Page 150 of Last Man Standing

The one she fell in love in, and though it icks me to think it, the one she and my brother conceived the child that is, right this minute, popping Nova’s stomach forward just enough to make the lines of her white gown imperfect.

But perfect, too.

She looks exactly right.

“It’s creeping you out, huh?” Sebastion follows my gaze to my brother and his brand-new wife while they stare up at the birds in the sky. They’re supposed to be dancing; music is playing, and guests gather. Koda cuts a line across the dance floor, his suit jacket already gone, his tie untied, the sleeves of his white shirt rolled to his elbows, and his sword… well, he keeps it sheathed against his hip, just in case.

Exhaling a happy sigh, I peel my eyes away from Nova’s adorable little bump and instead up to the man who always smiles now.

Well… almost always. When it’s just me and him, anyway.

“You feeling a certain way, Princess? Gonna go Arabella on poor Nova and get mad because she stole your brother?”

Scoffing, I drape my arms over his shoulders and allow him to hold most of my weight. Because I’m a little high-maintenance and princess’y like that.

And besides, he’s big and strong, and he never complains.

“Ya know what’s worse than calling your mom La Bruja behind her back?” I extend my neck and pucker my lips, and when he obliges me, bending and giving me the kiss I ask for, I slide my fingers through the hair and thrill in the way he practically purrs under my touch. “Using her name as a verb. She’ll smack you down for it.”

“She would never. She loves me.” Chuckling, he glances across the yard, under starry strung lights and past a three-tier cake certain Jameson men study with a hungry glitter in their eyes. Peeking past my mom and dad, and past Koda’s cool dance moves, he stops on his father and grins.

It still feels weird to see them here in the very backyard I first met their son, because I’m not sure I ever imagined a world where Arabella and Paul Jameson would leave their property.

Except, maybe, to visit a trampoline play place.

Paul tips an icy cold beer back and savors the taste on his tongue, while Arabella curls into his side and doesn’t look like a tyrannical warlord.

Mostly, her floor-length gown and salon-styled hair make her look princess’y.

“She’s had her eyes on your parents for a while.” Sebastion places the tips of his fingers beneath my chin and forces my attention back to him. “That woman has led an army for decades, Princess. She convinced men to turn their backs on Uncle Sam and Grandpa Fuckface, and now she’s watching your folks like she’s got some shit to say.” He draws me to the tips of my toes and nibbles on my bottom lip. “You’ll still love me, right? Even if she scares them?”

I choke out a breathy giggle and nod. Because Sebastion Jameson is, beneath all the muscle and bravado, just a man with simple pleasures.

It’s me. I’m all he needs.

“I’ll still love you. I promise.”

“Oh my gosh! You two are so freakin’ cute!” My mom crashes into my side and forces Daddy to dance shoulder-to-shoulder with a man an entire foot taller than he is. I don’t think my mom is drunk…yet. I think she’s just happy. It might have something to do with Nova’s adorable baby bump. “I was so sure we’d be planning your wedding first, baby. In fact, I wasn’t entirely convinced Lincoln would even invite us to his.”

“Of course he would.” I cuddle into Sebastion’s chest, because weddings make for big days, and high heels make for long days. But since he’s so gracious about holding me up, I take my mom’s hand and give it a gentle squeeze. “We weren’t sure he’d ever settle down and get married,” I concede. “But if there was a wedding to attend, I never doubted an invitation. How are you feeling about becoming a grandma?”

“Thrilled!” Her voice comes out in a loud shrill. A squeak that mostly only dogs could hear. And Arabella, evidently, considering the way she bounds up from her chair and rips Paul from his.

“Dammit.” Sebastion exhales a defeated sigh. “Look what you did.”

“Me?”

“I’m just so thrilled for your brother,” Mom babbles. “I’m excited to see him as a father. And Nova’s lovely, isn’t she? Right?” Not so sure, her eyes glitter with uncertainty. “Right, baby? She’s good for him?”

“Yeah. She’s great for him. She’s amazing.”

I feel Arabella’s presence before I see her. I smell her expensive perfume before she speaks. Drawing my eyes around, I release a tired groan and accept that Sebastion and I are trapped, sandwiched between two determined mothers and their mildly tolerant husbands.

“Mrs. Jameson.” I tip my chin and hide my smirk. With great difficulty. “Enjoying your day?”

“Mmhm.” She brushes me off and looks straight down the gap between me and her son. Tyrannical: there’s no other way to describe her. “It is my absolute pleasure to formally meet you, Mrs. Castro.”

“And you.” Mom, being Mom, drags my dad around until they dance on Arabella and Paul’s other side. “I’ve enjoyed getting to know your boy these past few days.” Mom’s cheeks glow with an embarrassed blush. “He’s so handsome.”