Page 104 of My Bestie's Billionaire Brother

"It was my grandmother's," I told her, watching her face carefully. "But we can pick out something else if you'd prefer something more modern?—"

"It's perfect," she interrupted firmly. "I love that it has history."

“You’reperfect. And I’m so happy you said yes.”

“Like you ever thought I’d say anything but yes…” She smiled at me with mischief in her eyes.

Now, it’s finally time. The enormous canvas tent glows from within, strings of lights casting a soft haze over our guests as they mingle and laugh, champagne flutes catching the early evening light.

I stand at the edge of everything, taking a moment to myself before rejoining the celebration, my eyes scanning the crowd of people Tess and I handpicked for our guest list. We kept the list tight—sixty people who are the most important to us. The vibe feels perfect, like we're sharing something precious rather than putting on a show.

Across the tent, Stratton gestures emphatically, spilling champagne onto Ariel's sleeve in the process. Her mock outrage is betrayed by the smile tugging at her lips as she dabs at the fabric with a cocktail napkin. Stratton wraps an arm around her waist, whispers something in her ear that turns her cheeks pink. They've been married for a while now, and still look at each other like newlyweds.

I catch Stratton's eye and lift my glass in a silent toast. He nods back, his expression softening to something like pride.

My gaze drifts to Stuart, leaning against one of the tent poles, his attention entirely captured by his date, Gabriella, a violinist from the Seattle Symphony, who he met through Tess. Stuart hangs on her every word, his usual swagger replaced by genuine interest.

My parents hold court near the bar, my father surprisingly relaxed in his formal best man tuxedo. My mother's hand rests on his arm, her fingers tapping lightly to the music. When she catches me watching, she raises her glass slightly, her eyes twinkling. Whatever tensions once existed between me and my parents feel distant now, worn smooth by my relationship with Tess and the twins arrival.

Across from them, Tess's mother chats with some of Tess’s old friends. Her silver-streaked hair gleams under the lights, her laugh carrying across the space. The relationship between Tess and her mother has always been complicated—too many years of being caught between warring parents—but the twins have created a bridge that has brought them back together.

I spot Jane and Trey, her head resting briefly on his shoulder before she straightens to greet another guest. She’s four months pregnant now and her first trimester was rough. She’s feeling much better but the fatigue still hits her hard some days.

Jane catches my eye now and makes a goofy face, breaking my moment of reflection. She points emphatically toward the farcorner of the tent, where Angela sits with the twins. I head in that direction.

I thread my way through the crowd, accepting congratulations and claps on the back as I pass.

Angela has positioned herself in a relatively quiet spot, a diaper bag at her feet. Cole and Leah are sitting on a blanket, quietly playing with a few of their favorite toys.

Angela is my ex-assistant. She came to me a few months ago and said she wanted to retire from Emerald City Coffee. My stomach dropped with disappointment but then she explained she would like to apply for the open nanny position. I couldn’t think of a better person to watch our babies and so far it’s been perfect.

"How are they doing?" I ask, crouching down to eye level with them. Leah’s gaze locks on mine, and she abandons her toy to reach for me with chubby fingers. My heart performs its usual acrobatics. Almost a year in and I'm still blindsided by how completely I love these tiny humans.

"Perfect angels," Angela assures me. “And, I have to say, you look very handsome in your tux, Charlie.”

I smile at her and then scoop up Leah, breathing in her baby-sweet scent. She immediately grabs for my boutonnière.

"Careful there, princess," I murmur, gently redirecting her hand. "Daddy needs to look presentable for a little while longer."

Cole stops playing with the truck he’s obsessed with and looks up at us. He raises his arms up and I manage to pull him up in my arms as well.

After putting them both down on the blanket again, I glance at Leah's ivory dress with its tiny pearl buttons, matching her brother's vest and miniature bowtie. Jane found the outfits online and had them shipped from a boutique in France.

The string quartet begins to play and that’s my cue. I move to the center of the aisle between rows of white chairs,aware of every eye turning toward me. Our officiant—Trey's brother Anson, who became ordained recently—gives me an encouraging nod.

My dad appears beside me, adjusting my boutonnière with surprising care. "Ready for this?" he asks, his voice low enough that only I can hear.

I nod, not trusting my voice. My pulse thuds in my ears as I wait for the moment I see Tess.

A nod from the wedding planner, and the quartet begins to play Bach's "Air on the G String,” rather than the traditional wedding march. Tess wanted something a little different.

The music flows across the yard, silencing conversations, drawing all eyes toward the white gate we've decorated with more flowers and ribbons.

Jane appears first in a very tasteful light pink formal gown. She smiles at everyone before slowly beginning to walk up the aisle toward me and Dad.

Tess is next. She stands with her father, her hand resting lightly on his arm. Her dress isn't the poufy princess gown my mother probably imagined, but a sleek column of ivory silk that skims her curves, showing off the figure she's worked hard to reclaim after the twins. Her hair falls in loose waves around her shoulders, adorned with a simple headpiece of baby's breath and tiny pearls.

She's so beautiful it almost hurts to look at her. I feel the sting of tears and reach for my handkerchief, not caring who sees.

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