this show on the road, kiddies.” Roxi booty bumped Cody and he released my hand. “Get a move on. Go-Go,” she shooed him. “Get up there with the others. I promise, you can be apart from your lady love for like five minutes. You’re not going to die.”

Cody chuckled and then winked my way. “See you soon, lady-love,” he said.

I groaned and rolled my eyes. “That’s not going to become a thing from you, is it?” I asked.

He shrugged. “Probably not. I like your name just fine, but if Donovan hears about it…”

My eyes widened and I reached for him, intent on wheedling a promise never to tell Taylor about that stupid name, when his departure was interrupted by the arrival of my father.

“Oh, um, pardon me, there … son,” my dad said awkwardly.

Cody nodded to him. “No apologies necessary, Mr. Houston. We’re thankful you could make it today.”

“Yes, I—um, I appreciate you all still wanting me to be here despite, um, some things I may have said last night.”

Cody shook his head. “We wouldn’t have it any other way.” He turned back to me. “See you on the other side, Jamie.”

I sighed and waved him on, taking my dad’s arm as the music began to play. Roxi moved up in line, waited for her cue, and then blew me a kiss as she moved out and started her long trek to the altar.

“Thanks,” I whispered to my dad, “for being here. It means a lot.”

My dad looked down at me and then took my hand firmly in his, holding it in the crook of his elbow. “I assume your mother spoke to you last night when I was … indisposed.”

I chuckled at how he worded it, but nodded.

He sucked in a breath as our cue rang out with the changing beat of the music. “I’ll always be here for you. Rise or fall, Jamie,” he said as we took a step into the church, and the first of many happy tears fell from my eyes as he led me towards the future I had always wanted but never knew was possible.

“Thank you, Dad,” I whispered.

He didn’t reply but reached into his pocket and withdrew a small handkerchief, passing it to me as I tried to stop crying. He squeezed me to his side as the doors into the chapel were pushed open. I looked up and met four pairs of eyes. Each of them shining. I smiled around a full throat as Dex’s face slackened with shock and then he straightened and appeared to hold his breath as I approached.

Dare couldn’t seem to gather himself up in the same way, however. He stared at me as though he had never seen me before in his life and it almost made me laugh. Taylor, on the other hand,didmake me laugh when I slid my gaze to him. He winked and then wiggled his eyebrows, letting me know exactly what he was looking forward to tonight.

I laughed quietly, my shoulders shaking even as I held back the tears. My eyes fell on Cody, the last, but never the least of my boys.Men, I reminded myself.My men.

“I think I got lucky,” I found myself saying aloud. Dex tilted his head at me as my dad pulled me to a stop just before the dais.

“Lucky?” he repeated, sounding confused

“I can’t believe I’m getting married,” I said. A few family members in the front rows chuckled—a combination of mine as well as the guys.

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