AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You better come back to be my best man.” He orders.
I chuckle. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“No chance of talking you out of this, is there?”
“Afraid not, man.”
He thinks for a moment, then sighs. “I’m going to be girly for a minute and you’re not going to give me any shit for it.” I laugh but let him continue. “You’re going to text me every day, and you’re going to call me every night. No exceptions.”
“Are we going to exchange pretty bracelets, too?” I can’t resist and tease him anyway.
“Don’t tempt me, asshole.”
We embrace for a minute and try to hide that we’re both crying. Refusing to say the word goodbye, we nod instead and go into our separate bedrooms. As soon as the door shuts behind me, the emotions take over. Well, here goes nothing.
I END UP GETTING a late start and get stuck in traffic on my way to the airport. Thankfully, I left with plenty of time to spare before my flight leaves. As I ease the car up further, the sun peaks through the trees and shines right into my eyes. I pull down the visor, causing the envelope from McKenna to fall in my lap. I may as well open this now. Nothing better to do.
Breaking the seal, I open the flap and pull out the picture that was tucked inside. It’s a familiar one of Maverick, McKenna, and I on the beach. I can still remember the day Ivy took it like it was yesterday. We were so happy and didn’t have a care in the world. The picture looks a little worn, like she’s been carrying it around in her pocket. There’s even a crease down the middle where it was folded. I flip it over and see her handwriting on the back.
Thank you for always being my happy place.
Her happy place. I turn it back to the front and look at her face – it’s the same smile I’d go through hell and back to put on her face. My mind flashes to all the time I’ve seen that smile since then – the picnic on the beach; while we sailed across the ocean in the boat named after her; when I handed her a glass of her favorite wine at the club. All this time I’ve been too blind to see it. I’m what makes her happy. I spin the car around, illegally crossing the grass median, and press the gas pedal to the floor. I really hope I’m not too late.
MCKENNA
I stand in the mirror, looking at myself in the dress I’ve always imagined. It’s been altered to fit me perfectly, accenting all the right places. My makeup is professionally done and my hair is curled to look like some
thing out of a magazine. The veil sits neatly on top of my head and flows down my back. It’s all exactly how I pictured it. Well, almost.
“Are you ready to go?” Ivy asks.
I nod, and follow her and Tatum out to the limo where my mother is waiting for us. Just before I climb in, a plane in the sky catches my attention. Thoughts of Colton fill my head, reminding me of how he’s leaving today. I take a deep breath and shake the thoughts away. Tomorrow, I’ll let myself be sad. Today, I get married.
The ride to the venue is filled with champagne toasts and happy smiles. Even Ivy seems to have gotten over her doubts about me going through with the wedding. We pose for pictures and gush over how pretty we look – no matter how vain it may be.
As we get inside, I smile at my brother who’s been patiently waiting for us to arrive. His breath hitches as he looks me over. “You look beautiful, McKenna.”
“Thank you.”
When all the planning started, I asked Maverick to walk me down the aisle. However, standing here and getting ready to make one of the most important commitments of my life, something feels missing.
“Can you do me a favor?” I ask him hesitantly, not knowing how he will react to my request.
His brows furrow. “Anything. What do you need?”
“Go get dad for me.”
My words seem to shock everyone within hearing distance, but he agrees and walks through the doors – the same doors that have my future husband right on the other side of them. I swallow down the lump in my throat as my brother comes back with our dad at his side.
“What’s wrong, sweetheart? Is everything okay?”
There was such a long time where I resented him for what he did to our mom, but after this summer, I’ve never understood it more. Cheating was wrong of him, but it doesn’t mean that he didn’t love her. There could be a countless number of reasons why he did it, but all that matters, is what he did after. My mom was able to forgive him, why can’t I? If we’re ever going to make amends and get back to the family we once were, a step needs to be made.
I nod, looking to my brother and then back to him. “I’d like for both of you to walk me down the aisle, if that’s okay.”
He gasps and his eyes well with tears. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” My eyes meet Maverick’s and he grins, understanding exactly where I’m coming from. “Absolutely.”
