Page 25 of Rules We Break

“Did you get married without us?” Piper asks incredulously.

I freeze, having no idea how to answer that when River does it for me. “We’re committed for life, the rings are just a visual way to let everyone else know we’re off limits.”

“Congratulations!” Sidney wraps me in a hug, then points to the kitchen. “Come on. They’ve got mimosas and pastries!”

Their place smells like a bakery, a mix of cinnamon, apples, and lemon. The second I turn the corner and see their island, I understand why. Every inch of the car length marble slab is covered in some form of baked goods. Pies, rolls, buns, freaking muffins.

Sidney grabs a flakey croissant and when she breaks it open, there’s warm chocolaty goo inside. “This is my third one.So good.”

I go for a scone, sniffing blueberry and lemon, then grab a glass of bubbly orange mimosa. I have a feeling the next few hours are going to be intense with all of them. My plate is lifted from my hands.

River stands to my right, adding more to the plate, picking and choosing the desserts until he’s satisfied.

I look at the heaping plate. “Did you get one of everything?”

“I wanted to make sure you and Alex have options for when you want more.” He says it so easily. Like, of course he’d go out of his way to make sure his boyfriend and I have extra food. As if it’s not one of the sweetest things he does, and he doesn’t even realize he’s doing it. Hell, if you ask him, I guarantee he’d tell you it’s his pleasure to take care of us.

I wrap my arms around his neck, startling him, and lift on my toes, closing the distance between our mouths. I smile against his lips when the kiss slows down. “I love you, River Jonathon Davis. You are amazing, and I am madly in love with you.”

His cheeks turn that perfect shade of pink. “It’s just food.”

I shake my head no. “It's so much more. You are so much more than I ever thought I would deserve.”

“What are you saying to our boyfriend to make him blush like that?” Alex comes up behind River, and kisses his temple. The moment is painfully sweet.

“Just that I think he’s perfect and we’re lucky to have him.”

Alex grabs a muffin from the plate and takes a bite. “All facts.”

The two of them walk into the living room to hang out with Jax and Lucas. Alex is smiling wide at something Jax has said, and warmth builds in my stomach. Everything feels so right. I’m feeling all sappy when Sidney and Piper flank my sides watching the guys with me.

“How did we get so lucky?” Piper asks. Lucas looks over, giving her a soft look before returning his attention to the guys.

I take a sip of my mimosa. “It wasn’t easy.”

“Nothing worth it ever is.” Sidney adds right before the guys beckon us over.

* * *

We spend the next hour eating and catching up with our friends. We see Piper and Lucas all the time, since we all work together, but with Jax and Sidney living in Ottawa, we are rarely all together. So when we are, our time is filled with laughing, bickering and catching up. Sometimes I forget that Piper, Lucas and Jax grew up together, but the second they’re in the same room, it’s clear as day how close they are. I rest my head on River’s shoulder. I’m sandwiched between him and Alex on the couch, facing our friends.

He runs his fingers through my hair, and between the soothing motion and my extremely full stomach, I feel ready to pass out.

Lucas heads to the kitchen and comes back with an actual freaking serving tray, handing us all a drink. It’s a weird purplish mauve color.

“It’s something I’m working on. I call it Purple Swirl.” Lucas answers without me having to ask.

I take mine, bringing it under my nose and the little pops of bubbles tells me it’s champagne based. He hands Piper her drink last and I can’t help but notice it looks a little different. The purple is more saturated and it doesn’t have the bubbles mine does.

Before I can ask about it, Lucas holds up his drink. “Toast to you. The best family I could ask for. Even if you’re all a pain in my ass.”

“You should’ve told me it hurt, man. I’d have been more gentle.” Alex chimes in fake innocently and I snort my drink up my nose.

Lucas’s brown skin is tinged pink as he gawks at Alex. “This is why we can’t have nice things.”

Alex leans in and rests the side of his head against mine. “I don’t know, I think we’re doing alright.”

A grinning Sidney, who’s laughing so hard there’s tears in her eyes, tries to calm herself down enough to speak. “Okay. Lovely toast. Let’s do presents.”

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