Page 76 of Breathtaking

“The fuck it can,” Atticus argues, looking horrified. “Hell no. The only thing I’d want that crown for would be a threesome on the throne.”

“Haven’t you already—” I start before he wraps his hand around my mouth, shutting me up while Rhys glares.

“Oh, I think I’m going to really like your family.” Caitlin smiles. “Now get off her and let her get ready, or you’re going to make her late for her own wedding.”

“Ohh. She’s bossy.” Atticus smirks, and it’s my turn to glare.

“She’s married,” I warn. “To your future brother-in-law.”

Atticus looks around, and Gracie shakes her head no.

“Got any hot bridesmaids who aren’t married?”

God, I missed my brothers.

* * *

Maddox

“Stop fussing with it,” Mom warns as she watches me through the reflection in the mirror before moving in front of me. “Let me.”

She pulls the tie apart and fixes both ends around my neck. “You know, as a mother, they always tell you that a daughter is yours forever, but a son is only yours until they take a bride.”

“Ma...”

“Shh. It’s my turn.” She goes about tying my tie, like she’s done it a thousand times. Hell, she probably has. “People always like to say things like that. They love to say that you only have eighteen years to raise your child and to jam absolutely everything you can into those eighteen years. Basically, they like to scare you.”

She adjusts the knot and the length, then runs her hand down the front of my shirt, pleased with herself. “But I’ve never scared easily.”

“Sounds familiar.”

The look she gives me has me shutting up immediately. For a tiny woman, my mother never needed to yell to get her point across. She just needed to look at you, and you knew. Right now, I know.

“I didn’t jam everything into eighteen years because, no matter where you go in your life, you’ll always be my son. A parent’s job is to raise their children, so they’re no longer needed. Our whole job is to make sure, one day, our job is obsolete. And your father and I have tried our best to do that with all of you. You, in particular.”

Dad walks in and hands me a glass of whiskey, and Mom gives him the stink eye. “It’s just one, Snow. The boy’s gotta take the edge off. The whole world is going to see this tomorrow.” He looks back at me. “Now, ask your question.”

I learned the art of reading people from my father.

Maybe one day, I’ll be as good as him.

I think about not asking, just to prove him wrong, but my need to know is too strong. “Why me in particular?”

He wraps an arm around my mother’s waist and pulls her into him. “Because you are the oldest, Maddox. It’s a different throne, but you’re still my heir.”

“I never thought the family business was an option though,” I admit. Not that it was something I ever wanted.

“Because we never wanted it to be. But here’s the thing...” Mom adds. “Children rarely do what you want or expect of them.”

Dad gently kisses her head. Growing up, my parents never shied away from touching each other. They still don’t. “We raised you to be able to handle anything life could throw your way. And you’ve proven you’re capable of doing that without us. You’re a good man, son. Be a good husband and a good father. Whether that’s here or wherever Lennon needs you to be. Because believe it or not, it appears there’s a family more demanding than the Kingstons.”

“Just remember to be happy, Maddox. Life goes by so quickly. One day, you’re newlyweds, with your entire lives in front of you, and the next you’re grandparents, watching your babies have babies.” She steps out of Dad’s hold and presses a kiss to my cheek. “Choose happiness, Maddox. Make it your mantra.”

“Is that what you did?” I ask, a little taken off guard by all of this.

Mom’s smile is a little evil as she looks at my father. “We did. But it never hurt that your father knew I was a better shot than him either.”

“Nothing wrong with a little fear.” My father laughs and taps his glass against mine.

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