“Why would you walk out first? I’m the favorite, and Avery is the best lady,” Jace explained.

“Matron of honor,” she corrected, and he nodded, pointing to her.

“That.”

“Yeah, but Jordie is the best man. So shouldn’t she walk with Jordie and you walk with Angie?” Jude asked.

Jace held his hand up. “Um. I’m walking with my wife.”

“I’ll take good care of her,” Jordie Thomas said with a grin, and Jace glared.

“That mountain man is not walking with my wife,” Jace said defiantly.

“He’s nice! You’re nice—don’t listen to him,” Avery tried, but Jordie didn’t care, he just laughed.

“I mean it doesn’t matter what any of you say. Baylor and I are going first, ’cause we’re hotter,” Jayden said, and everyone ignored him as Markus just laughed.

Bunch of idiots.

“Actually, Jordie and Avery are going first, then Jude and Claire, then Baylor and Jayden, with Jace and Angie bringing up the rear, pulling the wagon with the babies,” Grace Justice, the wedding planner, said. “And I’d heard a lot of you are argumentative and like to give people a hard time. If you are scared of my brother, Shea Adler, be scared of me because I kicked his ass in the womb and came out first.”

No one said anything, just looked at her as she nodded confidently before walking toward Lucy and Benji, who were talking to Autumn and River.

“Someone has to protest. I vote Baylor,” Jude said, and Baylor scoffed.

“Kiss my ass.”

“You’re the only one who can take her!” Jace complained, and she flipped him off.

“The order is fine, and it’s for Lucy, not us. So shut up and do what she said.”

“I don’t want that mountain man touching my wife!”

“So I can’t grab her butt?” Jordie teased, and Jace glared as Avery laughed nervously.

“He’s joking! Lord, this is insane.”

Knowing he had to step in, Markus cupped his best friend’s arm. “Bro, it’s fine. Thomas is a good guy, and it’s for like a minute. Chill.”

He could tell Jace wasn’t happy and planned to protest more, that was until Angie came over to him. “You don’t want to walk with me, Uncle Jace?”

Bending down, he took the little girl in his arms and picked her up. “Wait, what? I get to walk with you? Forget Avery! I’m good!”

Angie beamed as she wrapped her arms around him, kissing him hard on the cheek as Avery tsked at him. “Well, that’s not fair. He loves you more than me, Angie!”

Angie giggled as she leaned down, hugging Avery. “It’s okay, Avery. I love you too.”

“Oh, good,” she said, kissing her as Markus grinned. Angie was a cutie and had everyone, including him, wrapped around her little finger.

Benji above all, though.

It amazed Markus how a man could love a child who wasn’t his so completely, but Benji was a prime example of that. It wasn’t about blood, it was about love, and he loved that girl with every fiber of his being.

“Uncle Markus, have you seen my dress yet?” she asked, and he shook his head, patting Dawson as he toed Ashlyn’s stroller, pushing her back and forth as she napped. He was a pretty damn good multitasker.

“I haven’t. I bet it’s pretty.”

“So pretty! It’s light purple and has sparkles all over it.”

“I can’t wait!”

“Me either,” she gushed as Jace put her down because Lucy was calling her over. Markus watched her as she ran, and Lucy locked eyes with him and smiled, to which he smiled back. She looked elated. Wearing a sexy red dress that flirted around her thighs, she had on black high heels that showed off those stunning legs. But there was no reason even to ogle Lucy Paxton; she had eyes only for Benji. As Angie wrapped her arms around her daddy, Lucy grinned back at Grace as Markus looked around the breathtaking room.

Lights sparkled above them. The windows were pushed open, with long white curtains falling from the ceilings and blowing in the crisp air. The altar was something out of a magazine, which was to be expected with Grace Justice as the planner. Instead of pedestals for the flowers, big bouquets of white and lilac flowers were placed on thick sections of tree stumps around the large wooden altar that apparently River had made for them. White tulle was draped around it beautifully, adorned with more flowers and lights. Lanterns and candles were everywhere, positioned tastefully and elegantly. Nothing was lit up just yet, but the vibe was there, and Markus couldn’t wait to see the whole thing Saturday.

It would be beautiful, for sure.

When the side door opened, his eyes were drawn away as Mekena walked in behind who he had learned was her aunt. Mekena was wearing the same outfit from that morning, a long flowing black dress with a bright orange chevron scarf. Her hair was down, but unlike that morning, her makeup was gone. Which he knew meant she had been crying.

Holding her camera, she didn’t look at him as she made her way to where Lucy and Benji were. She tried to put a smile on her face, but her eyes were hollow and so full of grief. He wanted to grab her. Hold her close to him and tell her that everything was okay. That it didn’t matter. That everything would be all right, but she wouldn’t even look at him.

He almost went over to her to ask if she was okay, but not only was he watching Ashlyn, Grace had turned around, wrangling everyone together to start the rehearsal. He figured he could go sit down, but what was the point? He wasn’t about to maneuver Ashlyn when she was sleeping, and Dawson was content. No reason to bother them, plus he was fine and he had a good view.

Of Mekena.

She was looking at her camera, clicking and test shooting. She looked completely in her element, which was how it usually was when she had a camera in her hand. He remembered wondering why she thought she wanted to be a doctor. Yeah, she was wicked smart, but it wasn’t her passion. She didn’t get off on anatomy or heart transplants. No, it was taking the perfect picture of a leaf falling that made her beam with pride. He loved watching her work, and while he wasn’t sure what made her change her mind, he was glad. He wanted her to be happy.

He hoped that happiness could include him.

When Lucy started for him, he pulled his gaze from Mekena to her, smiling as she stopped in front of him. “Oh, they’re both sleeping. Shit,” she said, and he looked down to find that Dawson was sleeping too.