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“He didn't love me, Cooper.” A small tear slides down my cheek, as I gently swipe it away.

Cooper lets out a soft chuckle. “He definitely did, Cam. And honestly? I’m pretty sure he still does.”

The admission makes my chest tighten. “I don't know what I'm supposed to do, I’m really scared. This week has brought back old feelings, but it’s also reopened old wounds.”

“Love isn't supposed to be easy, Cam. It’s scary and it’s hard.” Cooper says, reaching over to squeeze my hand. “But it's also beautiful, and undoubtedly worth it. I think you two should go for it.”

I laugh. “I never thought I’d live to see the day when you’d say those words to me.”

“Well, I’m a big ball of love today." he teases, a smile breaking through his seriousness as he loops his arm around my neck, pulling me into his side. “And I want my other two favorite people in the world to feel the same thing.”

“I love you,” I tell him, burying my face into his shoulder for a brief moment.

“I love you too, sis.”

My heart feels warm and full. We just stand there for a while, listening to muffled chatter in the distance. Not needing to fill the space with words.

“And, truthfully? I’m just really glad it's not Christian.” He adds out of nowhere. The sheer suddenness of it catches me off guard, and we both break out into breathless laughter, the last remnants of our tears entirely forgotten.

We all head under the white canopy for dinner. Inside, the space feels warm and inviting; long tables stretch across the grass, with name cards marking each seat, all facing a small sweetheart table for the bride and groom.

I filter through the crowd, searching until I find my name card. My heart does a flip in my chest. Of course they put Drew right across from me.

I look over toward the front of the tent where Ivy is already settling into her seat. Catching my eye, she gives me that signature, knowing smirk. The last time Drew and I actually looked at each other, we were both in tears on a hotel bed, digging up six years of pain we thought we had long-buried. Now, we’re forced to sit face-to-face under the bright lights of a family dinner. Luckily, my parents and Jen are seated right next to us, their familiar presence providing a much-needed barrier for the tense awareness vibrating between the two of us.

“Cami, I heard you're still working at the library?” Jen asks from across the table, her face lighting up with a warm smile.

I take a long sip of my wine, trying to soften the tension in my shoulders a bit. “I am. I’m actually the head librarian now.”

“Oh, that is so perfect for you.” Jen smiles, leaning forward.

“You should see how much the kids adore her,” my mom chimes in proudly, gesturing with her fork. “She has almost every single kid in the city joining her classes and participating in her reading challenges. They get so into it. She’s completely transformed the place.”

A flush of embarrassment rises in my cheeks at my mom’s praise. I look down at my plate, offering a small smile as I track my finger along the stem of my wine glass. It’s funny how you can be a fully grown adult, but the second your mother starts bragging about you to your childhood neighbors, you’re suddenly eighteen again, feeling embarrassed.

“I believe it,” Jen adds, her eyes softening as she glances briefly toward Drew before looking back at me. “Even back in high school, you had all the neighborhood kids running to the library whenever you worked the front desk.”

Before anyone else can say anything, Cooper stands up, holding his wine glass in the air, gathering everyone's attention.

“Good evening, everyone. I just want to say a few quick words before the night wraps up.” Cooper starts, a smile breaking across his face as he looks down at Ivy.

“Firstly, I want to thank you all again for being here tonight and carving time out of your busy lives to join us this week. Looking around this room, I remember how each one of you has helped us get to this point.

To our parents, thank you for showing us what true love and commitment looks like. You’ve set an incredible example, one that I will strive to bring into our marriage every day.” Ivy reaches up and grabs his hand, small tears already welling in her eyes.

“I've been really digging deep this week into the meaning of love.” Cooper continues, capturing everyone’s attention in the room.

“And what I can tell you is this. Love isn't measured by time. For some reason, we are always putting conditions on love. That we have to be dating for a certain amount of time, that we have to have the right career lined up, or have to reach a certain age, before it’s okay to say 'I’m in love' or 'I’ve found the person I want to spend the rest of my life with.' But love doesn't follow a timeline. Sometimes it finds you in a busy coffee shop, or it’s with the new girl moving in down the street.” He grins, looking down at Ivy, and a soft laughter ripples through the tables.

“Or,” Cooper’s voice drops, turning quieter, more deliberate, “It could be your childhood friend. The one that silently understood and saw you for who you truly are. Sometimes it arrives when you least expect it to, quietly growing for years before you recognize it.” As if pulled by an invisible string, I look up, finding Drew's eyes already on mine.

“Life might create distance, time might test you, or your life circumstances might make the road harder to follow. But if that love is there, it’s real, and it never truly disappears. So if you're lucky enough to find someone who makes you feel the way Ivy makes me feel, don't let time, fear, or excuses convince you to give up. Love doesn't happen on anyone else's schedule, it happens on yours. So here's to everyone in this room tonight. To old memories, new beginnings, and to tomorrow, the day I get to marry the love of my life.”

The entire crowd erupts into cheers and applause, and I don't think there is a single dry eye in the room. I quickly wipe away a stray tear tracking down my cheek, raising my arm to hide my face as I gulp down the rest of my wine, hopelessly trying to swallow the lump in my throat.

Ivy and Cooper begin making their way slowly through the crowd, laughing as they give tight hugs to everyone at each table. With the easy distraction, I slip out of my chair and head toward the bar for a refill. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Drew sneak out of the tent and into the pitch-black courtyard. My heart skips a beat. I’m just about to step over the grass to follow him out when Cooper and Ivy appear, intercepting me and pulling me into a warm group hug.

“Your speech was so beautiful, Cooper,” I say, smiling against his shoulder.