My voice cracks again, and I swallow past the lump in my throat. “The kind of love Griff and Mack share is once-in-a-lifetime—it’s a love written in the stars. But I think even if you two didn’t find your way back to each other, Katie and Catherine would’ve intervened—I mean, who’s to say they didn’t?”
I take a deep, steadying breath as I stare down at the two of them as they stare at each other with stars in their eyes.
“And while their love is unlike any other, so is the bond the four of us shared growing up. I’m fucking ecstatic to officially be able to call Griffin my big bro. And I know with everything in my heart that Kitty is here with us today.”
Reaching around Griff, I grab my glass of champagne.
“I ask on behalf of the maid of honor, who is joining us from above, that you raise your glasses to the happy couple. Let’s have a great night of dancing and celebrating love. Cheers to the beginning of your forever, I love you both,” I tell them as I raise my glass in the air.
I’ve barely set my glass down on the table with the mic when Mack throws her arms around me in a tight hug. “I love you so much, Carse. Thank you for being the best brother and uncle in the world.”
Backing out of her arms, I look at Griff and say, “I learned from the best.” Griff pulls me into a hug that has both of our shoulders shaking with emotion.
“I love you, brother,” he tells me, and fuck if that doesn’t put the biggest smile on my face.
“I love you too, you two-left-footed fool. Let’s hope you took some dance lessons in the last two months,” I tease.
Dakota
There wasn’t a dry eye during Griffin and McKenna’s touching ceremony. It was perfect from the thoughtful ways they memorialized Katie and Griff’s mom, Catherine, to the adorable way Griff couldn’t help but steal a kiss before Bennett, who officiated the ceremony, told them to kiss, to the meaningful vows they wrote and exchanged.
I couldn’t keep count of how many times my gaze strayed to Carson. He was holding on to Cadence for the majority of the ceremony until she wanted to be put down and raced over to sit between me and her gaga Liz. The next time my eyes wandered toward him, he was already staring at me. The wink he shot my way made my stomach swirl in anticipation.
I’m snapped out of the haze I was in when the guests cheer and whistle as Griff successfully dips Kenna and kisses her during their first dance.
Jackson is up on the stage singing Restless Road’s “Growing Old With You” while Bennett plays guitar and harmonizes with him.
The whole scene playing out in front of me is straight out of a fairytale love story. And that includes watching Carson dance with Cadence in his arms off to the side of the dancefloor where I can tell he’s choking back his emotions.
Kenna’s blinding smile makes my chest tighten, but it’s the single tear that drops down Griff’s face that cracks my chest wide open. Maybe being a recent divorcée should make me cynical when it comes to love and marriage, but the two of them prove that true love can persevere even in the darkest storms. The love reflecting in their eyes is so different from the feelings I felt on my own wedding day with Aaron.
Griffin loves and cherishes McKenna in a way that every girl dreams to experience one day. And he better, or I’m sure Carson would never stand for it. My chest aches at that thought—knowing Brody would never have stood for what Aaron did to me either. I want to come clean to him and tell him what happened, but I don’t know where to start. Of course Brodes and my mom know I’m divorced, but they have no idea about the abuse or my hospitalization. I’m worried that when he finds out I hid it from him for so long that he’ll be hurt I didn’t tell him right away.
Jackson and Bennett sing the last line of the song, and as the music begins to fade, Griff picks Kenna up and twirls her around in his arms as she tosses her head back in joyful laughter.
Walking over to the bar, I spot Bennett getting a refill.
“Whiskey, neat, please,” he tells the bartender who then looks at me, waiting for my order.
“Oh, um, I’ll have a tequila sour, please.”
Unsure of what to do, I ask, “Who knew the karaoke night wasn’t a one-off?”
Bennett turns toward me, quirking a skeptical brow.
“Good job up there. I didn’t know you could play the guitar.” I’m trying to make polite conversation, but something tells me he isn’t the kind of guy to make light conversation with an essential stranger.
“Thanks,” he murmurs.
Right. So not a fan of small talk.
“Hey, Benny. Isn’t that the girl you were drooling over at Griff’s bachelor party?” Carson asks, thankfully saving me from this awkward moment.
I look to where Carson is nodding across the other side of the bar and notice a woman standing with her back to me. Her long, auburn hair flows to the middle of her back, just above the hem of her backless navy dress.
Bennett’s head whips around surprisingly fast to where Carson is pointing. I watch with rapt attention as the girl turns around, and Bennett’s mouth hangs open when he recognizes her.
“How is she here right now? I mean, only family, close friends, and teammates were invited. Does McKenna know her? She has to, right? I mean, why else would she be here?” Bennett rattles off.
