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July’s gaze moved to the reflection of his friends standing behind him. “Thank you both so much for today. You can’t know how much your friendship means to me.”

Kylo hugged him. “I’m going to go find Daddy. Don’t doubt Fletch again. You two are perfect.”

July thanked Kylo profusely all the way to the door. The moment they were alone, July turned to Leary. He scooped him into the biggest hug.

“You’ll smear your makeup.”

“Don’t worry about that. I’m wearing so much finishing spray, this might be a permanent look.”

Leary laughed. He didn’t pull away.

July couldn’t let go. He fought tears. “I can’t stop thinking about how I missed this with you. You’re my bestest best friend in the whole wide world. I hope you know how badly I wanted to be there.”

“Considering you almost died to watch from a distance, I know.”

July still didn’t release him. “You remembered about Tomus. You’re so, so amazing in every way. I don’t get to tell you often enough how much light you’ve brought into my life at a time when all I saw was darkness. The day I ran you down with all those plants.” July swallowed. Some confessions were harder than others. “I was buying plants and flowers for the funeral I knew I’d never have.”

Leary gasped and tried to take a step back.

July refused to let him get away. He couldn’t see Leary’s expression. Not right now when he felt this vulnerable. “Rex would’ve shown up out of the blue the way he always did, find me dead, and sweep me under a rock. It would’ve been like I never existed. But I’d have pretty plants and the perfect flowers to sit with me for however long it would’ve taken him to realize I was missing.” July took a step back, but he didn’t let go. He realized he needed to see Leary’s eyes. July hated they were filled with tears. “Don’t cry. You saved me. Your friendship kept me going, and look at me now. Back then, if someone told me I’d be here like this today, I would’ve called them a liar and cruel for taunting me with things I’ll never have. But you didn’t see the mess I was, the way everyone else did. Because of you, I thrived.”

Leary’s tears fell. He quickly swiped them away. “You know you did the same for me, right? While I didn’t plan to die, I was withering and dying inside. You brought light, laughter, and sunshine into my life. You’re the reason I had the courage to sit on JJ’s lap that first night. Watching you be yourself unapologetically made me want to be the same. I saw you taking risks I never had and saw how you shone brightly because of that unburdened courage. When I saw JJ, I don’t know what happened exactly. He was sitting there, looking broken, and I thought, ‘I’ve never seen a man soooo hot.’”

July laughed.

Leary smiled and kept going. “Anyhow, that was the first time I used the What Would July Do methodology. You’re the reason I have this flawless life. It’s your turn to get out there and seal your perfect future. You deserve this day more than anyone I know. Let’s go shake up Fletch’s world.”

July smiled so brightly, his face hurt. Between Leary and Fletch, July couldn’t ask for a better life. He was right. It was time for him to rock Fletch’s world.

The vision July created walking down the aisle was stunning. Fletch hadn’t stopped smiling all day. But the pride Fletch felt knowing July would soon be his husband was off the charts. That was his man: brave and beautiful. More than that, he was Fletch’s best friend and the love of his life. The wedding had just started, and he already felt like he ruled the world.

When July reached his side, his gaze never wavered from Fletch. His expression was a fire licking Fletch’s skin. They had a connection that outshone every type of relationship Fletch had ever had in his life. There weren’t words to describe the joy.

“You’re my everything.”

July beamed. “You’re mine too.”

“Are you two ready to roll?”

Fletch tore his gaze away from July and focused on Tuff. He had been ordained just for the occasion. Tuff was the best man for the job. While Leary, Rhodes, JJ, and Kylo had a place at their backs, Tuff had saved July’s life, taking that bullet. There was no one better to seal the life he had saved in matrimony. Not that Fletch hadn’t argued. Tuff was nowhere near healed enough for this. Now he recognized how much Tuff cared. Fletch saw that Tuff obviously thought they were more important than his health. Tuff was a great guy.

Fletch and July exchanged a glance before simultaneously looking back Tuff’s way. They chanted in unison, “We’re ready.”

They flashed each other a smile.

Tuff grinned like a fool at them before jumping slightly. “Oh, yeah. I’m performing this bitch.”

Listening to July’s laughter and seeing the happiness in July’s eyes was addictive. Even as they exchanged the barest minimum of vows, Fletch felt every word tying their souls together. It wasn’t until bubbles flew in their faces that Fletch came back to reality. They were married. Maybe they had tied the knot while Fletch had been trapped in his total shock that July would even marry him. Still, July had done it. He had really said I do with a straight face and no take-backs or just joking.

Fletch had something growing inside him. He thought he might explode any second, and he had no idea what would happen when he did.

As people moved to gather in one of the home’s many ballrooms, Fletch pulled July close. “Are we supposed to change clothes or something? I don’t know how this works.”

July’s gaze searched Fletch’s face. “Not until later, before dinner starts. We can definitely take a quick break, though. People won’t start forming a line to congratulate us until we pick a spot to stand in the ballroom. Hold on.” July snagged Leary and pulled him into the conversation. JJ came along too. “Hey, can you stall or just tell everyone we took a break for a second? You can say whatever, really.”

Leary and JJ nodded in unison, but JJ responded, “Yeah. We got this. Vanish for a few. We can handle it.”

July hugged them. “Thank you. We’ll be right back.”