“Ethan.” She tips my chin up so I’m forced to stare into her eyes. “What did I say on the plane? I don’t need perfect, I just need you. What happened?”
“I forgot your ring at home.” I pick up her left hand and twist her engagement ring around on her finger. “But it’s okay, the guys and I found a local jewelry maker and I’ve got it all figured out.”
I don’t know what I was expecting, but the quiet giggle Summer lets out is definitely not it.
“Seriously? And you didn’t think you’d need to tell me?” she says, raising her eyebrows. “Tomorrow, when we go to exchange rings, you didn’t think I’d notice something was different?”
My shoulders start to shake with laughter as I finally clue in to what she means. “Holy fuck, I’m an idiot.”
I fall back on the bed, pulling her with me, both of us still laughing at my dumbass move.
“It’s a good thing you’re pretty, Ethan Monroe, because sometimes that brain of yours…” Summer teases.
“Yeah, yeah,” I say, holding her close. “I get blinders on with you sometimes. All I can think about is making you happy, keeping you safe, and giving you everything you could possibly want. Is that so bad?”
She pushes back slightly and looks down at me. “Yes, Ethan. It is when it means you keep things from me and don’t let me in so I can help. We’re in this together, remember?”
“I remember. And I love you. Thank you for putting up with me.”
“I love you, too, lumberjack.” Her lips find mine and I hold her to me — this woman who is my past, present, and future, all in one.
Chapter nine
Summer
I have never been the girl who dreamed about her wedding day down to the smallest detail. Truthfully, for a while, I didn’t think I’d ever bother getting married. But on the rare occasion I did think about pledging my life to a partner, the only thing that ever mattered was that he and I were surrounded by love.
Which makes today exactly what I wanted.
Ethan is standing underneath the archway that is covered with a white gauzy fabric and beautiful tropical flowers. His charcoal shorts and white collared shirt fit him perfectly. We wanted today to be simple, casual, but still special. Which is why we’re all barefoot, feeling the white sand that is in front of our resort under our toes.
As I take my first steps down the short path lined with conch shells that leads me to the man of my dreams, I have to mentally pinch myself to make sure this is real. Because it feels better than any dream.
My dress flutters around my calves and the wind blows my hair back. But it’s the tears building behind my eyes that I worry will ruin my view of my future husband, so I dash them away and speed up.
“Hey, shorty,” he murmurs when I finally reach him. I pass my small bouquet over to Mila, who’s sitting in the chairs we set up right in front of the arch. No bridal party, just us and our closest friends.
Family.
“Hi lumberjack,” I whisper back. “You look good.”
Ethan’s lips tip up into a smile. “You look better than good. You look like my forever.”
My eyes flutter closed for a second. This man has always known the words to say to speak straight to my heart.
The elderly local man who is our officiant, who told us to call him Mister Samuel, begins to speak. Even though the Cayman Islands are a very religious community, he agreed to do a simple ceremony for us. But as he talks of everlasting love, and knowing in your heart and soul that the person standing beside you was always meant to be there, I can’t help but think a higher power must have played a role in everything.
Thanks, Dad.
When it’s time for our vows, I feel the first bit of nerves I’ve had all day. Thank God Ethan is going first. Although, knowing him, he’s about to reduce me to a blubbering mess. He turns to me and takes both of my hands in his, lifting them to his lips.
“Summer, the day you came home to Dogwood Cove was the day my life truly began.”
I hear a sniffle behind me and I know without having to look that it’s Mila. My very first best friend and now, my sister.
“Where I thought I was living, I was only going through the motions. Where I thought my life was full, it was half empty. You brought your sunshine and pierced through the dark, even in the places I couldn’t see it. With you, I found a future I never thought possible. One where I have a partner, a lover, and a friend to be with me always. To call me out on my shit when I screw up.” He gives me a wink and I can’t help but chuckle, even as I squeeze his hands. “And to make me want to work every day to be the very best man I can be for you. And for our family, both the one we choose, and the one we someday create. I love you, Summer. I’m pretty sure I always have, even when we were snotty nosed kids playing tag. And I’m very sure I always will.”
He drops my hand and reaches into his pocket, only to pull out a band of multicoloured rock. I recognize it instantly as Caymanite, a stone only found here on Cayman Brac. This must have been what he went shopping for the other day. The very fact that he didn’t think I would notice it wasn’t the simple gold band we had chosen at home has me fighting back laughter. But Ethan sees right through me.
