Ava was not Ryan.
The girls were engaged now as of the beginning of summer. It happened at sunset on the beach when we visited Jackson’s newly purchased beach house in-you guessed it-Port Townsend. Mari dropped to her knee with Ava by her side, and they both asked Becca to be their forever, though Ava was more of a toddler language. Becca cried, promptly said yes, and wrapped her arms around her girls. The ring was a band of diamonds and caught every light, including the waning light of the sun the night it was first slipped on Becca’s finger.
It was our wedding at the beginning of July, though. It was our day and our trip, and nobody that we loved wanted to take that away from us. We took an earlier flight to the island to get settled in and check up on the final details, but Gram was flying with everyone else. The babies gave her more energy than ever, and she kept up just fine with Ava these days. She loved spending time with Ava and watched her frequently so the girls could have date nights.
She also spent time with Luca, but Amy was almost always there as the worried first-time mother. She did keep him so Jackson could take Amy on dates and get her away from the chaos of motherhood. Amy worried the first few times but realized how much she loved alone time with her husband so they could reconnect.
Our room at the resort was spacious, with a stunning view of the beach. It was the honeymoon suite and offered a hot tub, shower for two, and a beautiful deck where we could have coffee in the morning and drinks at night. It was everything that we hoped for and more, and it made Hayden cry.
We had dinner at one of the restaurants overlooking the beach, watching the sunset as we talked about the ceremony that was taking place in three days. Family and friends were arriving tomorrow to settle in, and we had a true luau planned for everyone to show them the traditions of the islands. We planned to just spend time on the beach after that and relax until the evening ceremony.
I didn’t sleep a wink the night before the wedding. Everyone had a great time at the luau and the places we’d gone to, totally against our beach plans. I didn’t care, but everything was racing through my mind tonight.
I was getting married the next night. Married.
Fucking married.
I was in disbelief and awe of the man that I was giving my life to. Hayden was kind, giving to the family that I loved, and he called me out for my shit. He gave me a niece, as well as two sisters, and I gave him a mom figure and a brother and sister.
I tossed and turned, getting up to walk on the beach in the morning to watch the sunrise. The girls had a salon trip today with Gram to get manicures and hair done, and we had brunch at a restaurant to have some drinks and eat with Jackson to relax. I knew that I wasn’t supposed to see Hayden the night before the wedding or morning of, but fuck that. I needed him.
I saw a little girl and a pink-haired woman ahead of me on the sand, grinning as Ava started screaming my name.
“What are you doing up?” I asked as I picked the newly turned two-year-old up.
“This one knows that there is an ocean and a pool just a few feet from our room. Mari stayed up late last night, so I figured I’d give her some peace. What are you doing up?” She gave me a knowing smile.
“I didn’t sleep for shit,” I admitted, glazing apologetically at Ava. She was picking up on what everyone else was saying now, making us all watch our mouths. “Oops.”
“I hope that you’re just nervous and not getting cold feet. Hayden is my best friend, you know.” Her eyes shimmered in the sun, and I shook my head.
“Never. Just amazed.” She nodded.
“I can’t believe that we’re here for your wedding. It’s beautiful. I can’t believe that I’m here with my daughter, or that I have a nephew a few feet away from me right now.” She shook her head. “Hayden is getting married!”
I hugged her with Ava in my arms, feeling the tears in my eyes. “Nor can I.”
We chatted for a bit before getting coffee at the stand just outside the lobby. My phone chimed, and I pulled it out of my pocket, seeing Hayden’s name. “There he is,” I answered the phone, assuring him that I was just getting coffee with Becca and Ava.
He told me he’d be right over, showing up in ten minutes in board shorts and a t-shirt, looking hot as hell. “Hi, babe.” He kissed me, and Becca shook her head.
“You are supposed to be spending time apart, guys. Where is the tradition?”
“I already woke up without him. Did you sleep at all?” He asked, giving me a curious look.
“Not really.” Becca and Hayden laughed.
“You won’t tonight either.” She gave Hayden a high five, and they laughed again.
We enjoyed coffee and then headed back to our rooms for family time. Mari planned to have breakfast with Becca and Ava before the salon, and I was going to take a walk on the beach with my man before brunch.
We talked about everything that got us here as we walked, holding hands. It started one night at a theater when I was taking Gram to see a play, and the fire was lit when we met at the bakery. I knew that things moved fast for us, but it was just meant to be that way.
We headed back to the room to dress for brunch, leisurely eating as we sipped beer. Jackson was beaming the entire time, happy that I was taking the plunge. He assured me that it was a happy time, even once there were kids involved in the situation.
His son was with Amy in the salon. She was just carrying him in a wrap through the process and having someone else hold Luca as needed. He was a great baby that just wanted to be held when he didn’t need anything else. She planned to get through the wedding the same way.
We headed to our rooms to wind down and get ready for the ceremony. Hayden and I still broke the rules, doing it together as we chatted and laughed. We did refrain from anything sexual, saving it for later that night.
At six that night, we headed to the gazebo where the wedding would be held. Our guests were seated and waiting, and we hugged everyone involved in the ceremony as we thanked them for being there.
Gram and I started walking first, watching as everyone smiled at us. Mari and Ava followed, holding hands as Mari clutched her flowers, and Ava dropped clumps of rose petals. That made the small audience laugh. I stood by the pastor, watching as Hayden approached me with Becca on his arm. I saw him last night, this morning and in his tuxedo earlier, but he still took my breath away.
The sun was moving lower into the sky as we joined our hands together. The ceremony itself was brief with vows that we’d written ourselves, crying as we said them.
The kiss as a married couple was the best one I’d ever experienced in my life.
We walked back toward the reception room, posing for pictures as the guests started eating and ordered drinks. We posed on the gazebo, on the beach, and at various places around the resort. The light was perfect, and the photographer followed us to the reception.
We ate and danced, mingling with the twenty guests who were invited to the ceremony. The music was fun but not cheesy, and the food was perfect. Everything about today felt like a dream.
We ended the party around eleven somehow, most of the crowd feeling buzzed. I guided Hayden to our room, holding his hand tight as tears filled my eyes.
“I love you,” I told him as I unlocked the door to the room. “I love you so much.”
“I love you, Gray.” He closed the door, and I turned to him. He pulled my face down to kiss him, heat washing over our bodies. I moaned against him, slipping my jacket down to the floor. We’d taken them off at the reception, dancing, and mingling. We just put them back on for the walk to our room.