Page 241 of The Doctors Will See You Now

Flowers dotted every flat surface of St. Matthew’s Cathedral, and the colorful light filtering through the stained-glass windows made the whole room feel like magic.

“I’ll do my best to give you the space you need when you need it, and fill that very void the rest of the time.

“I know I’m crazy and impetuous—”

I bit my lip to contain my laugh at her truth in reporting and got a stern look from the green-eyed goddess across the aisle. Apparently, this wasn’t the time to goof off.

“But you know just how to handle it. Thank you for loving me for who I am at the same time as making me want to be a better person. Most people don’t have it in themselves to watch calmly from the sidelines as I do ridiculous things.”

No longer able to contain my laughter, I drew the attention of everyone in the church, including one particularly unhappy bride.

My mother.

“Scott!”

“Sorry, Mom,” I apologized quietly. “Continue.” Harlow’s smirk warmed me from her spot across the aisle as “best man” to her father.

We’d flown in three days ago for the start of the wedding festivities for Bill and Nicole soon-to-be Paige, and there hadn’t even been one solid hour that passed without someone making a joke about Harlow and my new relation—stepsiblings, as it were.

Harlow’s dark red lips moved silently. “You’re naughty,” I could have sworn she mouthed.

I winked, mouthing the word “Later” back at her.

Bill cleared his throat and pulled his own vows out of his breast pocket. Apparently, we’d moved along while I was busy checking out my woman.

“Nicole.”

He took a deep breath and cleared his throat again, reaching up to swipe underneath his eye.

He was crying. Another perfect match. Tanner and Linda, Harlow and me, and now, Nicole and Bill.

“This far into the total expectancy of my life, I’d thought I was done. Done with the major milestones and the greatest joys. Done learning new things and meeting new and unexpected people. Done making major changes to my very routine life.

“I was happy. I had friendship and the love of a great daughter, and I didn’t feel unfulfilled.”

Choked up again, he had to pause and lick his lips while he composed himself.

I was feeling a little emotional myself. And, when I glanced up and across the space to the love of my life, it was pretty clear I wasn’t alone.

Fresh tears marred her wedding makeup and her bottom lip quivered, but Harlow looked content. I didn’t see even an ounce of the unsettled energy that used to consume her—the energy of a woman who’d decided to settle on a life she didn’t want in an attempt to avoid heartache.

My transformation wasn’t any less significant. The Scott of old at this wedding would have had one distinct thought. Danger, ladies! Take a look at the kind of man Scott Shepard will never be!

As it turns out, I could be wrong occasionally. I never would have thought.

“I had no idea,” Bill Paige continued. “No idea what life could be if I just opened myself up to it. With you, I know I’ll be forever grateful that I did. Thanks for waking me up, baby. I promise, when it comes to us, I’ll never sleep again.”

Harlow’s eyes glowed majestic as they held mine. I was spellbound, now and forever.

Right on, Bill.

Who needed dreaming when this was what it felt like to be awake?

“Another beer, Frances?” Amanda half slurred and flashed a lazy grin in my direction. Her blond hair glided across her shoulders as loud laughter left her lips.

I grinned. Life was good. I was on spring break from my fourth year in med school, currently living it up in the city that would always hold a special place in my heart with the only man ever to have my heart. Life couldn’t get any better. Not to mention, Amanda was drunk and visiting home with her Spanish lover. Well, now husband.

Yes. She’d not only fallen in love with her client, but she’d up and married the man and changed her nationality in the process. Officially a citizen of Spain for the past two years, my best friend had never looked happier.