Page 117 of Earned Husband

Alex came up to shake my hand, a proud grin on his face, but instead of congratulating either me or himself for having put this arrangement together in the first place, he followed my gaze and smiled. “She’s happy here.”

“Yeah.”

“It’s hard not be,” he said, chuckling as he looked around. “This is like nothing I’ve ever experienced before.”

“Same,” I agreed, my gaze drifting across the room. Music had already started up, and even though some of our guests weren’t in the venue yet, others had already started dancing. “They sure know how to do celebrations in this country. It’s always like this. Just absolutely next level.”

“I’m assuming the bit of Western flare they incorporated was for our benefit, but they shouldn’t have,” he said. “This is way better than anything we’ve got at home.”

As he said it, Jane danced over with one of their kids on each hip, a beaming, radiant smile on her face. She handed Cameron over to Alex. “Boy, is he getting heavy. We need you to come dance with us, Daddy. I can’t keep up with both of them.”

Alex glanced back at me. “We’ll talk soon, but for now, duty calls. I’m pretty sure the same can be said for you.”

I laughed, but he wasn’t wrong. As I headed off trying to find my bride, not even really sure how I’d gotten separated from her in the first place, I ran into Isaac, who was already nursing a very full tumbler of whiskey.

“Are you okay?” I asked when I noticed that instead of drinking, he was just looking around, very obviously confused. “What happened?”

“I’m trying to accept that it’s pointless asking who’s actually family and how they all fit in,” he said. “I thought I was being polite, but fuck. I’ve met at least a dozen men who’ve introduced themselves as Deja’s uncle.”

I laughed. “Only a dozen? That’s nothing yet. Wait until the rest of them spot you. Do you want my advice?”

“Please.”

“Just keep smiling. It’s the safest strategy.”

“I actually think sticking with Rami is the safest strategy. He’s been a real lifesaver so far.”

I shrugged and glanced around the room until I spotted the brother in question, enthusiastically trying to instruct the rest ofourbrothers on how to do one of the traditional dances. Isaac saw it too, doubling over laughing as he finally shook his head.

“Never mind. I’m not getting anywhere near him while he’s doing that. I do think I might go encourage some of the Westwoods to join him, though. What do you think? I reckon Theo and Jesse should be able do it.”

“We can only try.” I crossed the room with Isaac and then laughed until my sides hurt when Jesse and Theo each downed the shot of tequila before accepting the challenge.

I felt strangely free as I watched our families mingling and getting along so well. I wasn’t sure what I was expecting wouldhappen when they all finally got together, but it wasn’t this. This was so much better than I ever could’ve imagined.

Everyone seemed to be having the time of their lives. The Mallory drama was finally behind us. I’d somehow lucked out and married the most gorgeous woman who had ever graced the planet Earth. For the first time in a long time, all was well in my life.

It was a strange feeling, but I was lighter than air as I made my way toward Nanna, since I couldn’t find my wife. She sat in regal disapproval, watching everyone else hop around on the dance floor with very little coordination.

Before I’d even said anything, she narrowed her eyes and shook her head at me. “No. I don’t dance.”

I answered in Arabic. “It’s your granddaughter’s wedding. You should dance. We’re celebrating.”

“Have you eaten?”

“I will if you dance with me.”

She snorted. “I have a bad hip.”

“Liar.” I laughed. “You forget that I’ve seen you sprinting through markets, helping me make a getaway from your very own son.”

She fixed me a curious but approving smile. “Your Arabic has gotten much better.”

“I’ve spent the last couple months practicing every chance I got.”

“You still sound American.”

I shrugged. “I probably always will, but do I get a dance for the effort?”