Harper sniffled as she laughed. “You’re an ass.”
“So I’ve been told, Mrs. Andrews. So I’ve been told.”
The DJ changed the dance song to a slower one and Trent put his arm around her and swayed to the music. “What do you say, once we’ve got Travis settled, I show you just how much I like making out with my son’s mom?”
Harper kissed him softly. “I think I’d like that very much.”
They danced in silence for a few moments.
“Do you ever think about how many people are here because of you?” she asked.
“You mean the wedding?”
“No. Like their connections to you is the thing that links so many people. Everything that happened to me happened for a reason to bring me here. To you. You met Cujo in kindergarten. And then you and Cujo were able to save Pix when she needed you. And the tattoo studio meant you got to meet Lia. And then there was the show, that brought Dred to Pix. And with Dred came Jordan and everyone else. And because I came to you, Reid ended up here with Lia. You’re like a regular Mufasa.”
Trent laughed to quash the emotions rising in his throat. “I think you and Travis have watched too much Lion King.”
“You know how much he likes the songs. But don’t deflect. You’re the head of this pride.”
“I think I’d rather be Simba.”
She slapped his chest lightly with her palm. “Take the compliment, oh husband of mine. You’re the glue. And being the glue guy is a wondrous thing. It’s because you are a good man. I married a good man.”
His heart filled up from everything Harper was saying. Sure, he’d won awards for his tattoo designs. And Inked had won an Emmy two years earlier. A fucking Emmy for him and Dred as hosts. But nothing mattered more than how Harper saw him. As a husband, as a father, and as a man.
Gratitude filled him. Filled every part of his being.
He’d never imagined that marriage and fatherhood would be more fulfilling than any other facet of his life, but somehow his world pivoted around them.
His mom walked toward him holding Travis, who was sitting up in her arms rubbing his eyes. As she walked, she tapped Cujo on the shoulder and muttered something. He grabbed Drea and motioned to Pix. They all started walking toward him.
“This little guy wants his dad,” she said, handing Travis to Trent.
“Hey, Bud,” he said, settling him on his hip.
“George,” Travis mumbled, wanting his stuffed giraffe that currently sat on the end of his bed.
“We’ll go home and see George soon,” he said, rubbing his hand down Travis’s back as his son buried his head against his father’s neck.
“I have an idea,” his mom said. “I want the family version of the picture in the shop.”
Under his mom’s instruction, they lined up along the wall.
“Everybody say cheese,” she said.
Trent smiled, but he knew the rest of the line was in chaos.
His mom looked at the back of the screen. “We need to take it again. Everybody look this way.”
But it was no use. Restless babies, drunk people, and a lifetime worth of friendships were never going to line up straight. Just like they hadn’t when his mom had attempted to take the photograph that hung at the front of the tattoo studio by the alarm pad. Just him, Cujo, Pixie, and Lia… and even then, they hadn’t been able to stand straight and smile.
“Let me see, Mom,” he said, reaching for her phone.
“For so-called celebrities, you are all terrible at posing for a photograph.” She passed the phone to him.
Trent studied the picture on the screen.
Trent held Travis in one hand with his other arm placed on Harper’s shoulder. Harper stood with her hands on her bump, looking down the line toward Lia who was bent forward pretending to be shocked at something Harper had said. Fuck, his wife had a beautiful smile when she laughed. Dred held toddler, Arwen, with Pixie by his side who was turned to Cujo who held Petal in the air. Drea grinned at the squeal she’d heard from Petal. Lia had her arm thrown over Drea’s shoulder, while Reid shrugged at the camera, knowing full well it would be mission impossible to get them all to stand straight and smile, just like he did.
“It’s perfect, Mom.”
His mom smiled at him and placed her hand on his cheek. “Yes, it is. I’ll send it to you.”
Harper’s words sunk in about his friends, about their connection to each other. He’d had a similar feeling in the chapel in Las Vegas when Cujo and Drea had got married. That they were all so tightly bound. A unit.
As the group dissipated back into the wedding reception, Trent pressed a kiss to Travis’s cheek and then one to his wife’s. “Want to sneak out of here early, get this little guy to bed?”
Harper glanced down at her watch. “There’s still enough of the bad boy I fell in love with if you think midnight is early.”
Trent laughed. “Would you want it any other way, Darlin’?”
Lia, one hand hitching up the skirt of her wedding dress, pointed directly at Trent. “You. Dance floor, now. And also you, and you, and you,” she said, pointing to Dred, Reid, and Cujo. “My niece wants a dance troupe, and a dance troupe she’s going to get.”
“Babe,” Reid warned.
“Nope,” Lia said. “Don’t Babe me. Dance floor. Dred, grab the band.”
Dred shook his head. “Lia, whatever you’re thinking…”
“You all know this one already, so scoot.”
Harper took Travis from Trent’s arms. “Come here, Sweetie,” she said, perching Travis on her hip. “Let’s go watch Daddy dance.”
“You take video and you aren’t getting laid tonight,” Trent said.
Harper shrugged playfully. “Your loss.”
He kissed her forehead, then Travis’s. No matter what he ended up doing, they both knew he’d not be able to keep his hands off her. “Do you know what this is about?” Trent asked.
“Maybe,” Harper said with a laugh. “There might have been some rehearsal getting ready at Lia’s earlier today.”
Trent tugged his fingers through his hair as he walked to the dance floor that was suddenly being cleared by Drea. “Drea, what are we doing?”
Drea grinned. “The most perfect thing.”
Lia took the microphone from the DJ. “Hey, everyone. Can I get your attention for a few minutes? My niece, Petal, and her dad and all her favorite uncles want to do a dance performance. Guys,” she said, “you just follow Petal.”
Trent looked around the room. Kendalee was pointing Elliott out to Holly who was clapping. Lexi had her arm wrapped around Trent’s mom, who stood next to Harper who was grinning. Gia held Arwen and laughed at something Lia had just said.
“What the fuck is this?” Cujo muttered.
Nik shrugged. “No clue, but I think Jenny just told the boys what we’re doing.” Trent looked over where Nik’s family were all grinning and clapping.
“Remember, timing.” Petal stood in front of them, feet apart, hands on hips.
Pixie burst out laughing.
“Fucking timing,” Dred muttered to Lennon behind Trent.
“Why am I on the front fucking row?” Trent muttered to nobody in particular. He turned and saw Jordan at the back of the dancefloor. “Isn’t Jordan your absolute favorite uncle?” he asked Petal. “Shouldn’t he be at the front?”