May
Squamish, British Columbia
For the first time in years, I’ve got a speech in my pocket that nobody else has seen, that hasn’t been vetted by the PMO staff—because this speech won’t be given by the prime minister of Canada.
It’s the speech I’ll give as Ellie Montague’s new husband.
I glance in the mirror and straighten my tie one last time.
“You all ready to go?” Max asks from where he’s lounging like a prince in an easy chair on the other side of his suite.
I’ve been relegated to get dressed here while Max’s wife Violet and Ellie’s other female friends and family are helping her get ready in our suite down the hall.
And my best friend is cool as a cucumber because he’s already married.
I’m not nervous. I’m excited. I just want to get to that moment, two hours from now, when Ellie walks down the aisle and into my arms.
Why has time suddenly decided to drag? The last few weeks have sped by and now I can hear every painful thump of my heartbeat like a gong.
“Yeah, let’s head out.” It’ll take time to get up the Sea to Sky Gondola to where we’re getting married, high above Squamish.
“Do you want to practice your speech on me?”
“I’m good.”
“Because you usually have smarter people than you write these things…”
I flip him the bird as I open the door. “Out.”
I don’t need to practice it, though. I’ve got it memorized. It’s a short speech—more of a toast. And I mean every single word.
Ellie brings me joy and happiness in a way I never knew possible. She is both comfort and counsellor, the best kind of partner to have on this crazy journey through life. We are both touched that all of you travelled here to celebrate the start of our marriage today. It is a precious memory we will both hold in our hearts as we depart on our honeymoon, and then return to Ottawa.
To joy, to happiness, and to my bride.
Lachlan is outside my door, talking into his headset. He tips his head in a let’s go nod, and we follow him, the rest of my security detail falling in behind.
In roughly eight hours, I’ll get the first real reprieve from this constant guard thing when we land at Tree Top Island. The RCMP has secured my parents’ cabin—the only building on the island—and established a perimeter zone that will leave Ellie and me completely alone for five glorious days.
The drive over is quiet; so is the ride up the gondola. We’re the first people to go up it today, and when we get to the lodge at the top, it’s completely quiet.
Lachlan excuses himself to check with the advance team, and Max and I wander outside.
He leans against the railing and points across the valley to the Chief. “Remember the first time we climbed up there?”
Like it was yesterday. None of this was here—not the gondola, not the lodge. Just the Chief, and a bitter, jaded roommate who was causing me nothing but misery.
Except there was something about the guy that I couldn’t help but love. It wasn’t his hiking ability, though. “You weren’t great at taking instruction back then.”
“I’m still not.” He stands and turns around, looking for my shadows. “Can we head across the bridge?”
A radio squawks, then we get the all-clear.
On the other side, there’s another member of my security detail, and a local RCMP officer, too. I shake her hand and thank her for the extra work to help us pull this wedding off.
Max is staring off into the distance, and when I stop beside him, he clears his throat. “We’ve come a long way since then, haven’t we?”
“Damn straight.”
“I should thank you for the ass kicking.”
“It’s been twenty years, why start now?” But I grin at him, because we’ve both had each other’s backs. And now we’ve each found someone to love—something that took us both by surprise.
“Today feels like a good day to be sentimental. Tomorrow we can return to being ruthless alpha males.”
I snort. “Who’s to say sentiment and dominance can’t go hand in hand?”
Max laughs. “Damn straight. I’m planning to be super sentimental with Violet tonight.”
Which reminds me of something else that’s been on my mind. I glance around, but the police officers are giving us quite a wide berth, and are engaged in their own conversation.
On the side of a mountain is as good a place as any to ask potentially sensitive questions of one’s best friend.
“Listen…You and Violet…”
Max grins at me. “Yeah?”
“Her being pregnant hasn’t changed anything, has it?”
“It’s changed a lot,” he says with a chuckle. “But nothing significant in the bedroom, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“Yeah.”
“Is Ellie…?”
“Not yet.” But we’ve started trying, which is too much information for Max. We share a lot, but that I’m actively trying to knock up my fiancé is private.
“A pregnant ass can take just as much punishment as any other,” he says, proving that any reticence about over-sharing is completely one-sided.
“Good to know.”
“There are some positions that are better—”
I hold up my hand. “Let’s pretend I didn’t ask.”
He howls and claps his hands. “Too late. But fine. You need any other advice?” He wiggles his eyebrows.
“No.”
“Got anything fun planned for your week at the cabin?”
“Yep.”
“Come on, spill.”
I look across the suspension bridge. “Looks like guests have started to arrive.”
“I bought you guys sex supplies.”
When I first fell for Ellie, head over heels, and couldn’t ask anyone else to buy me condoms. Max had bought condoms, lube, and bondage tape. “I remember.”
“You didn’t ask me to pick up anything for your honeymoon.”
I laugh out loud. “I had a lot more time to plan for this. I can’t have you being my kink dealer for the rest of my life.”
“But it would be an honour,” he protests.
“I bet.”
He cackles at that, but leaves it be, and we sit together in silence, watching guests arrive for my wedding.
“I’m grateful for everything you’ve done,” I finally tell him. “Seriously. I’m glad you’re my best man.”
He throws his arm around my shoulders and waves at the photographer who has caught sight of us. Then he claps me on the back. “I didn’t know I had a brother until you dragged me up the Chief. I’m proud I’m standing by your side today.”
Jesus, my throat is getting tight.
But Lachlan saves the day, appearing at the side of the photographer on the far side of the bridge.
As my security detail approaches again, I hear the radio crackle, and I wave them off. “Yep, tell him we’re on our way back.”
Lachlan gives me a serious nod when we reach the viewing platform outside Summit Lodge again. “Hugh just radioed. Ellie’s left the hotel. It’s show time.”