I wasn’t surprised by how beautiful Minnie looked today. She sent me a selfie earlier after she was dressed. I knew then how amazing she looked. I knew the dress fit her perfectly, and the minute I saw her I was going to think of ten different ways to get her out of the dress. But, what I wasn’t prepared for was the way I felt when I saw Minnie walking down the aisle. She took my breath away. Her beauty is only part of it. The fact that she’s here, with my friends, accepted as one of our own within months, and she chooses me. Well, it was a little overwhelming. I mean, I wasn’t a pussy like Jameson and crying.
Okay, that’s bullshit. There was maybe one tear. Or two. What can I say? We’re sensitive dickheads. During the ceremony, I caught Minnie looking my way a few times, and I sent her one of my panty-melting smiles. This smile is not my opinion, it’s a fact. It’s a smile I can send toward my girl and she’s dropping her panties, ready for more than just smiles.
“Hey, handsome. Ready to spin me around that dance floor?” I turn to the voice of my angel. The woman who has completely transformed my life and yet encourages me to stay true to who I am and never tries to change me.
“Sure am. How’s Ash?” I ask.
“She’s great. A little overwhelmed I think. The baby makes the last few weeks with her make so much more sense. And the number of times she’s needed a restroom today.” The DJ announces for the wedding party to take their place on the dance floor. We’re improvising since we were supposed to join Ben and Piper during the end of the first dance, but then Jameson figured out Ashton was pregnant. As soon as he scooped her up in his arms, I’ll admit my stress level dropped about fifty percent. I know Minnie and I are careful, but there was that lingering thought all day after Landon found the test that we hadn’t been as careful as I thought.
I pull Minnie into my arms, and she settles in with her head resting on my shoulder, her face toward my own. We dance for a minute in silence, allowing the moment to wrap itself around us in complete peace.
“Ashton told me you guys found the test earlier,” Minnie whispers as she pulls her head from my shoulder and peers up at me through her long lashes.
“Landon did,” I confirm.
“Were you scared? I’m surprised you didn’t call me.”
“I didn’t want to ruin the day, and I know we’re careful.” I don’t really like where this conversation may be headed. Minnie and I have only been together a few months and we are living in a house that currently has a bed, a television, and two bean bag chairs. We aren’t exactly ready for kids.
“I know we’re careful but things happen. I feel like this is something we should talk about. Do you want children?” Her eyes are wide as she stares at me, waiting for me to respond. I’ve never given kids much thought before Minnie. I never thought I’d meet someone who would have me looking at a future. A future that may include a couple kids, a dog, and an SUV. No minivan for this guy.
“Minnesota,” I say with a quirked brow as I wrap both hands around her waist and tug her closer to me. The moment our bodies connect, my buddy in my pants hardens. Inappropriate fucker.
“Don’t ‘Minnesota’ me, Owen. You can’t charm me with that deep voice and your cock. Answer the question.” Feistiness. It’s one of my favorite things about my girl.
“I’ll be honest, I never gave it much thought. I had a shit childhood, and I always assumed I’d be a shitty father.”
Minnie’s gaze drops and her shoulders collapse as if she’s giving up. I lift her chin up so she’s looking at me. The song changes but stays slow. Most of the guests have joined us on the dance floor and I glance around, taking in the people around us before continuing.
“I never gave it much thought because I didn’t think I would ever meet someone I wanted to have that with. Then, baby, then I met you. Nothing in this world would make me happier than having kids with you.”
“Really?” she asks, a tentative smile appearing.
“Yes, really. I don’t think we’re there yet. I mean, I just bought the house, and we haven’t even bought a couch yet. Maybe we should furnish our home before we think about nurseries and shit.” A full smile takes over Minnie as she begins running her fingers through the hair at the nape of my neck.
“But, we can practice, right? I mean, that’s not out of the cards.”
“Yes, my little sex kitten. We’ll practice so much you’ll be sick of me.”
Minnie and I dance for a few more minutes before my dad and his girlfriend, Barb, approach us. I told Minnie I had a shitty childhood and assumed I’d be a shitty dad. That’s a little unfair to my dad, but it’s true. He was far from father of year. Hell, he was barely a father some days. But, we’ve turned a corner in the last few months, and while we have a long way to go, I understand him more and I look forward to building a friendship with him.
“We’re going to head out soon, son, but I wanted to see if I can interest this lovely lady in a quick dance before we do.” My dad motions toward Minnie who smiles and steps out of my embrace.
“Why Lee Butler, I’d be honored,” she says with a curtsy. These two are bosom buddies. The minute my dad, a lifelong Minnesota Twins fan, learned the woman I was dating was named Minnesota, he was head over heels for her. Barb and I sit on the sidelines while the two of them talk about random trivia, and my dad tries to explain the rules of baseball to Minnie.
“Barb, shall we?” I ask, extending my hand. Barb accepts my offered hand, and we dance for the remainder of the song before an old Brooks & Dunn song starts playing and we turn our slow dance into a two-step.
After a few dances with Barb and my dad, Minnie and I walk them out of the tent to say goodbye. It was nice of Piper and Ben to include our parents on their day. I know Minnie had hoped Dakota would have been here, but she’s still adjusting to the loss of her husband, being a single parent to two small girls, and being home from rehab. Dakota and I haven’t always seen eye to eye but I like her a lot and have faith that soon she’ll grow to love me. I can understand why a wedding would be hard for her. I can’t imagine it’s easy to celebrate someone else’s forever when hers was cut short so recently.
By the time the wedding portion of the night is over, many of the guests have departed, and all that’s left are friends, some of Ben and Ashton’s aunts and uncles, and a few cousins. I’d say we’re about to kick it up by the way everyone is heading to the bar.
I spy Minnie talking to Piper and Ashton, her hand on Ashton’s stomach. Women. Ash is probably six seconds pregnant, and they’re likely planning her baby shower, and I guess, bridal shower. I shake my head at their predictability and walk toward where the guys are standing.
I look in the direction they’re all staring and see two of Ben’s teenage cousins trying to sneak a few bottles from the large bins filled with ice and beer. We stand and watch in silence. Waiting. Then it happens, and we start laughing.
Taylor swoops in behind the kids and grabs them each by their shirt collar and hauls them away. We all break out in laughter, bent over with tears running down our faces.
“Those kids are probably shitting themselves right now,” Landon says.
“Serves them right. Little bastards,” Ben snorts.
“Ah come on guys. We were their age once,” I remind them.
“Nah man, we would’ve brought our own beer and hid it behind the tent. They’re rookies,” Jameson adds.
“Truth,” I say, offering a fist bump in agreement. “So, what’ya say boys? Looks like we have some celebrating to do.” The guys turn to me in agreement. High fives and congratulations are exchanged to both Ben and Jameson on their big days.
There’s no bartender minding the beer and wine, but Taylor and his date have been lingering a bit near the bar, keeping an eye on it and making sure it stays stocked. Probably because whatever isn’t used is going back to Country Road with Taylor. I pop open beers for everyone, and Landon lines up some shot glasses as the girls approach us.
On instinct, I pull three beers from the bin but pause and put one back looking at Ashton. She smiles in appreciation as I grab a bottled water for her instead.
“Thanks, Owen.” Her eyes glisten, and she bats her hand in front of her face. “Sorry, hormones. Apparently, I cry a lot when I’m pregnant. Oh,” she gasps, “that’s the first time I’ve really said it out loud. Wow, guys. We’re going to have a baby.” She looks around at our group, and we all raise our bottles in a toast to the new addition to our crew.
Shots soon follow, and we stand around talking like it’s just any other Saturday night with our group of friends. I suppose in many ways it is. We’re just a new version of who we’ve always been. And we’re dressed much nicer than usual.
The DJ switches up the music a little and some older dance music fills the tent. The girls are dancing in their spots where we stand. Drinks in hand, swaying together, and laughing. Then Ashton stops mid-spin and stares at the dance floor, mouth agape, a look of horror in her eyes. The girls see her and stop too. Eventually all of us turn our attention to what is happening just a few feet away.
“Ah hell, what are they doing? Someone’s bound to break a hip.”
We all laugh at Ashton’s comment. It’s almost as if she didn’t mean to say it out loud because she blushes slightly and shrugs her shoulder. I know she means her parents and family members, but they aren’t old by any means. We stand and watch for a few minutes as the dance floor fills with the older crowd dancing, arms in the air, singing along to the music, and having what looks like the time of their lives. One of the aunts must have heard Ashton’s remark because she dances her way over to where we’re standing and dances dramatically in front of Ashton who playfully pushes her, laughing.
For the next few minutes, several of the aunts and uncles repeat the move and soon the girls have joined everyone on the dance floor. When a song I’m not very familiar with comes on, the older crew spreads out creating two lines facing one another. It looks like a line dance but the music most definitely isn’t country so I’m not sure what’s happening.
I look to the guys, and they all look equally confused. “Uh, what the fuck is happening?” Jameson asks. We all shrug but take a few tentative steps toward the rest of the crowd. Suddenly, one at a time, they start dancing down the aisle of people. Some of the uncles are doing a little shuffle, but the aunts seem to be really into it.
Ashton pulls Jameson toward her and puts her hands on his hips, encouraging him to dance. Piper does the same to Ben, but he doesn’t need encouragement and starts dancing on his own. Landon is with us but standing off to the side a little, not really interested in what we’re doing. Minnie grabs my hand.
“Oh my gosh! It’s a soul train line! We have to do it!” She’s shouting and looks so damn excited I agree without knowing what the hell she’s talking about. It’s only when I’m pushed in the middle of the aisle of people that I realize I’m supposed to dance. Alone. To music. Dear Lord. I decide to follow suit with the uncles and just shimmy my way to the end before scooping Minnie up into a kiss.
“Are you having fun, babe?” I ask while nibbling on her neck.
“Hmmhmm so much fun. I love you, Owen.”
“I love you too, Minnesota. But I’m not doing that dancing shit again.”
We both laugh and I know the reality is, I will. I’ll do anything this woman asks me to because seeing her happy is my new mission in life.