Chapter 21

The sunset washes over us, the orange pink hue painting a beautiful scene, as Chris spins me around, pulling me into him a second later.

A laugh bubbles out of me as I grip onto his shoulders. “Wow. The dance lessons we took really paid off,” I tease, as his hands tighten on my waist.

He arches a brow. “You’re acting like we haven’t practiced dancing since we were kids,” he says with a smirk. “Well, you more than me, but…”

“You mean when I forced you?” I ask, reminding him of the time I practically dragged him up from the floor when we were both high, and drunk, and tired as fuck, and I made him dance with me.

He tugs on my waist, pulling me flush against him, and locks his eyes with mine. “You could never force me to do anything, Gabi. You know I’d do anything you wanted, no matter what.” I suck in a breath keeping my eyes on his chocolate ones I love so much. “No forcing needed.”

His lips curve the tiniest bit, making my heart pound against my chest. How was I so stupid so for long? How in the hell did I not know that Chris was everything I have ever wanted, and needed for the first six years of our friendship? It’s so clear to me now how perfect he is. How perfect we are together. How there’s no one in the whole entire planet that could make me feel like he does.

I shake my head slightly, my heart fluttering like crazy. “Why are you so perfect?” I ask him.

He lets out a low chuckle while we continue to dance, stepping to the slow song we both picked out to be our first dance. “I’m definitely not,” he says with a smirk.

I shake my head again, sliding my hand from his shoulder to the back of his neck, letting my fingers get tangled in his curly hair. “You’re perfect for me,” I tell him because everything in me screams for him. Every breath I take, every step I take, every damn morning I wake up the only thing that matters to me is this man right in front of me.

Chris comes to a halt, his hand falling from mine to clutch my face, his eyes scanning mine for what feels like eternity before he leans down and presses his lips to mine, deep and slow and full of passion. I’m aware everyone is watching us, since we’re the only people on the dancefloor, but I don’t care. This is my day. Our day. And I’m going to kiss my husband however many times I please.

When Chris pulls back, his lips curve into a smile, and he traces my cheek with the pad of his thumb, holding my face in the palm of his hand. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted to be,” he says making my heart thud against my chest.

“Alright,” the DJ says, breaking the moment between us. “I think it’s time for everyone else to join the happy couple.”

I turn my head, spotting a couple of people stepping away from their table to join me and Chris. I even see Chris’ mom join the dancefloor with her husband, both of them smiling at each other as they dance together.

I look around the gorgeous venue we picked out months ago, all our friends and family surrounding us, sitting on the gold chairs I was dying to have, and eating the expensive as fuck salmon that looked way too fancy for me, and I can’t help but smile as I lay my head on Chris’s chest.

“Everything is so perfect,” I murmur as we continue to slow dance, pressed against each other. “This is the best wedding I could ever ask for.”

I feel his thumb gently lift my chin and I turn to look up at him as he smiles down at me with those kind eyes. “I’m glad you love it, pretty girl. I want to make you this happy forever.”

My lips part. “Forever’s a long time,” I say.

He nods. “But not long enough with you.”

God. This man knows all of the right words to make me melt into a puddle. I love him so much. “Do you want kids?” I blurt out before my brain can catch up.

Chris pauses, his brows slightly furrowing as he searches my eyes. “Where is this coming from?” he asks.

I shrug, feeling my stomach churn. “I don’t know. It was just something I was wondering about.”

He arches a brow, still watching me unconvinced. “Do you want kids?”

I pause, thinking about every possible answer I could give him. “Maybe.”

“Maybe,” he repeats, a slight smirk on his lips. “You don’t sound too sure. ”

A sigh leaves my lips, and I turn to face him. “I don’t want my answer to influence you. I want to know what you think,” I tell him. “I already know you’d give me anything I wanted, but I need to know, Chris,” I say, swallowing hard. “I need to know if you really want kids.”

He watches me for a while, people dancing around us. It might have been a better idea to wait until we were at the hotel, or maybe even before we got married, but the thought is killing me, and I need to know his answer right now before I go insane.

He finally lets out a sigh, and closes his eyes briefly. “Of course I do, Gabi. Are you kidding? Seeing a little baby with both of our features would be fucking amazing,” he says which makes me suck in a breath. “It wouldn’t be easy, of course, but I work from home so I could take care of them while you were working. We’d go to the park on the weekends, and have ice cream, and I’d teach them to play video games.” He takes a breath. “I’d show them what real love from a father was, because it’s something I never had.” His eyes shift to mine, holding eye contact. “And I would love to see you as a mom,” he continues. “You’d be so fucking great. They’d have so much fun and love, and of course you’d burn their birthday cake.”

“Hey,” I interrupt with narrowed eyes. “You said I’m getting better at baking.”

“I lied,” he says with a teasing smirk as he caresses my cheek with his thumb. “I’d love to see you love our baby,” he continues. “We’d have sleepovers, and watch Disney movies, and… yes, Gabi. I would love to have kids with you,” he affirms. “But I’m not going to let my wants influence your decision. This isn’t a dealbreaker for me. I just want you. I have always just wanted you . And I’m good with whatever comes with it, I’m locked for life, baby. I’m here to stay.”

His answer catches me off guard, and I swallow, feeling my throat tighten. “You’ve really thought about it.”

He lets out a low scoff, shaking his head. “I don’t do much except think about you,” he says, leaning down to press his lips softly against my forehead.

When I pull back, I glance up at him, getting lost in his eyes. Until I see Grayson… dancing. My eyebrows shoot up, and Chris turns around, following my gaze.

“Is Grayson dancing?” I ask, hearing Chris laugh as we both watch Grayson spin Rosie around, dancing with her with the biggest smile on his face.

Chris chuckles, watching them both. “I don’t know why you’re surprised. He’d do anything for his girl,” he says, before glancing down at me. “I know the feeling.”

Our eyes meet, and I lift my chin as he leans down ready to kiss me and—

“Aunt Gabi!”

I pull back, glancing at the little kid running toward me with her arms out wide. God, children are such cockblocks. She’s lucky she’s adorable.

“Hi cutie,” I say with a laugh as she wraps her arms around my dress, secretly praying her hands aren’t dirty because… this was an expensive dress .

“Wow,” she says, her head tilted all the way back to look up at me, her big green eyes wide as hell. “You look like a princess.”

“Thank you,” I say, booping her on the nose. “I know.”

Leila lets out a scoff, crossing her arms. “I’m her mother and she ran to you first,” she says, shaking her head. “Un-freaking-believable.”

I let out a laugh, smoothing my hands over Nova’s silky smooth, mousy brown hair. “She likes me better,” I tease. “You can’t fault the girl. She has good taste.”

“I feed her, and bathe her, and put her to sleep, but suuuure , you’re her favorite,” Leila says with an eye roll.

Aiden chuckles behind her, placing a kiss on the top of her head. “Don’t be jealous, baby. She adores you.”

“Not enough it seems like,” Leila replies with a huff.

“Nova,” Aiden calls, making her little head turn around to face them. “You love your mommy, don’t you?”

Nova nods her head. “Yes. Mommy’s sooo beautiful,” she says, which makes my heart ache. God, kids are really fucking cute after all.

“See, gorgeous,” Aiden says, wrapping his arms around her waist, leaning down to press a kiss to her cheek. “Our daughter loves you. She’s just a little obsessed with Gabi right now,” he says with a chuckle.

I feel a little hand tugging at my dress, and I look down seeing her big green eyes on me. “Is Uncle Chris your prince?” she asks, making Chris chuckle beside me .

“Yes,” I say with a nod, sitting down and pulling her onto my lap. “He saved me from a big ugly dragon stepmother, and there was lava and an evil apple and stuff.”

Chris arches his brow. “I think you’re getting the stories mixed up,” he says, amused.

I wave a hand. “It’s all the same thing.”

“Am I going to have a prince like Uncle Chris when I grow up?” Nova asks.

I want to tell her that my prince is one in a million. That there’s no one like him in the entire world, but seeing as she’s only four, and I don’t want to blow her tiny head off I go another route. “If you want to,” I tell her with a shrug. “Or you can have a princess instead.”

“Really?” she asks, furrowing her little brows.

I let out a laugh. Might be too much for a kid to handle just yet. “Have you met your little sister yet?” I ask her.

She nods, a smile lighting up her face. “She looks like one of my dolls,” she tells me. “Mommy said we can play together when she grows up.” But then her smile slips a little. “She cries a lot.”

I let out a scoff as Leila takes a seat beside me, watching me with a grin. “You’re really good at this, you know?”

I glance down at little Nova with a smile. “I guess I am.”

“No way. You’re not backing down.” Our attention is drawn as the guys join us, Grayson breaking out into a grin. “I’m too fucking excited to see this.”

“Grayson,” Leila snaps, her eyes narrowing before she gestures to Nova sat on my lap .

“Fu—I mean fudge. I’m sorry. I didn’t notice,” he says, apologetically.

“What are you excited to see?” I ask the guys as they join our table.

“You remember the bet about the baby?” Aiden asks, taking a seat beside his wife. “James double-downed and said he’d take five shots if he was wrong.”

“That’s not that bad,” I say with a scoff. That used to be a calm night for me back in college.

Grayson arches his brow. “Five shots of tequila.”

“Jesus,” I cringe, shaking my head. “You’re so dead.”

He laughs nervously. “It was just a joke. I always knew it would be a girl.”

Aiden laughs. “Sure you did, bud.”

He drops his head, letting out a defeated groan. “Please don’t make me do this,” he pleads.

“You’re not allowed to back out now. You’re doing those shots.”

James groans again, gripping onto his husband’s suit. “Help me,” he murmurs.

Carter laughs, tapping him on his back. “Here, let’s go get cake.”

“Ooh,” he says, lifting his head. “Alright.”

Chris lets out a laugh as he grabs a chair and sits down beside me, my head immediately dropping onto his shoulder.

“She’s so quiet,” he says, his eyes on Nova as she plays with my dress, murmuring to herself. “You think ours will be like that? ”

Ours. My heart pounds as I turn my head, meeting his eyes. “No,” I say with a smirk. “I think ours will be loud, and fun, and crazy.”

Chris’s smile widens as he slides a hand to cup my face. “Just like her mom,” he says, leaning down to kiss me. “I can’t wait.”

“When can we leave?” I ask him when we pull back from our kiss.

He laughs. “Baby, it’s our wedding.”

“Which means we can leave early, right?” I say, hopeful, but the shake of his head makes my shoulders slump.

“Not quite,” he says, his lips twitching. “We still have the toast and speeches, and I want to dance with you again.” His smile slips a little. “What’s up?” he asks. “Why do you want to leave already?”

I shrug, keeping my eyes on his. “I just want to be alone with you,” I tell him.

He leans in, kissing me again, once, twice, short quick kisses that make my body shiver all the way down to my toes, wanting more. “There’s no rush, pretty girl. We have the rest of our lives.”

I groan. “You were right earlier. It’s not enough when it comes to you.”

His smile widens. “We’ll have the afterlife too.”

My brows knit together. “You think you’re going to turn me good, Hudson? Forget it.”

His shoulders shake with a laugh and she shakes his head. “If not, then I’ll go down with you,” he says. “As long as I’m with you, it will be heaven to me.”