If It's Only Love (Lexi Ryan)

Shay

Brayden has never smiled as much as he has since he started dating Molly, and never smiled as big as he did standing on the sand behind our family cabin and saying his vows.

The service was beautiful. The pastor gave a speech about how a marriage ceremony isn’t about two people making vows and committing to each other—as that’s already happened one way or another before the ceremony—but about the community accepting them as a couple. When the pastor spoke about love withstanding even the toughest trials, I found myself turning to Easton, only to find he was already watching me. Our eyes locked as the pastor spoke about the patience of the heart and reward of love, and Easton smiled. A private smile just for me that made my heart race and my knees go weak.

The reception is a small gathering—or as small as anything with my family can be—but everyone is seated at tables on the back patio that overlooks the lake. Molly hired her chef from the banquet center to do the cooking and brought some of her waitstaff out to serve us. There’s no microphone when I stand to give my speech, and I’m grateful for that. The worst thing about having an English degree is that when people ask you to give a speech or write a letter, they have really high expectations. At least if I screw this up, my voice won’t be amplified.

I smile at my new sister-in-law. She’s flushed and glowing, holding Brayden’s hand and her son Noah on her lap. She truly looks like this is the happiest day of her life.

I lift my glass. “Molly, I always wanted a sister. You probably don’t know this, but it wasn’t until the little hellion that is my brother Levi turned three that Mom announced she wasn’t going to have any more children. Before him, she’d intended to continue popping out babies until her body wouldn’t cooperate anymore. While I understood why Levi would make even my most-patient mother tap out of the child-raising business, I was crushed.”

Everyone laughs, and I wink at my mom, who shrugs like Can you blame me? Levi doesn’t look too offended. He knows the story.

“All of my brothers were relieved at the news because, let’s face it, things were getting kind of crowded. But not me. I’d been wishing for a sister, and it looked like my chance was gone. What I didn’t realize when I was a kid was that I’d be lucky enough to get five sisters. Molly, you’re perfect for my big brother. You make him smile and laugh and somehow even get him to stop working from time to time.” Everyone laughs softly, and I take a breath before continuing. “And you’re good for me too,” I say, the words breaking a little. I glance around the patio. Teagan’s wearing a shiny new engagement band, and I choke up a little at the reminder. Ava’s holding her one-year-old daughter, Lauren, while Jake keeps an arm around her shoulders. Ellie’s leaning on Levi, and Nic has her fingers intertwined with Ethan’s. By the time I look back to Molly, I think everyone understands why I feel so damn grateful. “You’re all better than sisters. I’m a pretty private person and I never wanted to burden anyone else with my troubles, but in you, Molly, and in Ava, Ellie, Nic, and Teagan, I don’t just have sisters. I have friends I can go to any time life is rough. Thank you for being brave enough to come back to Jackson Harbor. You’re a piece of this family as essential as one of my brothers.” I throw Levi a look and grunt. “Except maybe him. We’d be all right without him.”

“Heeey!” Levi says over everyone’s laughter. “This is family time, brat!”

I blow him a kiss and shake my head. “But seriously, Molly. Today you’re not just marrying Brayden. You’re stuck with all of us—even Levi—and we’re lucky enough to have duped you into thinking this is a good thing. I’m grateful for you and Noah, and so thrilled to call you both Jacksons. Here’s to you and Brayden.” I lift my glass of sparkling apple juice in the air. “May you always be lucky enough to know what a gift you have in each other.”

Everyone cheers, and I lower back into my seat.

Easton leans over, his mouth brushing my ear. “Do you know how wild I am about you?”

I smile. “I might have an idea.”

He nips my earlobe. “Good. Just checking.”

Easton

everyone’s dancing on the beach, I stand and offer Shay my hand. “Dance with me?” I nod to the beach where all of her

. . . Well, we’re expected to be out here for the next couple of hours, so I’m trying to pace myself. “I suppose. If I

her down to the beach.

I settle mine at her

and shake my

her head.

little . . . I

he did it. She just wants to marry

her back. “I think she likes celebrating with your

smiles. “She’s stuck

girl,” I whisper.

been stuck with us since you were a kid,” she says. “Don’t

myself lucky too, but I wasn’t as lucky

such a charmer.” She closes her eyes and rests her

found a place in Chicago yesterday. She said it’s a better fit for her than Jackson Harbor and that she didn’t want to get in the way of my

“Can I dance?”

back and nods at me, getting out of the way so I can dance with my daughter.

about we all three

Abi grins. “Okay!”

hold hands and sway to the music. And I

Easton

Twenty-nine weeks later

Oh my God, Easton!

I-think-my-girlfriend’s-in-labor speed. That’s the speed I use as I fly down the hall and into the den. I grab the doorframe as I turn the corner and narrowly miss falling on my

show the girls how fast I’d come, or that, as she pointed

sitting at her desk, staring

that I ran here. “What can I

hell, she

you

one whose contact info you gave me. Remember, I sent her my manuscript

my buddy had given me a

shakes her head.