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EPILOGUE
My good friend Ginger stands and taps a silver knife against her glass.
“Simmer down, simmer down. I promise I won’t ramble on.” She laughs, looking at Henry’s brother, whose toast rambled and was filled with countless jokes and memories. She rests her hand on her baby bump before she continues. “What I want to say is welcome to the club, Edie. I’ve always known it would be Henry for you – it just took you both a little while to realize it. And Henry, if you hurt my friend’s heart, I have a direct line to a team of Navy SEALs who will give you hell. But I know you love Edie as much as I do, so we’ll never have to do that. You have a heart as big and loving as Edie’s, and you are truly a perfect match for each other.”
Ginger winks at Henry and me, and we laugh and raise our glasses.
“And now, as the final toast of the evening, let’s raise our glasses to our amazing friends as they embark on the best journey of their lives. To Edie and Henry!”
Our friends and family laugh and yell their agreement. Henry and I look at each other, and he leans over to give me a big kiss. Every chance he gets, Henry kisses me. Doing the dishes? Kiss. Waking up with morning breath? Kiss. Debating what brand of cereal to buy at the grocery store? Kiss. I’m not complaining because this is how he reminds me every day of his strong and passionate love for me.
Henry and I make our way around the private dining room we rented for our engagement party, chatting with friends and family. We hear “we always knew you two were perfect” more times than we can count, but we don’t mind. We’ve heard this sentiment a million times already, but we’d listen to it a million times more because realizing we were in love with each other changed our lives in indescribably amazing ways.
“How you doing, sweetheart?” Henry whispers in my ear.
I recently got a promotion at the hospital, and I’ve been pulling an insane number of hours. Between work and wedding planning, I’ve been exhausted.
“I’m okay. My request to have tomorrow off was approved, so we can sleep in.”
“You mean we can stay in bed all day tomorrow.” Henry grins and kisses my neck, sliding his hand down my back to squeeze my ass.
It’s been a year since Annie’s wedding, and I thought we wouldn’t have sex as often as we did at the beginning, but boy was I wrong. We’re still like sex-crazed teenagers, making love every chance we get.
“Look at you two lovebirds,” Ginger says as she approaches us. She glows like the sun, while her husband, Kent, rubs her back. “We just wanted to say congratulations and goodnight.”
“Our son is playing soccer again,” Kent smiles, resting his hand on Ginger’s baby bump. I’ve heard from Ginger that he’s convinced their first child will be a boy. “I need to get this beautiful woman home so I can rub her feet and pamper her.” He turns his attention to Henry and adds with a wink, “You gotta keep your woman happy and comfortable.”
“Oh,” I pause as I wrap my arms around Henry’s waist and lean into him, “he already does.”
* * *
“How is my beautiful future wife?”Henry holds me as we settle onto our couch at home. “That was an intense evening.”
“It was.” I curl up in his arms. I’m happiest when it’s just Henry and me sharing a quiet moment at the end of the day. No matter what happens in our lives, we are each other’s touchstone and safe harbor. “Though we need to brace ourselves for the wedding. People are coming from all over.”
“I’d only do this for you,” Henry teases.
“I should hope so.” I reach up and stroke his beard, loving the coarse texture of it. I love how it tickles me when we kiss and make love.
“If you’re in a stroking mood,” Henry says, pushing me so I’m sitting up, “I think we should retire to the bedroom because I have something else I’d like you to stroke.”
“Oh?” I reach over and rub the front of his pants, smiling when I feel how hard he is.
Henry leads me into our bedroom, and my heart bursts with joy. In hindsight, it was obvious Henry and I were meant to be together. As best friends, I thought we knew each other inside and out. But as an engaged couple, I learned that was only the beginning. What we have is so strong that it takes my breath away. Opening my eyes to Henry, loving him and letting him love me, is the best thing I’ve ever done.
“Have I told you today that I love you?” Henry asks, unzipping my dress and caressing my bare skin.
“A million times, but I never tire of hearing you tell me. I love you, too, Henry. Now and forever.”
* * *
