Lily slaps her leg playfully.“I mean,as hard as the circumstancesare thatbrought me here, Ihave some good memories.”
Avery wiggles her eyebrows, and we all laugh.
“Well yeah,there’s that, but it’s also so lovely, the perfect place to get married.”
“I still can’t believewe pulled it off. Imean I’m not surprisedwith Caleb, to be honest. But seriously, I wouldn’t even have my dream dress without you, Lily.”
She shies away from my compliment, much like Avery did just now too, but I get it, I’m the same when anyone eats my food.
“You are dream shakers and makers. It’s inspiring. You should both be really proud, Gods know I am.”
“I thought when I dropped out of culinary school, it was a lost cause, but Caleb and Noah helped me see otherwise. I think it’s important to chase those dreams, make them a reality.”
Avery sighs. “If only my mum were more like you in that regard. I feel like she just wants me to settle down and start a family and look good on someone’s arm.”
I don’t know enough about their dynamics, but I do know Avery should do whatever makes her happy.
“Avery, live the life you want, not the one someone else expects from you.”
Lily nods. “Your mum will come around. I’m sure she just wants you to be happy first and foremost.”
“Maybe,” she replies, getting lost in thought. “If I can just get her off my back for a while, I’ll have time to think. She’s pushing for me to go back home, no matter how much I tell her England is my home now.”
“And you will always have a place with us,” Lily says. “No matter what, okay?”
“Thank you. I love you guys,” she says, glancing between us.
I hold up my glass. “To friends who are family.”
Because that’s exactly who they’ve become… my family.
Chapter Thirty-Two
NOAH
I barely slept last night, too excited for what today would bring. I want the memory of saying our vows to see me through my upcoming surgery.
It’s how I found myself here, sitting alone on a bench as the sky morphs from a deep, inky blue night sky and slowly ascends into a sunrise. The fact that no one sunrise is ever the same makes it even more stunning.
I think Muhammed Ali had a point when he saidat sunrise every soul is born again. Because that’s how I feel—revived, reborn—as I listen to the happy sound of birds nearby. The sky is glowing in vibrant hues of oranges, yellows and reds as they blend, complimenting each other perfectly over the horizon.
I pull out my camera, wanting to capture it, even though I don’t think my camera will do it justice, it’s too beautiful not to.
I sit there soaking up the sight before me when I hear the sound of feet crunching on the gravel path and glance over my shoulder. Elliot, River, and Tommy are all jogging towards me.
They slow down as they approach and all say morning.
“You’re out here early,” River says.
I nod. “As are you guys, it would seem. I’m just soaking this all up,” I reply, waving my hand towards the sky.
“Yeah, it’s something alright,” Elliot says.
“You got wedding day jitters?” River asks as he bounces on the balls of his feet.
I swallow because yeah I think I might.
“You guys want to go on ahead, I just want to talk to Noah for a sec,” Elliot says.
