Chapter Four: The Best Man

The Best Man

One Month Later

New York City

Adrian Cole — 27

Marcus Bennett — 28

Sarah Bennett — 26

Kai Bennett — 8

Eleanor Hayes — 26

⸻

There was something about happiness that made time impatient.

One day, Adrian was wondering whether asking Eleanor out would ruin the best friendship he’d ever had.

The next…

He was standing in the middle of a bridal boutique, wondering how he’d somehow ended up carrying three shopping bags while four women debated the difference between ivory and pearl.

“They’re the same color.”

Four heads turned toward him.

“They are not,” Sarah said.

“They’re close.”

“They’re completely different.”

Adrian looked at Eleanor.

“Help me.”

She folded her arms.

“I’d like to, but I happen to agree with her.”

He stared at her.

“So you’re choosing chaos.”

“I’m choosing the right side.”

He sighed dramatically.

“I see how this marriage is going to go.”

Eleanor smiled sweetly.

“You haven’t even made it to the wedding yet.”

⸻

Marcus leaned against the doorway, barely containing his laughter.

“You look miserable.”

“I’ve been holding these bags for forty minutes.”

“You own a billion-dollar company.”

“I do.”

“You negotiate contracts worth hundreds of millions.”

“I do.”

“And yet…”

Marcus nodded toward the shopping bags.

“…you’ve been defeated by handbags.”

Adrian looked down at the bags.

“I’ve made mistakes.”

Marcus clapped him on the shoulder.

“Welcome to married life.”

⸻

Across the room, Sarah held up another dress.

“Eleanor.”

“What do you think?”

Eleanor tilted her head.

“It’s beautiful.”

“You’ve said that about the last six.”

“Because they were.”

Sarah laughed.

“I don’t know how anyone chooses.”

“You don’t.”

All eyes turned toward an older woman arranging a veil.

She smiled knowingly.

“You find the one that makes everyone cry.”

Silence settled over the room.

Eleanor glanced at Adrian.

He was already looking at her.

For the first time that afternoon…

Neither of them smiled.

Because suddenly…

The wedding didn’t feel like a distant event anymore.

It was real.

⸻

Sunday arrived with clear skies.

The Bennett house buzzed with its usual warmth.

Something was always happening.

Sarah hummed while preparing breakfast.

Marcus attempted to steal bacon before it reached the table.

Sarah slapped his hand away without even turning around.

“I saw that.”

“You didn’t.”

“I have eyes in the back of my head.”

“You have trust issues.”

“I have a husband.”

⸻

The front door opened.

“Morning!”

Adrian stepped inside carrying a paper bag.

Kai looked up from the living room floor.

His face lit up.

“UNCLE ADRIAN!”

The comic book hit the floor before Kai reached him.

He threw himself into Adrian’s arms.

Adrian laughed as he caught him with practiced ease.

“Easy there.”

“You came!”

“I said I would.”

“You almost didn’t.”

“I was five minutes late.”

“You were.”

Kai crossed his arms.

“I counted.”

Adrian looked apologetic.

“My meeting ran over.”

“Hmm.”

Kai pretended to think.

“I suppose…”

He reached into Adrian’s paper bag without permission.

“…I’ll forgive you.”

Adrian raised an eyebrow.

“You forgave me before you even knew what was inside.”

Kai pulled out a box of chocolate chip cookies.

“I had faith.”

Marcus walked into the hallway just in time to see it.

“You keep spoiling my son.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Kai.”

“Yes, Dad?”

“Who bought those?”

Kai looked down at the cookies.

“…the cookie fairy?”

Marcus snorted.

“The cookie fairy wears expensive Italian suits now?”

Kai nodded confidently.

“He’s successful.”

Even Sarah laughed from the kitchen.

⸻

Breakfast stretched into late morning.

Conversation drifted from business to movies…

From movies to childhood stories…

Then somehow…

To weddings.

Sarah placed another pancake onto Kai’s plate.

“You know…”

She smiled at Eleanor.

“I still can’t believe you’re getting married.”

Eleanor smiled shyly.

“Sometimes neither can I.”

Marcus looked toward Adrian.

“You’ve done well.”

“I know.”

“Oh?”

“I somehow convinced the smartest woman I know to marry me.”

Eleanor reached beneath the table and gently squeezed his hand.

Marcus noticed.

He said nothing.

He simply smiled into his coffee.

⸻

Kai looked between the two of them.

Then frowned.

“Dad?”

Marcus looked up.

“Yeah, buddy?”

“You’re married to Mommy.”

“I am.”

Kai nodded thoughtfully.

“Uncle Adrian is marrying Auntie Eleanor.”

“That’s right.”

Another thoughtful pause.

Then…

Kai turned toward Adrian.

“If you’re getting married…”

He slid off his chair and walked over.

“…can you marry me too?”

The room froze.

Even the kettle whistling in the kitchen seemed quieter.

Adrian blinked.

“What?”

Kai looked genuinely confused.

“I wanna marry you too.”

Marcus pressed his lips together.

Sarah immediately looked away, already trying not to laugh.

Eleanor covered her mouth.

Adrian crouched until he was eye level with the little boy.

“You want to marry me?”

Kai nodded.

“You’re my favorite uncle.”

Marcus gasped dramatically.

“I’ve been replaced.”

Kai looked at him.

“You’re my favorite dad.”

Marcus placed a hand over his heart.

“Good answer.”

Everyone laughed.

Kai looked back at Adrian.

“So…”

“Can I?”

Adrian smiled so warmly it almost hurt.

“I wish I could, buddy.”

Kai’s shoulders drooped.

“But I can only marry one person.”

“Oh…”

For a second…

Real disappointment crossed the little boy’s face.

Adrian gently ruffled his hair.

“But do you know what?”

“What?”

“You’ll always be one of the most important people in my life.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

Kai thought about it.

“Even when you’re old?”

Adrian chuckled.

“Especially then.”

“And even when I become taller than you?”

Marcus laughed.

“Good luck with that.”

Kai ignored him.

“And when I have gray hair?”

Adrian nodded.

“I’ll still come to your birthday.”

Kai smiled again.

“And basketball?”

“Every Sunday.”

“Promise?”

Adrian held out his little finger.

“I promise.”

Kai wrapped his tiny finger around Adrian’s.

“Pinky promise.”

“Pinky promise.”

Satisfied, Kai nodded.

“Okay.”

He climbed back onto his chair as though the matter had been successfully settled.

“I’ll just be best man instead.”

Silence.

Eleanor laughed first.

Then Sarah.

Marcus nearly spilled his coffee.

Adrian smiled.

“I think that’s a much better job.”

Kai beamed.

“Do I get to wear a suit?”

“The coolest one we can find.”

“Can it have sunglasses?”

Marcus frowned.

“You wear sunglasses with a suit?”

Kai nodded confidently.

“So people know I’m important.”

Adrian laughed so hard he had to wipe tears from his eyes.

“Done.”

Kai punched the air.

“I’m going to be the coolest best man ever.”

Across the table…

Sarah caught Eleanor watching Adrian.

There was something in her expression.

Not excitement.

Not nervousness.

Something quieter.

Something deeper.

The look of a woman who had found the place her heart had always been searching for.

Sarah reached over and gently squeezed her hand beneath the table.

Eleanor looked at her.

Sarah smiled.

“You chose well.”

Eleanor looked back at Adrian, who was now pretending to negotiate sunglasses with an eight-year-old.

Her smile softened.

“No…”

she whispered.

“I got lucky.”

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

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