Here With Us (The Archer Brothers)

When it’s time for our vows, I hand my bouquet to Lois and place my other hand in Evan’s. We’ve chosen to go with the textbook version mostly because we don’t have any issues expressing our love for each other, and it’s nothing we need to share with our friends. Evan and I know how each other feel about one another. He leaves no doubts in my mind that he’s madly in love with me.

I hope I do the same for him.

“Without further ado, I now pronounce you, husband and wife. Evan, you may kiss your bride.”

Evan doesn’t hesitate and smashes his lips to mine. The initial awkwardness eases, and he puts his arm around my waist while the back of his hand strokes my cheek. When we part, he says, “I love you, Mrs. Archer.”

“I love you,” my words dangle in the air. For years, I’ve called him Archer, and I don’t want to stop, and I don’t want to add mister. “Archer,” I finally say. “You’ll always be Archer to me.”

“Fine by me,” he says. We part, hold hands and face our friends and family.

“It gives me great pleasure to introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Evan Archer.”

Our hands go up, and we kiss again.

CHAPTER 9

EVAN

I’m thankful this is the only time I’ll ever get married. If I have to smile on command one more time, I may shoot someone. I don’t know who, but someone because this shit is hard. Chin up, move it slightly to the left, now right, look this way, that way . . . the only saving grace in all of this is Ryley. I’ll happily stand next to her for anything. I will say, every time the photographer tells me to kiss my wife, I eagerly oblige.

“Okay, we are done out here. The rest will be during the reception,” the photographer says.

“Oh, thank God. I’m starving,” EJ says, much to everyone’s enjoyment.

“Me too, bud.” With Ryley’s hand in mine, the group of us walk toward the reception. Ryley and I decided to let her parents put the reception together. It’s more of a party anyway, with the important part being our ceremony. Ry and I knew what we wanted there, but for the ending, we just wanted to have fun and relax.

Well, relax as much as I can. I knew something was up last night before I went to the Clarkes. I should’ve trusted my gut and stayed home, but my pride and manhood got in the way. This morning, when I caught up with Cara, she told me the car was a rental and needed a bit more time to track down the renter. I have a feeling she knows who it is but won’t tell me until tomorrow, once Ryley and I have had what little honeymoon we’re going to have. When I met up with Nate, he said he hadn’t slept a wink the night before, so he snuck Deefur out of EJ’s room before dawn and instructed him to “find it,” even though Nate didn’t know what “it” was. He said Deefur went around the property's perimeter with his nose stuck to the ground, and then Nate took him for a walk, hoping the dog would alert to a matching scent. Our dog is getting old, but I still trust him.

And then my day went downhill fast when Carole called and told me about the shack. She knew right off it wasn’t something I had done—or any of us for that matter—and said Ryley knew right away something was off. I hate that our lives have to be like this, questioning everything. During our photos, Jensen had some friends take it to a storage building where we could pull it apart, piece by piece. We have no idea what we’re going to find, but I suspect a listening device and camera. Someone definitely wants to know what we talk about—part of me thinks we should’ve had Ryley use the structure. I could’ve planted some great conspiracies in there.

We reach the tent where our reception is. When Ryley and I walk in, everyone cheers. Once again, we hold our joined hands high in the air. We chose ADD SONG as our first dance, and when it starts to play, I take my bride onto the dance floor. I hold her body to mine, and we sway to the music.

“You know, I think the last time we danced was at your homecoming.”

Ryley’s eyes light up. “Wow, you know I almost stayed home. I thought about bailing as soon as we got to the parking lot or excusing myself to go to the bathroom. I guess it’s a good thing Lois held my hand the entire way into the gym.”

Evan smiles. “It’s a damn good thing, or I would’ve looked like a fool.”