Page 146 of Fire Island
“Yeah, that one.” I wind my arm around her waist and plant a kiss to her temple.
“Cal,” Vanessa says, “thank you for taking care of our little girl.” She holds her arms out, and Iris all but shoves me into them. Evie’s mother squeezes me tight, and now I feel like a damn kid.
“Mrs. Holland, you are going to suffocate the poor man,” a new voice says.
As I’m finally released, I find Evie holding her hand, bumping shoulders like long-lost friends.
“Allie?” I ask.
“You got it, grumpy lighthouse man.” She grins and thumps a fist into my shoulder and weaves on the spot, beaming. I shake my head at her. The girl’s a goof.
“Well, we getting these two married, or what?” Em says as Reese comes to my side; he cleans up nice in a shirt and tie.
“Yes, most definitely.” Carl chuckles.
“Thank you, Daddy.” Evie kisses his cheek and comes to stand in front of me again. Everyone takes their place and the officiant, who’s been waiting patiently, clears her throat.
“We are gathered here today . . .”
Iris and Em took the wedding party back to the café to prepare our little wedding soiree. But we have one more stop before we board Firefly for the first time as Mr. and Mrs. McCreary and cross that span of water. Dancing our way over the grass to the tune of the sounds of the forest, the sea, and the twilight breeze as stars pop overhead, we head for the house.
“You going to carry me over the threshold, Mr. McCreary?”
I spin her around, her gorgeous dark waves billowing around her shoulders as those browns light up even more.
“Nonnegotiable, Mrs. McCreary.”
My face hurts from smiling. My grump-fueled self is not equipped for this much damn happiness. I sweep her from her feet on the next twirl and stop. Her laughter fades, and I dot a kiss to her forehead.
Fuckingmine.
Always was. Always will be.
“Ready?” I breathe.
Worrying her bottom lip playfully through her teeth, she simply nods.
I pad for the front door and kick it open.
Her head hangs over my arm as she cackles.
I step over the threshold.
And we’re home. To be fair, my home is this incredible woman. Where she goes, I go, from this day forward.
I don’t want to put her down.
Not having her in my arms isn’t how I would have planned on spending the rest of the day. But we can’t keep our family waiting, so I set her down.
“We could just go upstairs and stay there. No one will miss us, husband,” she coos.
Christ, the sound of that steals my breath and leaves me hard all in a heartbeat. I tug her into my chest, dropping my lips to her ear. “They absolutely will. So we better make this quick.”
“Make what quick?” She angles her head, a quizzical expression taking over her face.
“Your gift from me is upstairs.” I spin her around. “On the bed.”
“I think I know what it is,” she breathes.
