If I'd had any concerns about attending a wedding where I didn't actually know any of the people getting married—and let's be real, I had been certain it would be awkward as fuck—those concerns faded in importance as soon as I arrived and Samantha saw me.

"Mr. Davis!" she shrieked, launching herself across the backyard, a fluffy something in her arms. An older man holding a baby stopped her gently.

"Quiet voice, Sammy. And maybe put Shultz down before you squish him?"

She gently set down the fluffy, which turned out to be a puppy, and then continued her mad dash toward me. I dropped to a crouch and braced myself for the inevitable crash. Her tiny body bowled into me with the full force of an excited nine-year-old. The puppy seemed no worse for the wear and toddled happily after her.

"Hey, Sam-a-lam." I rocked back on my heels, absorbing her weight and returning her hug, then stood up to greet the older man who followed after her and the puppy.

Samantha hung onto my arm. "This is G'pa Dick," she said excitedly. "G'pa! This is Mr. Davis. He lets us play soccer and volleyball and basketball and hula hoop."

G'pa Dick stuck out his free hand. "Hula hoops? That sounds fun. For a second, I thought you were just going to be all about the balls."

I flushed red and glanced down at Sam, but the double entendre seemed to flow right over her head.

"I'm Richard, same as my son, though, so feel free to call me Big Dick." His smile was positively jovial. "Keeps everything clear."

Sam was bouncing excitedly next to me, and the puppy was getting perilously close to her feet.

"Watch out, Samantha," I warned, and she stopped to pick up the puppy again, who happily licked her arm. "I'm Ryan Davis," I introduced myself. "Samantha's PE teacher."

"Dusty mentioned I should keep an eye out for you. Seeing as the only person you're actually acquainted with is our Miss Sammy here, he thought you might appreciate some introductions."

I only knew Sam's... dads—Family? I wasn't really sure how to refer to their unique situation. Family was probably the best label—I only knew her family peripherally. All three of them came to parent nights when they could, but the older guy, Richard, Big Dick's son, had missed out on at least one because of his job. They'd always been super interested in Sam's physical education report—not overly interested in the way sports-minded parents were, nor dismissive in the way grade-focused parents tended to be. I wished more folks were like them. The fact that they'd asked someone to specifically make sure I wasn't left on the outside at their wedding? It only confirmed the sense I'd had that they were good people.

People always assumed because I was a jock and an alpha, I was also outgoing. Nothing was further from the truth. If I wasn't working with kids or playing soccer or talking about soccer, I didn't know how to interact with people.

G'pa Dick led me over to the refreshments table and set me up with a drink while introducing me to the people we met along the way. Samantha tagged along until another family arrived with a girl her age in tow. She shrieked with the same enthusiasm she'd given my arrival. Thankfully, she'd already set the puppy down, and he bounced after her happily.

"That would be Samantha's friend Bella, Bella's dad, Ethan, and Ethan's mother, Mrs. St. John."

I didn't miss the way Dick's tongue lingered on the older woman's name. A quick glance confirmed the older man's face had softened. Looked like the trio getting handfasted weren't the only lovebirds around. Though, as Mrs. St. John and her son approached, I couldn't tell if Dick's interest was returned.

"Amelia, Ethan, I'd like to introduce Ryan Davis, Sammy's PE teacher."

I reached out to shake their hands and Mrs. St. John clung to my fingers a little fiercely. "I hope you realize what a gem you have in Samantha, Mr. Davis," she said firmly. "As her former art teacher, I know exactly what I'm missing."

G'pa Dick snorted. "Former. As if you ever gave up teaching my granddaughter, whether she was in school or not."

Her protectiveness and love for the girl was evident. You could always tell the good ones by the way they felt invested in their students, even when they were no longer in the classroom. I returned her strong grip. "I wish all kids were as excited to try everything as she is."

My answer apparently satisfied her and she released my hand. I turned to her son and nearly jumped at the spark that seemed to crackle under our touch, making me look at him more closely. His auburn, scruff-covered soft cheeks and his eyes were gentle, but tired. They were also examining me as intently as I was examining him. I started when I realized how long I'd been clinging to his hand, but he didn't seem to mind. His mom and Dick had already stepped away, deep in their own conversation.

Reluctantly, I loosened my fingers, and a thrill shivered up and down my spine as our fingers slowly drew away.

"So, are you just as obsessed about teaching as my mom is?" Ethan asked, and it took me a moment to realize he was teasing. "Well, I guess it's not all teaching. She's obsessed with art. With making it herself, with looking at it, with teaching it."

"I can promise you I'm not obsessed with art," I teased back, surprising myself.

"But are you obsessed with sports?"

I raised my hands in mock surrender. "You caught me. I'm a soccer junkie. I enjoy all sports to some extent or another, but soccer is what really gets me going. If I'm not teaching, it's all soccer, all the time."

Ethan nodded. "Just as I suspected. You're one of those teachers."

I raised an eyebrow, feeling a little defensive, but willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. "Oh? What kind of teachers."

"The ridiculously good ones who have a hard time knowing what the word 'relax' means."

"Me?" I shrugged. He was a little too close to the truth, and it made me feel uncomfortable. "I'm here, aren't I?"

He gave me a pointed look. "And who invited you?"

"Samantha's parents."

"Because... Sam wanted you here, right?"

"You caught me again." I lifted my cup to my lips and gulped at it. Blegh. Way too sugary. And not nearly enough alcohol. By which I meant there wasn't any. Not that I’d be able to handle it if there was, anyway. My fingers itched for a beer. I could use some social lubrication right about now. "How about you?"

"Why am I here? I suppose you could blame Sam for that, too. Or my mother. Both. Sam's family is pretty darn cool, though, aren't they?"

Was he challenging me to see if I had an issue with the three guys bonding? Hey, whatever worked for them. I was jealous of people who meshed well enough to have a relationship with one person, let alone two.

"They seem to be. I always feel like you can judge someone by how they raise their kids. I know Dusty and Richard haven't exactly raised Sam, but her brother has, and Sam has nothing but good to say about the other guys."

Ethan nodded with a faraway look in his eyes. "The whole thing is kind of ridiculously romantic."

I opened my mouth, considering asking him what the full story was, but he suddenly snapped his head to either side. "It's too quiet. Excuse me, I need to go see what kind of mischief my daughter is getting into. I'll catch you later, right?"

Was that a hopeful 'right' or just a polite one? Either way, I lifted my glass to him and agreed, "Later."

As much as I was enjoying the way Ethan bantered with me, setting me slightly off kilter, I would never get between a man and his child. I'd seen too many kids suffer neglect from one parent or another. Ethan's attentiveness gave him additional points in my book.

I sipped my drink and scanned the yard. The ceremony could be starting any time, I supposed. I wasn't really sure how this handfasting thing went. The yard was fuller than when I had arrived, but it was still going to be a small ceremony. Everyone seemed to have someone to talk to, standing in groups or pairs, except for one man. His hair was a little long, brushing his chin as he stood by himself with his eyes closed. I took a deep breath. I was a grown-ass man. It was not that difficult to go up to a stranger and just start talking.

I approached the man with determination. His eyes remained closed when I stopped next to him. "Nice day, isn't it?"

It was lame, I know. But it was also all the chill I had. The man still didn't open his eyes, but he nodded.

"It is an auspicious day for a new beginning."

I nodded. I guessed this guy was one of those people who really got into weddings and stuff. I didn't mind them, much. You know, other than being everything I didn't like, they were pretty okay. I stuck out my hand. "Name's Ryan. I'm a friend of the flower girl."

The man finally opened his eyes and I was struck by their multi-colored depths. Damn. This guy wasn't really close to my type, with the long hair and soft features, but those eyes were intense.

"I am known in this life as Kai." Instead of taking my hand, he gripped my shoulders and pulled me in for a kiss to each cheek. I sputtered, and my skin bloomed red for the second time that day. "Well met on this bountiful event, Ryan. I served as the life bringer's guardian."

You know what? Forget sounding like an idiot—this was the reason I avoided meeting people outside of soccer. Okay, it wasn't the reason. It was just another reason on a list that grew longer every year. How was I supposed to respond to that? "Congratulations?" I started to inch away.

Kai bowed. Was he thanking me? Had congratulations been the right thing to say?

"Would you be interested in joining me for a moment of thanks to the universe, Ryan?"

Before I could even start to figure out an answer, a gong sounded.

"If everyone would please join us at the altar, the ceremony is about to begin." A woman in a white robe gestured us to the corner of the yard, where I guessed the altar was.

"Another time, yeah?" I said to Kai, hurrying to find a spot as far away from the strange man as I could. He bowed again.

Big Dick caught me before I buried myself in a hedge in my eagerness to remove myself from the awkward conversation with Kai. He had a baby tucked in one arm. "I see you met our resident crazy," he said with a snicker.

Mrs. St. John, standing to his side, swatted him on the shoulder. "Richard. Be kind."

Dick shook his head, undeterred. "The sixties called, they want their hippie back."

"He seems..." I didn't know how to finish that sentence. "Intense. He said he was a guardian?"

"Let me guess: the life bringer's guardian?"

I nodded, glancing around to make sure Kai hadn't snuck up on me. "Something like that."

"He was Josiah's doula. Omega, life bringer. Guardian, doula."

The translation made sense. "So... he just talks strangely?"

Dick snorted. "He's completely certifiable."

"Richard!" Mrs. St. John admonished again, and Dick grabbed her hand and placed it on his forearm, underneath the baby's head.

"Well, we'd best get to our spots. Rich might take away my grandpa privileges if his son isn't front and center." Dick nodded at the baby. I drifted to the back of the crowd. After the ceremony was over, I'd say goodbye to Sam and then get the fuck out. Talking to new people was exhausting, as Kai had reminded me.

My eyes lit on a light auburn head as it found its way toward the front. Ethan.

Well, maybe not all new people were exhausting. Maybe I wouldn't hurry out as quickly after all.