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I knew how important having a real wedding was for Emerson, and while I’d said I didn’t need it, I had to admit, it was kind of fun dressing up and putting on a party for all our friends and family. It was such an utter love fest, and after we’d hidden our feelings for each other for so long, it felt only fitting to have a public declaration at last.

Since I’d been kept pretty busy with parenthood, juggling feedings and changings, and Emerson had to work at getting the hotel settled into its new more lucrative independence, he’d told me not to worry about any of the wedding preparation, that he would take care of absolutely everything. All I had to do was show up, and so far, I’d done exactly that. I’d arrived at the designated hotel room and found a white suit laid out on the bed, as well as the most adorable outfits for our twins. I had no idea what to expect next.

There was a knock at the hotel room door, and Emily went to answer it. “It’s your parents,” she called. “It’s time to go. Are you ready?”

“I’ve never been more ready for anything in my life,” I told her, adrenaline beginning to course through my veins and kicking my heart rate up a notch.

My mom took one baby, while Emily, my maid of honor, took the other. Our little procession headed down the hall to the staff elevator, usually used for housekeeping and room service carts. “Where are we going?” I asked my dad who was walking beside me.

He just offered me a sly, knowing smile, then pressed the button for the roof.

When the elevator doors opened, I was sure my eyes must’ve looked ready to pop out of their sockets. It was… magical. I’d never been up here before, but I was certain it had never looked like this. There were white fairy lights and tulle garlands wrapped around the trellises that had been set up, and there were flowers absolutely everywhere, perfuming the air with their delicate fragrance. This high up, the usual cacophony of honking horns and rumbling engines was reduced to a background hum, easily covered up by the string quartet off to the side.

The vision swam as my eyes got a little weepy with the sheer emotion of it all. Emerson hadn’t seen me yet. He was waiting down the aisle, his father standing beside him as his best man. Their relationship was stronger than it had maybe ever been, and it warmed my heart, watching them talking and laughing together.

My mom nodded to the musicians, and as they began to play, the guests stopped talking, all heads turning our way. Emerson lit up when he laid eyes on me, positively glowing with the purest happiness.

My mom headed down the aisle first, carrying Jayden, followed by Emily with a squirmy Opal. I could hear all the awws from the crowd as they took in the pre-spit-up-covered outfits the babies were wearing.

“Your turn,” my father said, offering me his arm. He hadn’t been able to give me away at the first wedding, and I was glad I’d changed my mind about having this second ceremony. This was as much for him as it was for me.

Together, arm in arm, we walked down the aisle where Emerson was waiting for me. He was bouncing on the balls of his feet, as if he were about to run down the aisle and meet me halfway. It seemed so funny to think of him being eager to marry me, since we were already married, but it was more than that. This wedding marked the beginning of something. An affirmation that we were everything to each other.

As we reached the front, Dad unhooked my arm from his and passed my hand to Emerson’s. “I trust that you’ll take good care of my son,” he said with mock sternness.

“Always,” Emerson promised, and my dad gave Emerson a hug, then stepped back and took Opal from Emily, going to sit down with my mom in the front row.

Behind Emerson, I saw none other than Benny, his usually shaggy hair sheared right down. Emerson saw my surprised look at how nicely my coworker had cleaned himself up, and he leaned in and whispered, “I told him he was only allowed to officiate the ceremony if he got a proper haircut.”

I smothered my giggle by stealing a kiss, and Emerson grabbed the front of my shirt so I couldn’t get away, teasing the tip of his tongue along the seam of my lips. I pulled back before we could get carried away here in front of a crowd of witnesses.

“Hey, none of that,” Benny scolded. “Can’t you keep your hands to yourselves for five minutes?”

“Probably not,” I told him honestly. “You’d better talk fast.” I heard a few snickers from the guests.

The ceremony was sweet and simple, mostly because there was no guarantee that the twins would be well-behaved for more than a few minutes.

“Friends and family, I introduce you to Mr. and Mr. Holland—again… or still? Anyway, who’s ready to party!” Benny cried, raising a fist in the air. The guests replied with hoots and hollers of agreement.

Emerson and I headed back down the aisle, hand in hand, as husbands, and instead of the old standard of rice to throw at us, the guests had been given small pouches of birdseed. I saw Cherie, wearing a mischievous smirk, wind up and pelt Emerson in the face with a handful of seed, but there was no way he could tell where it came from, what with his hand held up to shield himself from the worst of it. In fact, I was only being hit with the occasional rebound seed. Was everyone aiming for my husband? I was sure tomorrow the rooftop would be covered with birds—and therefore, bird shit—but it would all get washed away with the next storm.

Emerson had hired outside staff to work the party, so that all our coworkers had been able to attend. It was so great to have all of them in one place; they were practically family, and now they got to mingle with my actual family. It was perfect.

The chairs were cleared to the sides, and servers circulated carrying trays of champagne and sparkling cider. I saw my old neighbor Collette, dressed in a flashy silver dress. She still lived in my old apartment complex, but we found out the building had been bought by someone who was investing in cleaning it up and making it safe. Eva had managed to avoid going to prison by flipping on some integral members of the mob. Turned out, she’d had a whole folder of dirt on Alessio and his goons. I guessed it was her rainy-day blackmail material, in case the tides ever turned on her. She very quickly sold all her property and hopped on a plane out of town. Maybe she would join ex-mayor Phillip Black, wherever he was. Either way, I wasn’t too worried. Sawyer's friends Sander and Drake were keeping a close eye on her for us.

I watched as Collette grabbed two glasses of champagne from a passing tray, one in each hand. “Are those both for you?” I asked her, laughing. “No judgment if they are.”

“Of course not,” she chided with a chuckle. “One’s for my grandson. He’s my plus-one.”

“Oh…” I knew neither of them held any grudges that he and I hadn’t worked out, but I still felt a little awkward around Alan. There was no polite way of saying “it’s not you, it’s me” that sounded even remotely genuine.

“Oh look, here he is now…” She beamed up at Alan as he approached. He was dressed in a navy-blue suit, though I noticed she did not pass him one of the drinks.

“Hey, congratulations,” he said genuinely.

“Thanks. I really app—” I began to say, but it was like Emerson had a sixth sense for when another alpha was in my vicinity, because he appeared at my elbow within seconds, gripping me around the waist and dragging me into his side. It seemed he’d been in the middle of a discussion with Patrick, because he’d dragged the poor man along with him by the arm.

“Collette, I’m so glad you could make it,” Emerson said, reaching out with his free hand to take hers. “And you too, Alan,” he mumbled vaguely.

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