Page 173 of I Choose You

I tilted my head to the side. “With what?”

My heart raced. Was she going to say kids? I could have sworn she was about to say that. I wasn’t eager to settle down that fast. I saw my future with her. Hands down, I was eager to be with her in a fully committed relationship. But kids? A family?

We both had to break out of our workaholism a little bit better. And why rush? Practicing for making a family could be a long and fun time. Brooke might be the most selfless person on earth, but I wanted to be greedy with her. I wanted her all to myself for a while.

Forever, actually. But I could be patient to start a family.

“I was thinking more like Scotland. Ireland.”

“Where they wear kilts?”

She slapped the table. “Oh, come on. It’s not that bad of a story. Funny, though.”

I sighed, having too much fun playing with her even at my expense. It wasn’t really that big of a story, but I was annoyed that Kody had told her earlier when I found him checking out the bridesmaids. That snitch.

“But we’ll go? Somewhere?” she asked.

“Absolutely.” I couldn’t wait. “First, I need to stay focused on the company in Dad’s absence.” Kody had joked that he’d keep an eye on me, but everyone knew it would be more like the opposite.

“Hey.” I looked around, frowning.

Speaking of.

Brooke frowned. “Where’s Kody?”

I groaned. The last I saw of him, he’d been trying to schmooze with the bridal party. Dad hadn’t seemed too annoyed with Kody not having a date. It seemed like he was always more lenient with Kody. Since our talk, I wondered if Dad was easier on him because he saw so much of himself in him. No one in our family ever favored one of us more than the other. No choosing sides. But Dad had only rolled his eyes when he asked who Kody had brought as his date.

“No one,” he’d replied. “I told you I wouldn’t have one.”

At least he stayed true to his word—defiant as it might be.

Although in my brother’s defense, he hadn’t been his usual self, chasing women left and right. He hadn’t treated this wedding as the “hookup retreat” like Dad had feared it might be for him. Kody had danced and talked mostly with friends and relatives.

And apologized. I smiled at Brooke, who still scanned the room for my brother.

She told me that he’d apologized when we ate our slices of cake. At that news, I felt like everything was right in my world. I didn’t have to worry about keeping anything from her, and I didn’t have to wonder if he’d be a jerk to her.

“The last time I saw him was when we were waiting for the cake to be cut,” she said.

“Yeah. Near the bridal party.” I groaned. “He’s probably hooking up with a bridesmaid or something.”

She snorted a laugh. “Yeah, probably.” She lowered her feet to the floor. “Although he seemed tame tonight.”

“I think he was trying to behave. At least until our dad left.”

She frowned. “Left and returned.”

I turned to see what she was frowning at. Dad jogged inside, shaking his head.

“What’s wrong?”

“I forgot my phone!” he yelled, running toward the table where he’d left it.

I grinned. “What do you need it for? You’re going to be on your honeymoon.”

“In case of emergencies,” he said once he walked back toward the exit, scrolling on it. “Emergencies you and your brother won’t have while I’m gone.” He glanced up at us. “Right?”

“Right.”