AllFreeNovel
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“I’m sorry for trying so damn hard to leave you before you left me,” I say.
He laughs, “Have you met me? I was never going to let that happen.” A smile plays at the corner of my mouth. His is too charming.
“Parker, I’m still scared,” I confess.
“I’m scared, too. But anything in life worth the risk is always a little scary,” he tells me.
“A risk. . .” I pause, then finally say the words I’ve spent so long holding in, “I love you, Parker Nallen. My heart is yours if you’ll have it.” He laughs and picks me up into his arms, squeezing me tight.
He sets my feet back on the ground and looks me in the eyes, “I love you. You can trust my heart, and I will always take care of yours.”
Parker pulls me closer and places his warm lips against mine. We lose ourselves in one another and seal our love with a kiss.
Epilogue
Nearly two years later…
The night is perfect. Drew stands close to Rosie, his hand resting at her lower back as her small, dainty fingers gently glide over her round belly. At eight months pregnant, the glow on her face makes her even more beautiful.
Grinning from ear to ear, she looks up at Drew as he speaks to their friends and family before them. “You know, love isn’t always easy. It can be hard. Hard to trust. Hard to believe in. And honestly, hard to feel that you’re worthy of it. We put so much pressure on love.” Drew glances in the direction where his brother is standing next to his fiancé. “Just ask these two. Parker and Abbey made love hard on all of us.” Everyone chuckles, even Parker and Abbey. “Somehow, my brother convinced one of the smartest, most loyal, and beautiful women next to my wife to marry him. I’m so glad you both figured it out and have one another. I love you both.” Drew raises his glass, and the room does the same. “Now my very beautiful, very pregnant, and very emotional wife wants to say a few words.” He gives Rosie a teasing look and places a soft kiss on her cheek. An audible sigh is heard throughout the room.
Rosie smiles and grabs a tissue from the box Tyler is extending to her.
“Awe, thanks, Ty. I always like to be prepared,” she says. Turning her attention back to Parker and Abbey, who are standing next to her. “My best friend and my brother. Who would’ve thought?” she begins. “Honestly, not me. Parker, sweet, kind, loving, and devoted, but still holding back on giving his love to anyone. Then there is Abbey. Loyal, funny, and kind. Hates love and wouldn’t believe in happily ever after if her life depended on it.” Abbey pretends to be appalled by Rosie’s word but can’t hide her smile and shrugs. “But y’all, they did. They resisted. Acted irrational. Hid their feelings. Put me and Drew before themselves. They underestimated love. They were so busy trying to prevent love from happening that they didn’t even know it already set up permanent residence in their hearts until they couldn’t deny it anymore,” Rosie says as a tear falls down her cheek. “I’m so thankful for you both and your beautiful love. You are both proof there is a risk in falling in love, but it’s worth it.” Rosie chokes out the last words and raises her glass high in the air.
“To Abbey and Parker. To love!” she exclaims.
The guests shout, “To love!”
Abbey and Parker envelope one another in an embrace, and at the same time, say, so only they can hear each other, “To true love.”
