Chapter 24

chapter twenty-four

Grant

"Listen, I've got news for you. You are not replacing me with that fucking Rookie. I will fight that motherfucker with my bare hands."

My jaw hits the floor when I open the front door and find Reese goddamn Landry outside, his lips twisted in a scowl, with Boo strapped to his chest in a bright purple cat carrier.

He frowns, shaking his head and narrowing his eyes at me. "Oh, you think you can just disappear from Swifties4Life and not text back for days on end and that we wouldn't show up?"

What in the fuck is happening?

Before I can even respond, Lane steps from behind Reese and folds his arms over his chest, mumbling, "Moneybags here rented a jet, and here we are."

"You weren't complaining earlier when you were joining the mile-high club, dickface," Reese retorts with a shit-eating grin.

A hand flies out of nowhere from behind him, smacking him directly in the back of the head.

Reese winces, his shoulders hunching. "Ouch, Viv. What the hell was that for?"

Suddenly, his five-foot-nothing, fiery girlfriend pushes between the two of them with Hallie, Lane's girlfriend, in tow. I notice that Hallie's changed out her signature purple streaks in her hair to bright green ones, and my mouth curves up in a grin.

Holy shit… how are my best friends here ? It's been so long since I've seen them. Too fucking long. And no matter how ridiculous Reese's reasons are for dragging them all here, I'm just ridiculously happy to see them.

I surge forward and drag both Viv and Hallie into my arms, hugging them so tightly they squeal in mock protest.

"Fuck, I can't believe you guys are here right now," I say.

After giving them both one last squeeze, I move on to my boys, giving Lane a lingering hug despite his grumbling, and the same with Reese, even though Boo's caught between us.

The dude takes "cat dad" to a whole new level.

"You gonna let us in, or are we gonna stand out here and braid each other's hair?" Lane says, brow arched in question.

Shit, I missed his grumpy ass. And Reese's over-the-top ass. I realize that while, yeah, he's been busy playing for a new team, and Lane's growing out his beard… we're the kind of friends who'll always pick back up where we left off, no matter how long we go without seeing each other.

We all head back inside the apartment, and the second that the girls see Auggie sitting by the coffee table, they lose their minds.

"You got a dog ?" Hallie squeals excitedly, bouncing on the toes of her checkered Vans. She rushes over to him and squats to cover him in kisses as she rubs his ears.

To absolutely no surprise, he's eating the attention up, rolling over onto his back with his pudgy little legs and paws pointed toward the ceiling.

"God, he is so freaking cute," Viv murmurs as she joins Hallie on the floor to lavish Auggie with head scratches.

I'm pretty sure he's going to have a heart attack from the amount of attention he's getting.

Reese bends down, taking Boo out of the carrier and placing her gently onto the floor after giving her a few kisses on her head. Completely unfazed, Boo stretches before taking in her new surroundings. Clearly, she's gotten used to outings and other animals because she pads directly over to Auggie without hesitation.

She takes a furry black paw and pokes him with curiosity, but he just licks her face in response. Apparently, that's enough for her to consider him a friend because she lazily lies down next to him, cuddling up to Viv's side.

"So, you got fucking married , you got a dog , you signed a six-figure sponsorship. Anything else you care to tell us?" Reese says as he flops down onto the sofa, pulling his hat off and dropping it into his lap.

"Yeh, one more thing… I think I'm in love with my wife."

"Uh… duh?" Reese replies as if he's stating the obvious. "Are you just figuring that out or…?"

Lane chortles, covering his mouth. "Apparently so."

Part of me is glad Addie's not here for this conversation so I can get advice from my guys, but then an even bigger part of me can't wait for her to meet the most important people in my life, besides my mama and her.

She's with Amos working at the bakery, so she'll be home later this afternoon.

I walk over to the armchair and sink down into it, exhaling. "Yeah, well, it's complicated, remember?"

More complicated than I've even had a chance to tell them. So I quickly catch them up about all that has transpired in the past few days with the bakery, and our suspicions about who's behind it, and about the weekend spent with my mom. And the biggest update of all… that I have, in fact, realized I'm in love with Addie and have probably been in love with her longer than I even knew.

"Listen, I'm going to start making you schedule a weekly FaceTime call with us so you can keep us up to date on your life. And stop neglecting the group chat," Reese says exasperatedly. "I fucking hate that we're the last to know anything."

"For once, I agree," Lane adds with a solemn expression. "I mean, I get it. Life is busy, we're all on opposite sides of the country doing different shit, but we're your best friends, man."

I nod. It has been hard this year not seeing my two best friends every day. But as much as I hate that they're so fucking far away, I know they're all happy and thriving, and that's all that I want for them.

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure I caught Reese crying when he found out he missed your wedding," Viv says from the floor. Auggie's somehow halfway in her lap and halfway in Hallie's, taking what looks like the best nap of his life.

My lips twitch. Reese's brow furrows, and he acts completely shocked by her admission, quickly defending himself. "I was not… crying. I had something in my eye. Dust or something."

Viv rolls her eyes with a smirk. "Mhm. Dust. Whatever you need to tell yourself, baby. Just admit that you miss your friend."

"I do miss him, and I have no problem talking about my feelings. And even if I was crying, it's fine. Men have emotions and can express them too," Reese mutters matter-of-factly.

Shit, I didn't realize just how badly I missed this until now.

"Reese, focus. Can we go back to Grant's problem?" Hallie interjects. "So… you love Addie. Have you told her that yet?" she asks with a small smile.

I shake my head, and the room erupts in a chorus of groans.

"Dude, did you not learn anything from Lane?" Reese says, nodding toward him.

"I'm going to tell her. My mom gave me the same advice when we visited. I just… with everything going on, I don't want to complicate things further for her by moving too fast. It just feels selfish." I pause, flicking my gaze between all of them. "And I don't want my love for Addie to be selfish. She deserves everything. The whole world."

Viv's nose wrinkles. "That is the most romantic thing I've ever heard, Grant. This is why you have to tell her. She deserves to know how you feel about her."

"Yeah, what my girl said," Reese quips, staring at her adoringly in a way that used to make me want to hurl myself off a bridge. Not because I'm not happy for my friends—I am, and I always have been. It was just the fact that I was always the third wheel, and now… I get it. I so fucking get it.

I'm pretty sure I stare at Addie the exact same way. I guess it took falling in love to really understand.

"I know you're right, and I need to tell her. I just also… want the first time I tell her that I love her to be memorable. I want to do it the right way, to plan something that she'll never forget."

I expect the guys to give me at least a little bit of shit for wanting to do something sappy, but they genuinely just look like they're excited for me.

Reese hops up from the couch and claps his hands together enthusiastically, "So let's do this shit. We're going to help you plan the best fucking love profession to ever exist."

Lane chuckles. "Clearly, Reese has been waiting his entire life for this."

I'm vividly remembering times when I helped both of these idiots who were in love and didn't even realize it, and now I'm the idiot in love who needs help.

"Tell us about her. What does she like? What's she into? What's important to her?" Hallie asks as she tucks a black, springy curl behind her ear.

I drag my hand over my jaw pensively. "She's an artist and loves to sketch and paint. Baking. Her family owns Ever After, a bakery down by the Quarter, so she's amazing at it. She's also into space, constellations."

"Oh. What if you, like… named a star after her?" Reese says, and I can't hide the shock that morphs my face.

That's actually… a really good fucking idea. Brilliant, honestly.

"Babe, that's literally from A Walk to Remember . With Mandy Moore?" Viv points out with a soft expression.

"Shit. Is that the one you made me watch a few weeks ago?" he asks, scratching his head, suddenly looking a bit red.

Viv nods. "Yep. You got dust in your eye then too."

My lip tugs into a grin as I raise my fist to my mouth and attempt to hide it.

She is always outing that dude for his sensitive side. Of course Reese fucking Landry would cry watching A Walk to Remember .

"Uh… yeah, okay, well, it was just a suggestion," Reese replies as he walks over to Boo and picks her up, clutching her in his arms.

I stand from the chair and steal her right from his arms, cuddling her cute-as-shit, furry little body to me. I missed my Boo bear. I'm the worst uncle in the history of the world for not cuddling her the moment she got here, but in my defense, she was all too happy to be hanging out with Auggie.

"It was a great suggestion, man. I appreciate you all trying to help. But I… think I have an idea. Something that will be special to her," I say as I rub Boo's head affectionately.

"Whatever you decide, Grant, I know it'll be perfect," Hallie offers, and my gaze flits to her, a smile curving my mouth slightly.

"Thanks, Hal. Thank you all for hopping on a plane to come check on me. I'm really fucking glad that you did because I miss you guys."

"Thank rich guy over he?—"

The sound of the front door opening cuts Lane off, and everyone's attention turns toward the entryway as Addie appears, her blonde hair piled high on her head and wearing my favorite dress. The one with little flowers all over it. The one I have very fucking fond memories of.

"Oh. Uh… hi," she mutters timidly as her gaze shifts to mine.

I didn't have a chance to text her and tell her that everyone was here since they surprised the shit out of me.

"Hey, ba?—"

Hallie and Viv barely even give me a chance to open my mouth to explain and introduce everyone before they're both barreling toward her, pulling her into a hug as if they're not meeting her for the very first time. For a second, I see Addie's eyes widen, a flash of surprise flickering in them, but then she laughs nervously, reaching up to return their embrace.

"Hi, I'm Viv, and this is Hallie, and we've heard so much about you. I feel like I already know you? Which basically just means we're all best friends at this point," Viv rambles as she pulls back and smiles warmly at Addie.

Hallie laughs, stepping back. "God, Viv, give her a second to breathe ."

"Hi. It's nice to meet you. I've heard so much about you guys too," Addie replies shyly, walking over to me. I've got a sleeping Boo against my chest, cradled in my arms, but I dip my head and give her a quick kiss.

"Sorry for just randomly showing up. My boyfriend has entirely too much money and a flair for the dramatic, and he missed his bestie," Viv tells her. "It was definitely a last-minute thing, and we wanted to surprise Grant. And meet you, of course."

Addie shakes her head vehemently. "No, I'm so happy you're here. I've been looking forward to meeting everyone, and honestly, this is a great surprise to come home to," she says genuinely.

After Reese and Lane introduce themselves and we all catch up for a bit, Hallie and Viv quickly steal her away for "girl talk," shooing us out to the patio. The three of them immediately hit it off in a way I truly didn't expect. Not because I thought that they wouldn't like each other, but because I know how shy Addie is and how sometimes meeting new people is hard for her. But clearly, that is not the case here. In part, because my friends are so welcoming to her, just like I knew they would be.

When she gives me a sweet smile, letting me know she's okay to be alone with the girls, I set a sleeping Boo next to Auggie on his bed, then join the guys outside.

"You're either blind or stupid because that girl loves you back, dude," Reese says when the patio door shuts behind me. "You both look at each other with fucking heart eyes. It's actually adorable."

Lane nods in agreement. "Can't believe I'm saying this again today… but he's right."

"Letting Reese be right? Damn, I know that wasn't easy for you to admit, man. Good for you," I reply, slapping Lane on the back with a grin.

Reese's dark brows furrow. "You know, assholes, I'm right more often than not. And I know I'm right about this. You gotta tell her, Grant. And so help me fucking god, if I'm not best man at your next real wedding, I am breaking up with you. Cold turkey, cutting your ass off. Nobody puts baby in the corner."

"You and Lane can rock paper scissors over it," I say jokingly, but knowing Reese, he's not going down without a fight.

But his joke also jolts me. I've been so caught up in thinking about just admitting my feelings to Addie that I didn't even consider what actually happens after I do. We're already married. We skipped a lot of fucking steps. If she feels the same way, do I just date my wife? What happens when the stuff with the bakery is over?

I don't want an annulment.

I sure as fuck don't want a divorce.

I want her to be mine, for real this time. I want to protect her, cherish her.

I want to be the man who puts her first, especially when no one in her life ever has.

I want all of it, and I want it with her. Even if we did it backward.

There's nothing I've been more sure of.

"You know, it's really nice being the one to dish out relationship advice for a change," Reese says with a smirk. "What would you two do without me?"

"Jesus Christ," Lane grunts.

"Need I remind you who got on their hands and fucking knees and crawled around a baseball field looking for tiny-ass little beads for you?" Reese sasses back.

I bite back a laugh because, you know… he's right.

Lane rolls his eyes as he drags a hand through his mop of dark blond waves.

"Tell me you love me, Lane. Go on," Reese mutters, crossing his arms over his chest and lifting a brow.

Lane shakes his head exasperatedly. "Fuck me. Why are you like this?"

Sometimes they drive me fucking nuts, and they bicker like an old married couple, but honestly… I'm just thankful because they're here.

These guys are my family, no matter how many miles separate us. No matter how much time passes. No matter what changes in our lives. Long past our time at Orleans U.

We'll always have each other. The kind of bond that can't be broken.

My brothers.