Page 77 of Knox
We passed a small photo setup tucked off to the side, with a white frame, climbing vines, and a chalkboard sign Knox’s youngest sister had made with our names and the date on it. Mallory waved us toward the photographer with a smile, and he guided us into a few shots in front of the setup, then led us through a handful of family photos.
“Does it feel different yet?” Knox asked as we waited off to the side for Parker to announce us.
I glanced at our hands, at the new rings, then lifted my head to catch the grins people threw our way. “A little.”
“You’re stuck with me now.”
“I wasn’t planning to go anywhere.”
He leaned in. “Good. I’ve got a surprise for you later.”
I grinned. “What’d you do?”
“If I told you, it would ruin the surprise.”
“You can’t tease me like that. Just tell me.”
“Fine. You really want to know?”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
“There’s a private cabin on the river Archer and Mallory mentioned. It has an outdoor hot tub and a fire pit. I figured we’re used to hotel rooms, so I needed to mix things up for our wedding night.”
“And what if I booked something as a surprise too?”
“Did you?” He raised an eyebrow.
“No.” I shook my head. “I’d just planned to put candles around the condo and spend the entire night showing you how much I love you.”
“Well, that’s my plan too, but under the stars.”
Parker tapped a glass and spoke into a microphone. “It’s my honor to introduce, for the first time as husbands—Crew and Knox Stratton!”
Applause erupted, louder than before. A few whoops came from our teammates’ table, but before Knox and I could take a step, Parker raised a hand indicating he wasn’t finished.
“Or is it Singleton? Or maybe Stratton-Singleton? Are we going hyphenated?”
I beamed as I looked at my husband. “We haven’t figured that part out, but I might just stick with ‘Knox’s husband’ for now.”
That earned a louder cheer, and Parker laughed before adding, “All right, lovebirds. First dance time.”
I groaned under my breath, but Knox pulled me forward. The music that started playing wasn’t what I expected. I thought it would be a slow song. Instead, the opening beat of “Shut Up and Dance” hit the speakers.
I looked at him. “This is our first dance song?” Knox and Mallory had hired the DJ while I’d found the bartender and photographer, so to say I was surprised was an understatement.
He nodded. “Figured you’d groan and pretend to hate that we had to dance, but I knew you would anyway. The song is fitting, right? Well, besides the fact that they’re singing about a girl. But I assumed you wouldn’t mind.”
I shook my head, laughing. “You know me so well.”
Knox slid his hands to my waist and pulled me in. I went easily. He moved to the beat, hips loose and confident, and I kept up with him. When he spun me out and tugged me back in, the crowd clapped like we’d just pulled off a double play. A moment later, Grady slipped between us, beaming as he danced along. Then Parker’s daughters ran out too. One of them handed Grady a flower, and he tucked it behind his ear, grinning as he wiggled his shoulders to the beat.
When the music faded into something slower, my mom stepped forward for our dance while Knox took his mom’s hand.
She smiled as we swayed to “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong. “You always were handsome in a tie. I think the last time I saw you with one was your senior prom.”
I huffed a laugh. “Yeah, probably. Mallory and I went with Levi and his girlfriend. Funny how we both ended up with men.”
“I think Levi is also with the woman who came with them.” Mom nudged her head toward the table where they sat.
