Page 56 of Absinthe Dreams
He's probably right.
I clap him on the back. "She knows how lucky she is to have you."
"And now, she knows she has you, too."
"She should have known all along."
"You think she didn't?" He arches a brow at me, nodding at her. She keeps peeking over at us, her eyes coming to me like she just can't help herself. Even after everything that happened tonight, she's still shining, still smiling. "She knew, son. It just scared the shit out of her. She's always been that way, afraid to let herself feel too much or share too much. She tries to shrink herself."
"She won't be doing that anymore," I growl.
Colton gives me an appreciative glance. "Smart man."
"I learned from two of the best. Watching you and Wyatt love her taught me everything I need to know."
"Jesus," he rasps, squeezing my shoulder. "I'm not thrilled to know I'm being replaced as her hero, but I'm happy as hell it's you." And then he smirks at me. "But I meant what I said on the phone yesterday. If she doesn't have your last name before she tells me that she's pregnant, I'm sticking my boot up your ass. The strings will tickle your tonsils. I'm dead serious."
"Shit, I'd marry her tomorrow."
A loud burst of laughter cracks from his lips. "If you think that's happening, you clearly still have a few things to learn."
"What are you two laughing at?" Aunt Cadence asks, walking over with her arm looped through Chloe's.
"Trystan here thinks they should get married quickly." Colton's lips quirk into a grin. "He suggested tomorrow."
"What?" Ma and Aunt Cadence practically shout at the same time.
"You can't just rush a wedding! It takes planning," Ma says.
"Ma." I shoot her a look. "You and Pops got married at the courthouse two weeks after he put a ring on your finger."
"Exactly," she says, glaring at me. "And Liam insisted on marrying Braxton and Lola in private. Jax still has his head up his butt about Jade. I don't even know what Gabe is doing. And Jace is in Syria. You're my only hope of getting at least one actual wedding from one of my boys." She smirks at me. "So suck it up."
"Jesus," I grumble, shaking my head as I hold a hand out to Chloe. "Are you ready to get the fuck out of here before they have us getting married at a goddamn palace somewhere with half the world in attendance, Coco?"
She smiles, slipping her hand into mine.
It's another fifteen minutes before we manage to make it out the door, though. Everyone keeps talking about the wedding. Chloe just nods along like she's in complete agreement, which worries the fuck out of me. I want her to have my last name now, not in however long it takes our moms to plan a goddamn state affair.
"They're relentless," I grumble as soon as the door closes behind us.
"Yeah, they are." She peeks over at me, mischief written all over her face. "Wanna elope?"
"Hell, yes."
And that's precisely what we do a week later. Our parents are pissed, but Chloe is over the moon, and that's all that fucking matters to me.
I spent a lifetime getting it wrong with her. Now, I'm finally getting it right. Her wants and needs always come first. Even if our parents are disappointed, I figure they get it.
They know precisely what it's like to love like this.
Epilogue
Trystan
Five Years Later
"Can we gets a chickwawa, Daddy?" Bria asks, staring up at me from her bed with wide eyes as I attempt to tuck her in. Like usual, it's a losing battle. As soon as I get her arms under the blankets, she kicks her feet free. I cover them, and her arms pop out.
