Mr. Grayson: Billionaires’ Club Book 4 (Billionaires’ Club Series)

Part One

Iguess when you’re in love, time really does fly, or maybe time just flies when you’re having fun? In my case, it seemed like both were the reason it’d been precisely two years since I first met Alexander—the man I knew at the time as Mr. Grayson. Allow me to rephrase that, it was two years ago in this hotel that, in some bizarre attempt to look cool in front of my douchebag of an ex-fiancé, I met a handsome man named Logan.

Later, I would come to know Logan as Alexander Grayson, the man who played me and forced me to send him on an adventure of lies in an attempt to save face because his company was merging with mine.

What a journey he and I had been on, and there wasn’t a thing I would take back about any of it. Now, here we were on our wedding day, and luckily, there were no videos to play for our audience.

Throughout the months of dating that led Alex and me to pick the anniversary of our first meeting for a wedding date, I felt more love and adoration from him than ever. With work keeping us busy as usual—living in his home unless it was a girls’ night that forced me back to the condo—Alex and I were insanely in love, and neither one of us could’ve been happier.

“Hold still, Bree,” Cass said. She dusted blush on my cheeks as a stylist worked my hair into a fancy bun that would be complemented with a sparkling diamond tiara to match the jewels that were stitched along the bodice of my strapless gown. The dress was simple, really; it was long and shaped to flow nicely over the curves of my body, and the diamonds sparkled in all the right places. It was Parisian couture, and it showed. Theo and the designers in Paris insisted I wear the dress at first glance, and once I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, I couldn’t have agreed more. It was stunning.

I was not the bridezilla Nat was sure I’d be. Instead, I was going with the flow, filled with gratitude that I was about to become Alex’s wife officially. After the wedding, he and I were set to travel on the yacht he and Jim jointly owned—Maiden Stone, the one he’d named after me. He was incredibly proud of himself for naming the ship now because he said it represented our relationship—Made in Stone. The only thing we needed to do now was get to the boat after the wedding, which was anchored in the Sea of Cortez.

Alex still held an iron fist at work and with our employees, but this softer side of him led him down some silly romantic roads, so much so that I teased him that if our marriage was made in stone, he should probably take my last name and not the other way around.

“You look so goddamn beautiful,” Nat said, walking into the room where I was dressed and fully prepared to walk down that aisle and become Alex’s wife. “You’re never going to believe what that gorgeous young doctor told me.” She placed her hand on the hip of her pale pink gown.

“We don’t have time for guessing games, so please tell us,” Cass said, fiddling with my hair, proving that the hairstylist wasn’t living up to her standards.

I pursed my lips and grinned. “Let me guess,” I said, looking at Nat’s flustered expression. “Dr. Brandt still won’t date you?”

She rolled her eyes as Ash, Avery, and Elena walked in wearing their bridesmaids’ dresses, perfectly coifed and ready to go. “No,” she arched an eyebrow. “It turns out that even though Cameron’s a player, he’s not letting up on the fact I made the mistake of sleeping with Spencer Monroe.”

I pinched my lips together. “At least you don’t have to walk with Spencer. We put you with Cam instead.”

“Yeah, thanks for that too. I’d love to say that it was a kind gesture. Now, it’s just torture. He smells so delicious, and my female hormones will be raging by the end of this.” She then smiled. “Are you seriously going to trust Zeus—a cat—to walk your wedding rings down the aisle and stay on course? Unless you’ve both lost your minds, you have to know that cat is going to lose it, climb some beautiful aisle of flowers, and freak out.”

I stood and smiled at Nat, the only one who didn’t get the memo that this was the joke we played on Theo. This is what she got for listening to gossip anyway.

“Alex has spent a lot of money, having Zeus trained to do this job, so whether or not Theo and you are okay with it, I’d hate to see Alex waste all that money.”

“Breanne,” she said with a sigh, “you realize there are quite a few gossipy guests out in your audience today. Don’t be surprised at all if ninety percent of them are allergic to cats, and Zeus ruins this.”

“Calm down,” I hugged her. “Zeus is staying with Collin and Elena while we’re gone. He’s at their place with the sitter they hired for the little ones.”

“That’s another thing. Why don’t you have a ring bearer or flower girl?” She eyed me. “I thought this was bordering a traditional-style wedding?”

“You crack me up. You didn’t see Addison out there with Jim and little John with Jake?” I looked at Avery and Ash. “Tell me your husbands have chilled out a little? I’d like to hug my beautiful little flower girl before this whole thing starts.”

Avery chuckled. “Jim and Jake are more worried about the kids being flawless than Theo is worried about you having a cat for a ring bearer. So, you’ve officially caused chaos over in the groom’s area. I think Cameron is the only one who’s fully relaxed.”

“That’s because he’s got two weddings back-to-back; he’s here for this one, and then the real fun begins for him next week when an old friend from med school gets married. He’s groomsman of the month.”

“Well, he’s handsome enough to make it straight into a bridal magazine.” Nat took a sip of champagne.

“Still trying to get over him turning you down because of Spencer?” Elena smiled at Nat, who was playing the part of bridesmaid-zilla. “Trust me. You can do much better than being turned down by that man.”

“And Elena gives me a little consult?” Nat eyed her with a smile. “Too bad you’re not a fortune-teller because I’d like to know how it turns out for me in the end.”

I walked over and hugged her. “You’ll know when the right one comes. It’s all about the challenge you both go through to make it work out in the end. That awesome feeling of questioning why the hell you’re in love with someone you didn’t spend years getting to know.” I looked around the room. “I would’ve married this man a year ago if I could’ve. Time has done nothing but hit warp speed until today when I walked into this hotel.”

“Mommy,” I heard my flower girl say to Avery, and I turned and smiled down at how adorable Addison looked in a tiny replica of my dress. “We’re ready to do this thing!” she said and then skipped over to hug me. “Auntie Bree, you are so beautiful. Like a queen.” She smiled, and her onyx curls sparkled with the jewels that were placed in them.

“You look beautiful, little missy,” I teased her.

“Little John looks more handsome than even Uncle Alex does.”

“Well, maybe that’s because we’re all ready for a beautiful day,” I said.

“Theo’s on his way with Clay and Joe.” She motioned for me to bend down. “Uncle Jake said not to be afraid. Everyone from the crazy-farm is here.”

“Sounds like something he’d say,” Cass smiled at my flower girl.

“Have you told him yet? I figured that after our bachelorette party, you would,” Ash asked me. “He’s going to notice you toasting with sparkling apple cider and not the real stuff.”

“I don’t know when to tell him. I mean, this is sort of my fault. I got back on the pill in case we wanted to start having children eventually, but after being so used to having that stupid IUD, I wasn’t taking the pill right, and here I am.”

“I told Jake on our honeymoon too,” Ash smiled. “It was a fun gift to give him. You should take the same route.”

“I feel guilty for not telling him when I first found out,” I stopped and sighed. “I just opened up to you guys because you caught me not drinking at the bachelorette party.”

“More like Nat caught you and wouldn’t let up,” Cass smiled.

“Well, figure it out because you’re three months into this, and you’re lucky it’s your first pregnancy, so all you have is a little bump,” Avery teased.

“There is an upside for Alex in all of this,” Nat said as the girls all grabbed their slender bouquets of lilies. “There shall be no periods throughout the entire honeymoon, and of course, I hear that as time goes on, you get hornier, so the first six months of your marriage should be fantastic. All thanks to you getting knocked up right before your wedding.”

I exhaled, feeling the nerves now. “Let’s worry about getting through this day. My aunt has been faithfully attending that wedding book, and I’m going to dodge her. I can’t cry.”

“Ha,” Elena chuckled. “Good luck with that. In addition to what Nat said, your hormones can kick in at random intervals, and you could be the blubbering bride up there with Alex today.”

I eyed all of my bridesmaids as they chuckled. “Aren’t you guys supposed to be my support crew or whatever it is that bridesmaids do on the wedding day?”

“We support you telling Alex when you’re standing in front of that priest,” Cass teased.

“All right,” the door flung open. “Girls, let’s get it going. You all look radiant and lovely,” Clay said, walking in with Joe. “Joe, make sure the men know it’s go-time. I’ve got fifteen planners in this building, and we’re about to make some magic happen!”

I hugged both of Ash’s best guy friends and thanked them, but it was Theo who made me crumble. All he had to do was stand in my dad’s place, give me that Theo smile, and tell me how honored he was that I asked him to walk me to my future husband.

We had our moment, and in a monumental effort to not ruin Cass’s perfect makeup job, I dried it all up. It was time to see my man and gladly marry him and love him with everything I was. Perhaps the girls were right. Maybe I would ask Alex if he would marry us, me and the twins—an unexpected surprise I found out about at my check-up two days ago. I wanted to be shocked, but with Alex being a twin, I knew it probably wasn’t a stretch.

What would he think when he learned about all of this? There was only one way to find out, and I needed Theo to get me into that large hall in the Beverly Wilshire hotel, bringing me back to the spot where Alex and I first met in the most humorous way. What a journey we’d been on so far; however, with twins on the way, I felt this journey was just getting started.

Part Two

Alex

(No sex tape played at our wedding,

and eight long months of carrying twins later…)

“My God, how the hell can it be five-hundred degrees in the middle of flipping January?” Bree said, her legs kicked up on my lap as she reclined sideways on our sofa. “I hate these leather couches too. I’m literally sticking to them.”

With extreme caution and love for this woman, who was overly vocal about her discomfort in the final days of her pregnancy with the twins, I rose and went upstairs to the linen closet to grab a cool, clean sheet for her to put between herself and the sofa.

I smiled when I passed the nursery, seeing the sailboat theme she couldn’t resist having for the two boys. Yes, two boys. I was more blessed than a man should be. I had the best partner in business and life—aside from the occasional miserable, pregnant episodes that came and went in this final trimester—and I was receiving the most significant blessing possible.

When Dr. Allen announced that Bree was carrying twin boys, I was the first to shed a tear. That gave the doctor a chuckle since he’d known me for years from my position in the Saint John’s Board of Directors, and he knew I could be quite the rigid prick. However, I beat Breanne in the emotional reaction department by a mile, and the best part was that I didn’t give half a fuck what anyone thought about it either.

The only difference between my sons and Albert and me was that my boys would not be identical twins. Instead, the doctor noticed on the ultrasound that Bree was carrying fraternal twins, though, in reality, it was all the same to me. It was a miracle, and even though Breanne was miserable, I knew she was as elated as I was to meet our babies.

“This should work, dimples,” I said with a smile, then I turned to the other sofa in our living area and spread out the sheet over the leather. “Let’s get you onto a cool sheet and make you more comfortable.”

She eyed me with that look, which told me instantly that I’d made a bad call, but I had no idea what I’d done wrong. There was a lot of that happening these days.

“I can’t sit my lazy ass on that sofa and see the television. I hate where it’s positioned anyway.”

“Last I recall, my darling,” I smirked at her flustered expression, “it was an exceptional architect who arranged this living area.”

“Right,” she glared, her jade eyes trying to level me with what I’d become bulletproof against. “God, I’m so sorry,” she said, trying to sit up, prompting me to rush to her side to help her. “I’m the world’s biggest bitch, and you don’t deserve this crazy person I’ve turned into.”

I took her hand and helped her up. “Hey,” I kissed her soft cheek, “I love you more than the pregnancy mood swings.” She preferred lounging in sports bras and soft shorts lately, and so I rubbed my hand over her exposed stomach. “And I absolutely love that you’ve given our children a nice, healthy place to grow until they’re ready to meet us.”

She looked up at me and smiled. “I love you, Alex,” she said in the mood-swing shift I was expecting either now or tomorrow, whenever it came. “I’m hornier than hell right now too.”

I bit back my smile. “Well, lately, your favorite position is riding on top. I’m down for killing time like that, and Dr. Allen did approve sex if you want to get this show on the road.”

She exhaled. “I’m too damn hot for sex itself,” she said as she switched gears again. I practically jumped when she turned and reached for my cock. “But,” she gave me a mischievous smile, “I’m ready to get this over with, so I’m just going to brace myself on that wall, and you do your part.”

“My part?” I tightened my lips because if there was one lesson I’d learned in this stage of the pregnancy with my lovely wife, it was to shut the fuck up, don’t laugh, and do as she says. However, this was beyond humorous.

“Yes. Fuck me hard.” She walked over to a wall in the living room, sighed in annoyance, and spread her legs.

“I have to admit, everything you just demanded of me can be a man’s dream come true. However, this isn’t exactly romantic.”

“Fuck romance, Alex,” she snapped into that gear again. “The romance is dead right now, and you’re going to be dead if you don’t get over here and help me get this going.”

“Well, the doc said it was the sperm that triggered the pregnancy, so why don’t we do this where it’s a tiny bit more comfortable for you?”

“For me?” she turned back, and evil-Bree was in full swing. “Comfortable? I can’t sleep—I don’t even remember the last time I slept. I’m hotter than hell all of the fucking time, I fart when I least expect it to happen, my indigestion is killing me from all those tacos I can’t stop eating, and as if all of that isn’t bad enough, I pee myself when I laugh, cough, or sneeze. So, I ask you,” she flashed her most challenging expression, “why would I give a shit about how or where we screw? Let’s do our part and get these babies out of me before I burst at the seams.”

I sighed, and my heart was sad that she was so miserable. I knew that we could get labor started through sex, but I felt terrible going through motions like this, especially when we had nearly perfected our sex life. I wasn’t the hop on top and have my way kind of guy.

“Happy wife, happy life, right?” I said.

“Good God, I hate that fucking term.”

“You hate a lot of things these days,” I teased, then gently positioned Bree to take me and pray that I could keep my cock hard, doing the job that was required of me to get her moving into labor hopefully.

“Oh, fuck,” she growled, her head rocking back into my chest. “Even while I’m miserable, I can’t get enough of feeling you inside me.”

That’s all it took to keep me rocking my hard-on and staying the course for my wife. Now, all I could do was hope this got the job done because I didn’t know how much longer Bree could survive feeling so miserable, and I didn’t know how much longer I could keep dodging bullets.

“Alex, I’m having the babies,” Bree said to me, and we were standing at the altar again at our wedding.

I smiled at her, knowing this was a dream, but I loved this moment in time so much, and I love revisiting it. I watched as she stopped the priest, her bridesmaids all wearing ear-to-ear smiles, and she asked if I would marry her and the twins she was carrying. I didn’t hear anything in the room, not even the reaction of the guests or my groomsmen. I felt my heart skip a beat or two, and I was extremely close to joining the bridesmaids with their shocked tears of joy. Breanne was a gift from the minute I first met her, and to learn we were having not just one child but two was double the blessing for me.

“Alex! Please, wake the fuck up, or I’m calling for the neighbor and leaving you here.”

My eyes snapped open to see Bree, standing there in an oversized shirt, pajama bottoms, and the two braids I was proud I nailed when I braided her hair before we fell asleep.

“You’re sure?”

“My water broke, so I think I’m pretty sure this one isn’t a false alarm,” she said, then bent over and held her stomach as I scrambled to get out of bed. I turned back and went to help as our birthing classes taught us. “Goddammit, grab our stuff,” she demanded through her breathing. “I’m okay with the contraction.” She blew out one last breath. “Whew. Maybe I’ll be like Elena, and it goes quickly, and I won’t have to wait long like most first pregnancies.”

Thirteen hours later…

“I’m not doing this anymore,” Bree said, fighting her contraction. “Go get Dr. Allen. I’m seriously done.”

I rubbed a freshly cooled washcloth over her forehead. “Why don’t we take Dr. Allen’s advice and get that epidural so you can relax.”

“Ohhhhhhhhhhh, shit!” she cried, and that’s when her hand clutched the button of my pants.

As Breanne breathed through the painful contraction, I took a selfish moment to thank God that my belt had prevented her death grip from separating my balls from my body—something that would ensure she never had to go through this again.

Bree thought I was breathing with her, but not this time. This time my breathing was focused on keeping my dick safe and waiting for this severe contraction to end so I would never be in this vulnerable position again.

“How are our future parents doing?” I heard Cameron say, coming in, wearing his surgical scrubs.

“Dr. Brandt,” Bree said, coming off of that contraction and relaxing back on the bed with an exhausted smile. “You’re in pediatrics, right? Kids and babies,” she questioned Cameron as he grinned at her.

“That I am,” he said. “How are you doing, beautiful momma?”

She reached for his arm. “Listen to me. Get me the hell out of here, and get these two stubborn boys out of me,” she said in that growl I was used to.

“As much as I’d love to help,” Cameron grinned at me then her, “I’m not certified to deliver healthy pregnancies. Pediatric neurosurgeon protocols, I guess?”

“Then you have to go find Dr. Allen and tell him I need these babies out right now. I don’t know what he’s fucking waiting for.” She looked at me. “Wait. You’re on the board here, Alex. Go handle that doctor.”

“I see labor and delivery is going well in here.” Cameron stepped back just in time for another contraction. “Tell Bree she’ll survive this. It’s always worth it when you’re holding your precious babies.”

“Tell Cameron to get the fuck out of here if he’s not going to put action into words with that,” Bree panted out.

“Tell Allen or a nurse we could use a pelvic exam to see how dilated we are,” I said to Brandt.

“We,” Bree scoffed.

“Got it,” Cameron said, then eyed all the monitors, “These are healthy heartbeats, and oxygen levels are doing great. You’re doing awesome, Bree.”

Cam left before Bree could throw one last jab, and thank God a nurse was quick to get in the room, close the curtain, and do Breanne’s exam.

“Oh God, not another one,” Bree said as another contraction came barreling down on her.

“We’re ready to do this,” the nurse said. “I’ll go get the doctor, and we’ll get this all moving along.”

“Do you hear that?” I kissed Bree’s forehead. “We’re about to meet our sons.”

Bree collapsed back into her pillows. Then her face returned to a pained expression coupled with another contraction.

“Let’s keep these heart rates where they are and deliver naturally, Breanne,” Dr. Allen said, pulling on his birthing gear. “If all goes safely, we’re going to meet your babies soon.”

I watched as nurses filed in and walked over to the warmers where the babies would go once they were born. I also didn’t fail to notice the neonatal intensive care unit staff walk in as well.

“One more. I see baby number one’s head,” Dr. Allen explained.

“Would you like to watch?” the nurse asked Bree.

“God, no,” she wailed out as soon as our first son’s head made its entrance into the world.

With all of Breanne’s hard work, she safely delivered our sons. Both boys were instantly rushed to their warmers after I cut their umbilical cords, and just as Dr. Allen suggested, Bree’s thirty-eight-week pregnancy could likely deliver two healthy baby boys. He was right.

Both babies passing the APGAR score made me exhale in relief at our two beautiful sons, who were now crying loudly for their mother. The group had all texted that they’d wait outside when Bree’s contractions were more brutal, and it was only Cameron who had the balls to peek around the curtain to check on her before heading into surgery.

The nurses quickly wrapped both sets of dark-haired boys in their burrito-style blanket and handed them to Breanne after I walked to my wife. I kissed her on her forehead, her tired eyes peering up at me and her beautiful, dimpled smile lighting up the entire room.

“You did so well, baby,” I kissed her forehead. “Our sons are healthy and on their way to you.”

I watched, mesmerized, as Bree was handed a baby for each arm, and she smiled down at them. “Hello, my beautiful boys. You look so much like your daddy. Except you, little man.” I watched, sitting next to her and allowing her to lean into my side some. “You have dimples, don’t you?” She chuckled and smiled at me. “I love you,” she said, and that’s when I kissed her parched lips.

“There aren’t any words to explain how I’m feeling. I’m so proud of you and more in love with you now than ever.”

I glanced down, and the other infant popped the same dimples as the first one. I frowned and shook off any idea that Dr. Allen got this wrong with our boys being identical. There was no way in hell, especially with today’s technology.

“Well, what the heck are we going to call you two?” I said, gently taking one of our sons from Bree’s arm.

“Well, I’ve got Logan,” Bree smiled at me with a tear in her eye. “And I think, if I’m correct, the beautiful little boy you’re holding is Albert.”

I looked at her in amazement. “You’re trying to make me cry, and I won’t,” I said, arching an eyebrow at her while Dr. Allen continued to work, sewing up her vital area.

“I wanted to name our sons after two men who you loved and cherished. What do you think?”

“I love it,” I said, kissing her. “And I love you. Do you want some ice chips or water? Your lips are parched, baby.”

“I would love that,” she said.

“Well, I certainly missed this,” Dr. Allen said, examining what I could only imagine was the placenta.

“Don’t tell me there are three?” Bree chuckled.

“No,” Dr. Allen stood. “These handsome boys are identical twins.” He smiled at Bree and me. “Congratulations to you both. When you’re ready, you can have visitors. I can already hear Collin out there, so I’ll have a nurse send your friends and family in whenever you say.”

“Family?” I chuckled. “Did Jake say he was family again so he could come in first?”

“No,” Dr. Allen looked at me. “A young woman said so. Her name is Jane O’Connor, I think?” he said, glancing back where the door had been closed for the delivery process.

“My sister is here?” I questioned him as if he’d understand why I hadn’t seen to Jane since San Diego.

I hadn’t heard from her since she said there was no way in hell she’d come to mom’s funeral, and sometime between then and now, she was deployed. Apparently, she was back now.

“Surprise, daddy,” Bree cleared my instant confusion with a lovely smile of adoration. “I sent her a text and let her know that we were going to have a baby at some point this month.”

I kissed her forehead. “A baby? As in one?” I questioned. Bree had Jane’s info since I threw it into her contacts as a joke, stating she was my first emergency contact if I didn’t survive our deep-sea dive on one of our many honeymoon destinations.

“Go get her. I’m all tucked in and ready for everyone to meet these babies before the lactation consultant gets here and clears the room.”

“You realize that, even though I love Jane, our friends are family to me too.”

“Alexander,” she used the one name she loved when she busted my ass—the married couple shit that happens, I guess. “She’s your sister, and she’s here because she loves you. Bring her in, and then we’ll show her these handsome nephews of hers. The boys have the rest of their lives to spend with our family of friends—all the aunties and uncles and cousins that go along with it—but give your sister this. Our friends understand.”

I cleared my throat and looked at baby Albert as he started to fight in my arms. “I’m not sure how to handle this, but I guess—” I glanced over at baby Logan in Bree’s arms. “Well, I guess these two handsome men are a great conversation starter.”

“They’re a perfect way to start down a new and healthy road with your sister. I’m happily surprised she’s here on the day they were born.”

“Leave it to you to fix the last dangling issue in my family drama.” I kissed her again, unsure if I’d ever be able to stop, given how happy I was.

I walked out to the comfortable waiting area, and Jim was the first to stand when he saw my approach. “We heard mommy and babies are healthy?”

“A new and very handsome dad didn’t pass out?” I heard Jane as she walked up to me, smiles worn all around the room while the children were occupied in the learning and games corner of the room.

“Jane, I’m happy as hell that you’re here,” I said as she stepped back and smiled up at me.

“Well,” she patted my cheek, “I’ve heard you’re doing well from my sister-in-law. I texted Bree and congratulated her on your nuptials since your response was some BS thumbs-up emoji.”

“I am.” I grinned at how well my sister appeared. Her blonde, curly hair was loose around her shoulders, and she was dressed casually. She didn’t have her usual stiff military look. “I’m happy you’re here.”

She jabbed me in my side. “You better be. Now, let’s go,” she said.

“Give us a second,” I smiled at the group as Jane walked in to meet Breanne and our children for the first time, and the understanding smiles on my friends’ faces were all I needed to see not to feel as though I was ditching them.

“Identical twins,” Jane grinned at me. “I love the names, Alex. You’re one lucky dad, you know.”

“And you’re one lucky aunt, eh?” I said, walking toward Bree’s beaming smile. “We named them after our grandfather and our brother.”

“It’s a beautiful way to treasure both of them,” she said. “Damn, I couldn’t be happier for you,” she looked at Bree, “and thrilled to meet a kind sister finally. Out of all the tragedy, it feels so freeing to let it all go and just be a real family.”

“I think we’re all a great family, now that you’re with us,” Bree added. “How’d you manage to get up here on this day of all days?”

Jane grinned, taking a seat, lost in baby Logan’s eyes now. “I guess I got lucky. I left last night, made the six-hour drive after traffic cleared, and then Bree texted me when you guys were here.”

“Yeah, well, she could have used your marine methods while she waited to deliver,” I smirked. “This is all so surreal. I’m happy you’re here.”

Jane grinned at Bree and me. “I am too.” She touched the dimple on Logan’s cheek when he yawned. “Now, let’s toughen these boys up and make them bad-ass marines, eh?”

“Fighter pilots?” Bree laughed.

“You know it,” Jane grinned.

The rest of the gang filtered in, all smiles. Aside from meeting Breanne, falling in love, and finding my true peace, having everyone together in this room made me feel like the luckiest son of a bitch on the planet.

I loved the wholeness I felt. Over a year ago, Jane and I would’ve never been laughing or smiling like this—like the brother and sister we could happily be now. We went through hell together, and I was so thankful that I had my oldest sister after all was said and done.

Could I be the happiest man alive? Absolutely. I was the most content that I’d ever been, and I could say without reservation that I deserved this happiness, and I deserved the beautiful family I was blessed to have.

A painful past did make for a strong man in my case. When I asked Bree to allow me to be the last man she could ever love, she’d already honored that vow by giving me two more little humans to love unconditionally. And just like that, I had a family, and I knew I would never take any of this for granted—not for one damn day of my life. I was a man who’d been blessed a thousand times over.