“I know Sam can be ruthless, so if she said anything to make you…”

“Stop.” She lays her hand on my chest and looks up at me with those blue eyes, shining with unshed tears. “Do you know what I would give to be able to grill my sister’s boyfriend? To make him squirm a little?” She shakes her head and bites her lip and I tighten my arms around her. “I can handle Sam.”

“Okay.” I kiss her head and hug her close. “Do you want to leave?”

“No, let’s go back out.” She smiles bravely and my heart melts a little more. She’s here because of me, because she knows it’s important to me. She leads me outside and we quickly join a conversation with Meg, Will, Matt and Nic.

“Vegas,” Meg says.

“What’s happening in Vegas?” I ask, keeping Mer’s hand in mine. Matt and Will both notice and exchange a glance.

Yeah, I’ll be getting ribbed later. I don’t care.

“We’re all going to Vegas,” Will says. “We’re just going to do a big group bachelor/bachelorette party.”

“Fun,” I reply. “When?”

“In a few weeks,” Meg says and smiles. “We’re making all the travel arrangements. All you guys have to do is show up.”

“I like the sound of this trip,” Matt says. “How are the wedding plans coming?”

Will groans, but Meg lights up, clearly excited to talk about wedding plans. “Great! Alecia is the best.”

“Alecia is planning this one too?” I ask. That woman plans every event for this family. She might as well just marry someone and officially become part of the gang.

“Yes, and she’s brilliant.”

“When is the big day?” Meredith asks.

“June 9th,” Meg replies.

“That’s only about six weeks away,” Nic replies. “I’ll need you in the shop this week so we can look at cake ideas.”

“Okay! Fun!” Meg agrees. “It took us a while to choose a date,” she tells Meredith.

“It’s because she’s lazy,” Will informs us all with a smile. Meg slaps his arm and rolls her eyes.

“I am not lazy.”

“I can’t wait to marry you,” Will says and nuzzles Meg’s ear, making her laugh. “Let’s go right now.”

“It’s Sunday,” Meg replies and pushes against Will’s chest. “Nothing is open right now.”

“I’ll make some calls,” Will replies with a smug smile.

“Miss Mer!” Josie interrupts, pulling on Meredith’s hand. “We love this song! Come dance with us. Please?”

Meredith laughs. “You like Starla, do you?”

“Yes, please come dance.”

“Okay.” She smiles up at me. “My dance card just filled up. I’ll be back.”

“Have fun.”

She lets Maddie take one hand and Josie take the other as they guide her to the open lawn area where the kids have been playing. She starts to move her body, showing the girls some new moves, laughing with them. Maddie concentrates, watching Mer with an intense look on her sweet face.

“She’s great,” Nic comments and sips her water.

“You brought a woman to a family function,” Will states soberly.

I just nod and watch as Livie joins the others and Meredith lifts her in her arms and twirls her around, dancing effortlessly with the toddler.

“He’s not even listening to us,” Matt comments.

“I can hear you, asshole.”

“She’s so good with the kids,” Isaac says as he and Caleb join us. I nod and shove my hands in my pockets as Mer glances up and winks at me, sending a punch right to my gut.

“Brynna rarely drops the girls off with anyone,” Caleb says, “but she and Stacy have no qualms about leaving the girls with Meredith while they go get pedicures during dance class.”

Sophie tries to turn and falls on her butt. Her little lip sticks out, but before she can start to cry, Mer squats next to her, Livie still in her arms, and calms her, then helps her back to her feet so she can continue dancing with the others.

Christ, she’s magnificent. She kisses Liv’s cheek and then sets her on her feet so she can dance in that awkward way that toddlers do, and finishes the song with the others.

“She’s clearly in the right job,” Matt says quietly. “Most of us can’t deal with two of them at once, and she has all of them around her effortlessly.” He points as baby Liam toddles over and grips her jeans, pulls himself up on his feet and bounces on his legs, dancing with the others.

“Mark’s a goner,” Meg says. I glance over at her and grin.

“I’m bringing her with me to Vegas.” I’m bringing her with me everywhere. If I’m invited, she’s invited.

“We wouldn’t have it any other way,” she replies and pats my arm. “I like her already.”

I’m fucking in love with her again already. I’m never letting her go. Never again.

She comes running back to us, out of breath and a wide smile on her beautiful face.

“They would dance all day,” she says with a laugh. “Maddie’s amazing. If she wanted to, she could go pretty far in the dance world.”

“She’s eight.” Caleb growls.

“Well, not today,” Mer agrees. “But someday.”