D R A Y T O N S • P O V

The Grooms dressing room on the day of the wedding.

Today is the day. I become a husband. Dallas becomes my wife. Her best friend is having our twins. Life couldn't be better.

I scoured the room where the groomsmen were hanging about and noticed a definite awkwardness. Nathan was over beside the bar with a scotch in his hand. Grayson was sat in a recliner, his tie hanging loose while he stared at nothing in particular and Coleman was flirting with the seamstress that was fitting his pants.

I suppose it wasn't all that unusual for it to be a bit strained. My soon to be brother in law is married to the woman carrying my children. And the woman carrying my children has a child and past with my best friend. What a fûcking sitcom. I start cackling in the seat while the hair chick finishes running product through my hair.

She stepped back and I turned around in the seat to face the rest of the room. Grayson arched a brow, curious to know what had me laughing. "It just occurred to me that you could give Nathan some pointers. How does Spencer like it in the sack when she's pregnant?"

Nathan choked on his scotch at the same time that Grayson stood up with disgust written all over his face. "The fuck man?!"

Coleman turned a rich red as he tried and failed to hold in his laughter. "That's so fucked up."

"Yeah, it is!" Grayson snapped.

"Nathan." I swivelled in the seat and ignored Grayson, who began to pace with frustration. "Is it weird that your wife is pregnant with your sister's babies. That's some cult shit right there."

Nathan didn't respond. He just pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled. So of course, I continued.

"Hey Nathan, is it weird to think about the fact that my babies are inside Grayson's baby mamma when you're smashing?"

Coleman's snort sounded through the room and Grayson paused his pacing, swinging out in a lousy attempt to punch me in the shoulder. I pushed back in the seat and curled over with laughter.

"There's so many fucked up ways I can word your situation!"

Coleman straightened up. "How about the fact that whenever Spencer swallows, she's feeding your kids their uncles kids."

Grayson, Nathan and I all turned to him in disgust, the room falling silent as Coleman glanced around with a faltering laugh.

"That's fucked." I stand up. "Too far."

He started to stammer. "But I just— I thought—"

"Shut it weird fuck."

The seamstress who was flirting with him just moments before, frowned and walked out of the room. Much to Coleman's disappointment. Nathan watched him with a flat expression, his leg bouncing as though he wanted to smack him while he walked around the bar and began fixing a drink.

"So," Coleman filled in the awkward silence that he created. For once, someone said something worse than I did. "Lennon looks hot. Saw her strutting up the corridor in her tight dress. Reckon tonight's the night."

"You get tits and a vagina since we last spoke?" I questioned, slipping my tie on and fastening it.

He rolled his eyes as he threw back his drink. "I'll figure something out."

"Oh okay," I scoffed with sarcasm. "Think much of yourself?"

"Yep," he sighed, smacking his lips and wiggling his brows.

Nathan looked bored. More than bored. He looked as though being bored would be better than listening to my teammate. I'll blame Coleman's bullshit on the fact that he'd had about six drinks since we got here. I glanced in the mirror while I made sure my tie was straight and spied Grayson staring at the ceiling with his legs hanging over the arms of his chair.

Poor bastard. All jokes aside. I knew that it was hard for him. He still cared about Spencer. He confessed as much to her before she tied the knot with Nathan. Now he has to spend the entire day while they honeymoon right in his face. But it is his fault. I think that she would have seen it through if he hadn't stuck his dick in that desperate housewife.

"Hey, where the fuck is Coop and Johnny?" I turned around, realising that I hadn't seen them in almost an hour.

"Cooper took Johnny for a walk around the ship," Nathan said as he stood up with his glass in hand. He wandered over to the window and stared out at the blue. "I think Coop was a bit concerned at the conversation that was going on."

I loudly laughed. "Fair point."

"I think he was meeting up with Pree and Lyds so that the kids could practice their walk up the aisle," he added.

"How is Lyds feeling." I leaned against the bar and slapped Coleman's hand as he repeatedly jabbed me in the ear. He'd better sober the fuck up soon. "Is she feeling alright about walking up the aisle in front of all the guests?"

"She seems to be a natural in front of an audience," Nathan laughed. "You remember her little performance of Tink at the school production a few months ago?"

"Dude, how could I forget?! Never been prouder."

"She didn't get in much trouble," he laughed.

"How is she doing at school?" I ask, pouring a water and shoving it at Coleman. "Grades wise?"

"She—"

Nathan was interrupted when Grayson cleared his throat and we both turned our attention to where he sat in his chair with a look of mild frustration. "Anyone would think that she's not my daughter."

"Oh." Nathan cleared his throat. "Look man, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to overstep—"

"No no, it's fine." Grayson stands up and slides his hands into his pockets. "I'm just the boring Dad who pays child support and picks unstable girlfriends."

"Listen to the tune of my tiny violin," I deadpan. "Stop being a bitch. At least he loves her and does what he can so that she's well looked after. Would you prefer that he was a cunt to her?"

The room fell silent apart from Coleman choking on his water behind me. It wasn't a joke though. It made Lydia uncomfortable to have a bitch of a stepmother. As her Father, Grayson should want nothing but love around his daughter. He needed to appreciate that Spence and Lydia had someone like Nathan.

"Yeah." Grayson nodded, staring at his shoes. "You're right. It's ah— it's good. I appreciate it."

"I swear I wasn't wanting to step on your toes," Nathan said. "I jus—"

"Don't sweat it."

"Alright pussies." I clapped my hands together and stepped behind the bar to collect a few shot glasses. I began lining them up before retrieving the tequila. "Let's have a shot before we get started."

Coleman rubbed his hands together and walked forward. "Not you." I pushed his face and watched him fall backwards, knocking a framed piece of art off the wall. "Get your shit together, Shrek. If you fuck with my wedding I'll kick you in the crotch."

He sat on the floor and took a few deep breaths but I ignored him and started pouring the shot glasses. Nathan and Grayson gathered around, picking one up each with awkward smiles. We raised them in the air and I sighed with satisfaction.

"Cheers to me," I stated because I didn't trust these two to get on my level. "I get to marry the woman that I love. I plan on giving it to her good on the plane later—"

"Every time," Nathan murmured as his head hung. "Every. Fûcking. Time."

"And then I'm going to continue giving her the world for as long as she'll let me," I finished, ignoring Nathan's despair. "To the woman who's about to become Mrs Lahey!"

"May God give her strength," Nathan added with a mumble as we threw our shots back.

He could grumble as much as wanted. I knew that he was rooting for us from the beginning. I couldn't stop smiling as I glanced around at my friends. Sure it was a bit messed up. There was drama. We had our ups and downs as a family. But these were our people. The people that Dallas and I surrounded ourselves with. We loved them and they loved us. I couldn't wait to see that beautiful woman of mine walking up the aisle. I couldn't wait to recite vows and make promises. I couldn't wait to call her my wife. Mrs Dallas Lahey.

Damn, it made me all sorts of wound up.