I smiled. “Why would she?”
“You have a point,” he nodded.
“So…you forgive me?” I asked. “For breaking the bro code and sleeping with your sister.”
He smiled. “Hey, if sleeping with her was all you were doing, then I’d probably be tempted to punch you,” he nodded. “But you’re marrying her—that means something completely different.”
“It does,” I agreed.
“So, your engagement party?”
“Yeah?”
“I hear it’s on some private island?”
“It is,” I smiled.
“How are we getting there?”
“I’ve hired boats to ferry the guests over there,” I said. “We wanted an intimate engagement party, so we’re only talking about twenty-thirty people.”
Jason shook his head at me. “This is so surreal… I’m at your resort to celebrate your engagement to my little sister. I would never have predicted this in a million years.”
“Your parents were thrilled,” I told him smugly.
“Of course, they would be,” he said, rolling his eyes. “They’ve always loved you. But then, you’ve always had a way with parents.”
I laughed. “I’m glad you’re here, Jason.”
He clapped me on the back. “I’m glad to be here, bro,” he said. He looked towards Molly, and I turned to glance over at her, too.
“She’s a great girl, my sister,” Jason said fondly. “She’s patient and kind, and she’ll make an amazing wife.”
“I know,” I agreed wholeheartedly.
“She’s too good for you,” he said light-heartedly.
I smiled. “Oh trust me, I am aware of that. I will do my best to be the husband she deserves. And I will do my best to give her the life she deserves.”
“Good,” Jason nodded. “Because if you don’t—”
“You’ll kick my ass,” I smiled. “I know.”
“Good,” he laughed. “Then there’s only one more thing I have left to say to you.”
“Which is?” I asked, with raised eyebrows.
“Congratulations,” he smiled.
Epilogue
Molly
Five Years Later
On a whim, I grabbed the now empty bowl in front of me and placed it on my stomach. I lay still as I balanced the bowl on the topmost part of my belly. Concentrating hard, I let go carefully and to my utter delight the bowl stayed firmly where I had placed it. I was smiling to myself when a particularly violent kick pushed the bowl off center it fell to the ground.
“Oh, man,” I groaned, as I reached down to try and grab the fallen bowl.