In this moment, my heart is exploding. It’s bliss, it’s the life I’ve always dreamed about having but never thought was possible. Until Parker came back into it.
My first love, my soul, my eternity.
My every dream come true.
Parker
Celebrating my engagement to Livy with my family and friends is surreal. Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined this a year ago. Being here, engaged and counting down the days to make Livy my wife.
I’m fucking excited.
There’s no doubt in my mind that Livy is the one for me. She is the only one for me in this lifetime and the next one after that. I think deep down I knew this the night we made love the first time in the bed of my pick-up truck. I realized it the second time years later on our drive to Mabel’s, the day I played the part of her assistant. That was the day she began to open her heart to me. I had never seen anything more beautiful in my life when I looked at her in the driver’s seat with the wind in her hair.
Being with her is what I crave. She is all my favorite things. She is light in the darkness, she is my peace at the end of a long day. She is my forever. Every day with her is better than the last.
Liam and Miles find me with three tumblers of whiskey, handing me one. We clink our glasses together, Liam proposing a toast to Livy and I and a long, happy life. I’ll drink to that. The fact that my brothers feel such love for Livy and have welcomed her into our family fills me with a deep happiness.
“We are happy for you, Parker. You found a good one,” Miles says through a grin.
“Thanks bro, that means a lot.”
“I can’t wait for you guys to make me an uncle. I’m going to spoil that kid rotten. Uncle Miles is definitely going to be the favorite.”
“We’ll see about that,” Liam grunts, but he’s smiling too.
“How about I marry her first, with you two at my side?”
“Really?” Miles questions me with a grin on his face.
“Definitely. Wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Honored, man,” Liam says, clasping his hand on my shoulder while Miles pulls me in for a bro-hug.
My attention moves across the room to Livy, who is talking to her dad. She has her phone out and they are looking at something on her screen. Their faces are full of happiness, her smile radiating across the room. Seeing her smile, an expression I know I will never get tired of, has me wondering if life could get any better than it is right now.
I watch her as my father joins the conversation. She turns her phone to him. Whatever the three of them are talking about has them all starting to laugh. I can’t help but smile. She fits into my family. She fits into my life. Seamlessly.
“Who needs another? Have you seen the hot bartender? I think I need to reintroduce myself,” Miles says, holding his empty tumbler in the air.
“I think he’s over there,” Liam says, nodding towards the bar. “I’m just glad you are finally being open about it. I want you to know I love you either way, little brother.”
“Fuck off, Liam. There are two bartenders tonight, and the one I’m talking about is female and hot as hell. And you would know that if you could keep your eyes off of Ellie for more than five seconds.”
Liam flips him off as Miles makes his way to the bar.
“Hey. Can I ask you something?” Liam looks different all of a sudden, like there is something weighing on his mind. “Can I talk to you?”
“Of course. Always. What’s up?”
He motions me towards my dad’s study where it’s quiet, and I follow, taking a seat beside him on one of the two leather armchairs in front of the mahogany desk. It’s unusual for Liam to ask to talk, so I’m curious as to what he has to say. He rubs his palm over his jaw and takes a breath.
“I need advice.”
“Okay, shoot.”
“It’s about Ellie. I think I like her.”
Now I see where this is going, and I’m pretty taken aback that my brother is actually falling for a woman. Happy as hell, but surprised to say the least. I assumed their hook-up at the party Livy and I hosted was a one-time deal. I guess I was wrong.