Noah stepped into the room, Rose on his hip while he closed the door behind him. Rose was dressed in a fluffy light blue dress looking like a princess. She stared up at her father’s face with wonder. She then flickered her eyes to him and flashed him a wide smile.
She looked like the happiest girl on the planet.
His brother walked up to him, his eyes flickering from his perfectly gelled hair to his shoes. Noah nodded in approval. An inviting smile spread across his face.
“You ready?”
That was a silly question, he was ready months ago. He knew Scarlett felt the same way. Today would make things official between them. A ceremony to show the world that they were in love. He poked Rose’s chubby cheek and watched her giggle away. She reached for him but Noah didn’t hand her over.
“You can hold her after the ceremony.” Noah informed him sternly, “You know she’s drooling all over the place right now. I won’t let you ruin your tux.”
“It’s just a tux.” He reminded Noah, “I don’t mind it.”
Noah narrowed his eyes on him, stepping back when he reached for Rose again.
“You don’t mind but I do. Just try and look perfect for a few minutes, okay?”
He rolled his eyes at his brother, “You are so demanding, you know that?”
Noah didn’t smile, instead, he nodded once more, “Yes, I am aware. I take control when I feel like those around me are behaving like idiots.”
That wasn’t exactly the truth, he remembered Noah running away when he wanted to confront their mother about the wedding. Like a coward, his brother slipped away making up excuses about checking up on his girls.
The look in his brother’s eyes told him Noah knew exactly what he was thinking.
“I know you well, Lucy.” Noah’s lips curled up to a smirk, “Dealing with mom is a different story. You know that.”
He knew very well how terrifying it could be to confront the headstrong Emma. He wasn’t going to make things easier on Noah though. His brother was overprotective and sometimes overbearing but he could also be mischievous and playful.
He’d give Noah a hard time since he rarely got to do that. His brother always teamed up on him together with the girls. Noah was aware the girls were his soft spot and he wasn’t afraid to use them to torture his younger brother.
A brother’s love was tough at times.
“What I know is that it was a moment you were supposed to shine with your mad skills but instead decided to walk away because mom scares you.” He narrowed his eyes on his brother when Noah opened his mouth to protest, “Mom scares me too but I still stood up for Scarlett because it was the right thing to do.”
Noah sighed, looking tired of the conversation.
“Fine, you’re right, I ran because mom scares me. But just listen to me, okay? Let’s keep your tux drool free for the ceremony. That means that Violet stays with her mom too. It’s twenty minutes max. I did tell the minister to keep it short. We don’t want the kids to get annoyed and ruin the moment.”
At the office, he was strict, so strict that his brother and his soon to be wife always made fun of him. But when it came to this wedding he didn’t mind it going off schedule. All he wanted was to marry his Goddess but she probably did want things to go according to plan so he’d go along with his brother’s strict rules.
“Fine, no toddler or baby cuddles for now.” He leaned in and kissed Rose’s chubby cheek. She slapped her little hand against his cheek, all happy and smiley. Pulling away he met his brother’s gaze. Noah looked relieved with his decision, “So are you ready?”
Noah snorted, “You’re in a good mood.”
“I’m getting married.”
His brother grinned, he looked like he was in a good mood too. His grin was very similar to baby Rose’s. He faced the mirror, making sure his bow tie was at its place. He straightened his clothes one more time and then made his way out of his private room with determined steps.
Noah followed after him, determined to make things go according to schedule.
In a few years, he’d thank his brother for being this strict. Today he’d laugh at Noah for being overbearing.
***
Scarlett did a twirl on the dance floor, smiling at him mischievously. Her eyes wide and bright, sparkling with happiness. It was around nine in the evening. Dawn went home with their baby, she was too young to party all night. Violet needed her sleep, a grumpy baby was no fun at all.
The girls were still wide awake though. They ran onto the dance floor when they noticed the mood Scarlett was in.
They joined them for a dance, all of them laughing loudly and just having a great time. Scarlett moved to the music without much effort. She made it seem so natural. She looked absolutely beautiful, radiant with happiness.
Their laughter was contagious and their good mood transferring to their close friends and family. Noah and Kim made their way onto the dance floor. Noah grabbed Kim’s hand and made her do a twirl too.
The girls absolutely loved it.
He chuckled when Lily suddenly hugged him tightly, holding on with all her might. He placed his hand on the back of her little head and smiled down at her.
All the smiling was painful but he couldn’t stop. He’d feel it in the morning but he wouldn’t regret it. Lily looked up at him, he brushed her hair out of her face.
“What’s wrong, honey?”
She shrugged, “Nothing.” She couldn’t stop smiling either.
He rubbed her back, grabbed her little hand and made her do a twirl too. She loved it, just like her dad made her mom twirl around. She felt like a princess she exclaimed. It was too cute. Noah grabbed Lily’s attention while Kim and Oliva were doing weird dance moves, battling who was the weirdest.
Oliva was laughing so much. It’s been a while since he saw her this happy when Scarlett was around too.
Their happiness was definitely contagious.
Since Kim and Noah distracted their girls he grabbed onto Scarlett and pulled her close to him, moving slowly to the music. Scarlett wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned in. She pressed a soft kiss to his lips.
“I can’t stop smiling.” She told him.
“That’s okay, I can’t stop either.” He confessed to her.
She seemed to love that. She leaned in again and kissed him, this time they earned squeals from the girls who told them it was gross. He glanced at the girls and made a face. Lily made a face too. Soon enough it became a battle of who could make the silliest faces. Scarlett shook her head at him.
“Violet brought out your playful side.”
He had to admit that Violet did soften him up quite a bit but she wasn’t the one who brought out his more playful side. All the seriousness faded whenever Scarlett gave him that one look. She knew it too. She bit her lower lip, the darkened look in her eyes making him feel things which he wasn’t supposed to feel when they were surrounded by their guests.
She was playing with fire but his wife always loved to cross the line and see where it would take them.
He couldn’t hate it because the first time they met she crossed the line and they ended up falling in love. Now they were married. It was safe to say that sometimes he needed to let go and let Scarlett take charge.
She was good for him, she changed his life for the better.
He pulled her close, wrapping his arms tightly around her and hugging the air out of her. Kissing her hair he whispered to her how much he loved her.
“The one who changed me is you.”
She glanced up at him with wonder, it made him laugh since it reminded him of Rose who looked up at her father as if he was her favorite huge teddy bear. There was no doubt about her love for her parents. Knowing what that look meant overwhelmed him.
“You already made me fall for you, Lucy. So you can stop being so charming now.”
He wasn’t even trying, he was speaking from the heart. Emotions were running high and if they didn’t pull away from each other he’d whisk her away because he needed some alone time with his wife.
Kissing her one last time he pulled away from her, keeping her at arm’s length so they wouldn’t be tempted.