By Chance

Chapter Thirty Two : By Chance

Brady's POV

"You nervous?" I ask Kaine as I fix his sideways tie. The man has never been able to put the fucking thing on correctly his entire life.

He shrugs. "Not really. I just want the ceremony to get the hell over with so I can finally call Gracie my wife. She has been like a wife for the last two years, but now we'll have the pictures and paperwork to make it official," he looks into the mirror and adjusts his tux jacket. "I've never been so ready for such a happy moment to pass."

Normally I would take this opportunity to tease him about Gracie leaving him at the alter or that she's way too good for him or something else ridiculous like that, but I can't find it in me. Not right now. I'm too damn happy for him.

"Brady, I need to tell you something," he looks away from the mirror and towards me, a look I can't quite put my finger on.

I scrunch my eyebrows together. "What?"

He looks down and ponders whatever is going on in his head for a moment. By the time our eyes finally meet again, every single possibility of what is about to come out of his has gone through my mind.

Not a single one of them good.

"You're going to be an uncle," he eventually states hesitantly.

I'm going to what now?

My eyes widen and I'm lost for words as he continues: "We found out we were expecting earlier this month. It wasn't planned at all, obviously. I'm fucking excited, I am. I've always wanted to be a dad and I already love my kid so much. But I already have no fucking idea what the hell I'm doing. I'm nervous as shit. I don't know how to be a father," he pours out to me.

Instead of responding with words, I take the few steps towards my brother and give him an energetic hug, excitement coursing through my veins. "If you think that any guy is ever ready to be a father, you're wrong. No one is ever completely ready for something like raising another human being. But you're going to be an amazing father, just like you're an amazing brother, son, and husband. If anyone is fit for this role, it's you. I'm so fucking happy for you and Gracie."

We pull away from each other before he speaks again. "You think so?"

I nod my head, assuring him that he has nothing to worry about. "I know so."

"We have our first appointment the day after we get home from our honeymoon. For all I know, we could be having quadruplets," he gets nervous again.

"You're not having quadruplets. I'm sure there's only one very healthy baby."

A smile finally reappears on his face. "I'm having a fucking kid, Brady."

I slap his back, hyping him up. "Hell yeah you are. And they're about to be blessed with the best uncle they could ever ask for."

He laughs and goes back to looking at himself in the mirror. "I wish mom, dad, and Avery were here. They're supposed to be here." His smile fades once again.

I walk up next to him and sling my arm around his shoulder, talking to him with eye contact through mirrored his image. "I'm sure they wish they could be here too."

It's supposed to be a happy day today. Seeing him like this hurts, but I know firsthand that pain like this never goes away.

"I'm just glad that you're still here. At least I have you."

Tears threaten to make themselves notable on my eyes, but I force them back. "You'll always have me, Kaine."

Before either of us have the chance to continue, our five best friends burst into the room, their tuxes identical to mine, and tell us it's time for pictures.