29. Kat
29
Kat
I stood next to River as my brother married us, surrounded by family, and friends, all of them thrilled not just for our wedding but also for the baby on the way. Gage had already claimed the title of primary babysitter, and we still laughed about it.
The day was perfect for a wedding. I glanced at River standing beside me, and at the same moment, he looked over, smiled, and kissed me—again. I think we hit ten kisses before my brother could finally pronounce us husband and wife.
Deep down, I knew this was where I was meant to be. I was blessed to be marrying the man I loved more than anything. When Neal finally said, “I pronounce you husband and wife,” River scooped me up in his arms. His lips crashed into mine, and the kiss deepened as everyone around us cheered. I threw my head back and laughed when he pulled away, his eyes twinkling with joy.
“My wedding gift to you,” I whispered, grinning at him, “is that we’re having twins. ”
River laughed, throwing his head back in delight. “Damn, woman, you make me so happy.”
Gage raised his beer and clapped his hands. “To River and Kat—this is one mission that doesn’t involve stealth, camouflage, or breaching doors, but it still demands precision and patience. Congratulations, you two! Mission accomplished. Now may your marriage be like a covert op: low on drama, high on success, and nobody gets left behind!”
Everyone cheered, and we laughed. Tag stood up next, clapping his hands.
“River, my man, you’ve survived countless missions, but now you’re entering the most high-stakes operation of all—marriage! Just remember, Kat is your primary objective, and the only extraction plan is ‘happy wife, happy life.’ Here’s to your forever mission—may it be filled with love, laughter, and tactical support!”
Raven followed, raising his glass. “River, we’ve always had your back in every combat zone, but from today on, Kat’s got it for life. Kat, good luck—you’re now the official team leader of this guy! Remember, the Golden Team never leaves a man behind… unless it’s on dish duty. Cheers to a lifetime of teamwork, laughter, and figuring out who’s really in charge!”
I laughed along with the rest of the crowd. Then I saw River’s sister stand up. It was my first time meeting his family, and they’d surprised me—every one of them a hugger. River had one sister and his parents, all of whom welcomed me warmly. His sister was a knockout, something I overheard Gage say when he first saw her. River had already warned everyone to stay away from her, but at twenty-eight, she was more than capable of making her own decisions .
“Well, well, well,” she started, a playful grin on her face. “River, my dear brother, I never thought I’d see the day when you’d willingly sign up for a lifelong mission that requires actual communication and feelings. Kat, you’re clearly braver than anyone here for signing up too—and with him! You’ve got the patience of Special Forces, girl.
“But seriously, Kat, you’ve done the impossible. You not only captured his heart but also managed to tame the wild, stubborn ‘I-don’t-need-anyone’ River. And River, you’ve found someone who doesn’t just tolerate your quirks but actually loves you for them.
“To both of you—may your love be as strong as River’s stubborn streak and as beautiful as Kat’s heart. May you continue to find adventure together, laugh through the chaos, and always, always remember who’s really in charge… spoiler alert: it’s not you, River!
Cheers to love, laughter, and a lifetime of happiness!”
Her speech had everyone laughing, and when the music started, Gage asked her to dance. We watched as he twirled her around the floor. “Has Gage met Winnie before?” I asked River.
“Yes, but she was still in college then. I made him promise not to date my sister.”
“Why?”
“Because she’s my sister,” River said with a smile, pulling me into a hug.
“You’re such a sweet brother. Now, let’s dance, husband.” A slow song began, and he pulled me close. As we danced, I noticed River freeze. I followed his gaze and saw Gage slow dancing with Winnie—so close a dime couldn’t have fit between them. Winnie’s eyes were closed, and Gage’s arms tightened around her .
River tensed, and I gently touched his face. “It’s just a dance. Let’s focus on telling our parents we’re having twins.”
He took a deep breath and nodded. Together, we walked over to where our parents sat chatting. “We have news,” River said, grinning. “We’re having twins.”
“What? Twins?!” Both of our mothers jumped up, hugging us as tears of joy streamed down their faces. Our fathers followed with hugs of their own. My dad kissed my cheek and shook hands with River.
“We’re so happy for you both,” my dad said. “Twins run in our family, you know.”
I laughed at River’s surprised expression, then he smiled and took my hand, pulling me back onto the dance floor. “We’re leaving after this dance,” he whispered. “It’s our wedding night, and I have plans for you. Once those babies arrive, we’ll be too exhausted to make love all night.”
I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him. “I’ve got a few surprises for you too. I read this book, and… well, I’ll show you later.”
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