Page 51 of Don't Fall For Your Fake Boyfriend
“I don’t care about the wedding. This is all for Hartford. I’m excited for our marriage.” He swats Shepherd’s hand away when he tries fixing his hair. “Stop it.”
“So you’re excited for the marriage? What’s that even mean?” I ask, curious about where he was going with that.
“Hartford wants this day and I’m cool with it. I’ll always give her what she wants, but I don’t need it. I want to build a life together. I want to buy a house, maybe get a dog. I want to take vacations, have BBQs, and spend time making memories. I want to have babies. Give August some cousins to play with. I want to grow old with her and spend every day telling her how damn lucky I am. That’s what I’m excited for. Today is for Hartford, every other day is for me.”
Well, damn, that’s not what I was expecting. We all joke and tease each other so often that it’s rare we share things like this. It’s kind of nice.
And cue the tears. My parents walked in while Paxton was talking and my mom is now touching the corners of her eye with a tissue.
“Well said, son,” my dad says, giving him a hug. “I’m proud of you.”
My mother is more dramatic and grabs him, holding on tightly like she’s afraid to let go.
“Mom, he’s getting married, not moving out of the country,” I say, laughing.
She lets go of him and shakes her head at me. “You hush. This is my first baby getting married. I’m allowed to be emotional about that.”
“You’ve got plenty of others to push into marriage, don’t waste all your tears,” Tripp says, earning a smack on the head from our father.
She rolls her eyes and focuses back on Paxton, running her hand down the lapel of his tuxedo jacket. “Everyone is going to tell you today how lucky you are to have married Hartford, but I want you to know that she’s lucky too. You’re an incredible man, Paxton. The only thing I’ve ever wished for my children is to find happiness in this life and you’ve found that. It’s sad letting you go, knowing things are changing, but it’s even more exciting. Watching your son become successful in every aspect of life.” She wipes her eyes again and smiles. “Remember we are always here for you and we’re so happy to add another Atwood to the family.”
He wraps her in a tight embrace, his voice thick with emotion. “Thank you,” he murmurs, both of them fighting back tears that threaten to spill over.
“Damn, is it going to be this mushy all day?” Tripp quips, his voice breaking the tender moment.
Before anyone can respond, Callum smacks the back of Tripp’s head lightly, eliciting a yelp of surprise. The tears we’ve all been holding back transform into laughter, filling the room with a warmth that only family can bring. It’s moments like these that remind us of the unspoken bond we share—the way the Atwood’s can turn any situation into a reason to laugh.
“I’d really love a picture with all my handsome sons,” our mother says.
We know better than to protest for something she asks for, clearly since I’m in a fake relationship, so we gather around her. My father snaps the picture and we take turns giving her a hug.
“We’ve raised amazing kids, Carol,” I hear my father say, kissing my mom’s cheek.
Callum opens the mini fridge and pulls out a large bottle of whiskey that clearly doesn’t belong in there. “Got this last night. One last shot with your brothers before we get you to the chapel.”
“Hell yes,” Paxton says, looking around for glasses.
Shepherd brings out the little cups that are in the bathroom that are used for rinsing your mouth. “These will work.”
Callum pours us all a shot, my parents declining.
“I have the honor of giving a speech later, so I’m just going to say congratulations little brother,” Callum says, holding up his cup.
Shepherd steps next to Callum and grins. “I’m so happy for you Pax. I wish you and Hartford all the best this life has to give and when you guys get pregnant, give me a call for the three in the morning feeding. Congratulations, brother.”
I hold my cup up, standing next to Shepherd. “Well, I didn’t realize I should work on a speech or something, so I’ll just wing it. I’ve always looked up to you, Shep, and Callum. I would tell everyone how cool my big brothers were. We all tease each other a lot but being here in Vegas has made me realize I still look up to you guys and I’ve learned from you guys that love comes at you when you least expect it from someone you definitely didn’t expect. I’m so happy for you and Hartford. Congratulations, big brother.”
Tripp stands up and holds his cup up in the air. “When you find the one you want to spend forever with you don’t fight it. You lean into it and let it take you where it may. Falling in love with someone is easy, what’s hard is accepting the fact that they could love you back. You and Hartford make it all look so easy and that’s something that inspires me every day.”
We all stare at Tripp, stunned. I thought he would say something ridiculous like always, but that was far from ridiculous. It was beautiful and touching.
It made me feel like he was talking to me about Willow.
“Damn, Tripp, that was beautifully said,” Callum says.
“Yeah, where’d that come from?” I ask.
“He’s always been well-spoken,” my mother adds with a look of pride gleaming in her eyes.