Holding You

Will’s mouth dropped open as he stared at me. “What in the hell is it with this family and wanting to hang me up by my balls in the barn? Your father and Luke have already bestowed the same threat on me today.”



Placing my hand on his shoulder, I laughed. “Great minds think alike. Come on, let’s gets down there so you can marry my sister.”



By the time I finally got Will downstairs and out where he needed to be, the wedding was about to start. Glancing around, I smiled as I looked at everything. Alex had spent hours going through our parents’ wedding photos and had set up her wedding almost the same. Everyone was sitting on square bales of hay as white lights hung from the trees. One of my favorite things Alex and Will did was take pictures from our parents’ weddings and framed them in small white frames that hung from the tree and adorned the tables. Alex said she felt like it was good luck and I had to agree with her.



Will was rocking back and forth as he rubbed his hands up and down his pants. “Will, you’re gonna rub a hole in your damn pants before she even gets here. Calm the hell down,” Luke said to Will.



Pastor Roberts cleared his throat. “Boys, let’s not do this again. I did it with your fathers. Please, no repeats.”



Will, Luke and I all turned and looked at him. “What?” Will asked confused.



“Who is the best man, son?” Pastor Roberts asked Will.



Looking between us, Will said, “Both. I couldn’t pick one.”



Letting out a sigh, Pastor Roberts pointed to Luke and me. “Who has the ring?”



I turned to Luke and he turned to me. “Luke’s got the ring.”



Luke’s mouth dropped open and I instantly knew we were both fucked. “Me? I don’t have the ring. It’s your sister.”



Staring at him like he was insane, I whispered, “She’s your cousin!”



Luke laughed. “Dude, sister trumps cousin every time.”



Pushing Luke on his shoulder, I whispered, “Go to hell. You had the ring last night, dude.”



“Boys,” Pastor Roberts whispered.



“No, Colt, you had the ring last night and then gave it to . . .”



Will stood there staring at us as he held the ring in his hand. Grabbing it from his hand I shoved it in my pocket. “Bastard, you scared the piss out of me.”



Pastor Roberts sighed. “Lord, give me strength to make it through another one.”



Looking at Pastor Roberts, I leaned over, “Sir, are you feeling okay?”



Luke leaned over and asked, “Hey, where did you decide to take Alex for the honeymoon? Cause I still owe Libby a decent honeymoon, so don’t be one upping me!”



Lifting his fingers to his temple Pastor Roberts let out a moan as I asked him again. “Pastor Roberts? Are you feeling okay?”



Nodding his head, he gave me a weak smile as he said under his breath, “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”



The music started playing and we all turned and looked at the house. Smiling, I watched as Libby carried Mireya down the aisle. Mireya was nine months old now and she was having fun throwing rose petals everywhere.



“My God. She’s beautiful. They’re both beautiful,” Luke said from behind me. As Libby walked down the aisle, she smiled at Luke the whole time.



Will cleared his throat. “I’m taking Alex to Belize.”



“What the fuck?” Luke yelled out as everyone turned and looked at all of us. Smiling, I pointed behind me to Luke as Will chuckled. Libby narrowed her eyes at Luke and shook her head.



Next was Taylor, followed by Maegan. Smiling, I watched the girls all walk down the aisle and take their places. Will had asked a few of his college buddies to be in the wedding also to round out the numbers. Pulling my eyes from the girls, I glanced back to the house. Walking out was Lauren. Sucking in a breath of air, my mouth dropped open as I took her in. Her blonde hair was pulled up with red roses scattered throughout it. Her dress was a light-blue and hung straight down. It fit her curvy body like a glove.



“Motherfucker,” I whispered as I watched her slowly smile at me. Luke leaned over and said, “I think Pastor Roberts is about to pass out if one of us swears again, dude.”



Ignoring Luke, I had to force myself not to meet Lauren halfway down the aisle. Her beauty literally took my breath away. As she walked up, she gave me a wink and it felt as if the world shook. I reached out and grabbed a hold of Will who chuckled.



The music changed to the wedding march and everyone turned to watch Alex walk down the aisle. It took every ounce of strength I had to pull my eyes off of Lauren.