Page 100 of Never Really Mine
It took me a moment to recognize it today, but when I did, something settled into my chest. Beau and I had talked about getting married, and he’d even talked about proposing, but I never saw it coming today. It was intimate, just our little family, and just the way I dreamed it would be.
My life is slowly settling into the place I never thought it would be. A year ago, I was still pining after my best friend, still so desperately in love with him, but so afraid to tear down my walls and let myself love him the way we both deserved.
Beau drives us the short distance across town to Jason’s brewery. “Jason closed for the night, so it’s just our family and friends.”
“He did that for us?” I ask in surprise.
“He did. Only took a little bit of bribing.”
I chuckle. Jason is a surly man, but he has such a soft spot for his younger brothers, and for me. The babies are fast asleep in the back, and I almost regret that we are going to wake them up the minute we go inside. Though, I think it will be worth it.
Beau grabs Ariel, and I grab Arlo, and we meet at the front of his car, reaching out and entwining our hands together to make the short walk inside.
The door is open, letting the warm September air into the brewery. Gramps is the first one I see, sitting in the chair closest to the door, his cane at his side. “Well hey, kids,” he says in his gravelly tone. “I hear you got somethin’ to celebrate.”
Beau chuckles. “Yeah, Gramps. We’re getting married.”
“Took you long enough,” he teases. “You better get married fast. Took you nearly twenty years to get the girl, who knows if I’ll make it to the wedding.”
“Stop that!” I say, giving him a teasingly—gentle—tap on the shoulder. “You can’t say that stuff.”
“Eh, I know, I just like giving the boy crap.” Gramps smiles at Beau, always so full of humor and mirth.
Before we can continue a conversation, the room erupts in cheers when they see us. Everyone rushes over, my mom throwing her arms around me. It’s a tight, loving embrace, and my dad is next.
We are both passed around from person to person, and somehow, the twins remain calm the entire time. To be honest, I’m sure they are just confused as to what the heck is happening.
Jason hands me one of his fruit ales, and I take a large drink of it. I can always pump and dump later. Josie and Andrew are giddy as they watch us, having only just celebrated their one year anniversary. It’s been a crazy year, but through it all, I ended up with the best person, and the most incredible future that I never would've believed would be mine.
Beau tugs me over to the front of the room. He holds my hand, as he starts to speak loudly. “Thank you all for coming, and Jason, thanks for letting us have the brewery for the night.”
I spot Fallon in the corner with Presley, and offer her a small wave. Beau lifts his glass to her. “And to Fallon, for whipping his ass into shape long enough to help plan the event.”
The room erupts into laughter, and I wonder what that might be about. Jason doesn’t look over to Fallon, rather looking down at his feet and kicking at an invisible rock. Fallon glances at me and shrugs. I make a mental note to talk to her about that later. I knew she’d been doing some event planning for the brewery, but didn’t think it was that much.
“It took us a long time to get to this point,” Beau continues, ignoring the laughter and jeers from his brothers in the crowd. “Just a year ago, I was still fighting my feelings for this incredible woman, and now, we are here. Two babies that changed our lives, and an incredible group of family and friends who helped us every step of the way. Please, raise your glasses to my beautiful fiancée, and the love of my life.”
Everyone cheers, and I notice Thomas striding in from the far entrance. He has a stricken look on his face, and Arson is clinging to his side like glue. He’s still in his uniform, and he must have just come off shift. We all take a sip of our beverages, and then we’re bombarded with more people.
Ariel loses her shit this time, probably a little overwhelmed, and hungry. There hasn’t been enough time for the alcohol to get into my breast milk, so I decide to feed her. Beau grabs one of the bottles of breast milk from the little cooler we cart along with us, and sends Jason to the back to heat it up.
I find a quiet corner, and get myself ready, laying my nursing cover over my body. When we are at home, I usually just free-boob it, letting it all hang out. I don’t know if the crowd here would be as appeasing to it as Beau is though.
Once I’m all arranged, I let Ariel latch on. Beau is carrying Arlo around, glancing at me every few seconds to make sure I’m alright.
Josie sits down on the cushioned bench beside me. She plays with Ariel’s socked feet poking out from the blanket. “So, did you know this was coming?” she asks. Her eyes are bright and happy.
“No idea,” I say honestly. “We’d talked about getting engaged, but never really anything major. I never would have guessed this was happening tonight.”
“He did good,” Josie says. “Not that we weren’t pretty much sisters before, but now, we get toofficiallybe sisters.”
My heart clenches. “Holy shit, you’re right. I’ve never had a sister before,” I say with tears filling my eyes. “I can’t wait.”
“I’m totally telling Beau you’re more excited to be my sister than his wife,” she jokes.
“You do that,” I reply sarcastically. She stands, saying a quick “talk later,” when Andrew waves her over to him. He’s sitting at a small table with Gramps, and they seem to be discussing something intensely.
A soft wet nose nuzzles at my leg, and I look down. Arson is booping at me, trying to get my attention. “Hi, buddy,” I croon. I reach out with my free hand, scruffing the fur on top of his head. Thomas is two steps behind him, sitting down next to me with an exhausted huff.
