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I glance at everyone in the room, then back at Cole. “They’re crying with laughter—it’s the same thing.”
“Suck it up,” Cole says, then chuckles at my murderous expression.
The pain meds start to kick in and I fight to stay awake. I can’t go to sleep without explaining my mum’s reasons for giving me such a crappy name.
Allie turns when she sees I’m fighting it. “Go to sleep, Charles, we’ll be here when you wake up.”
“Don’t call me Charles,” I croak out groggily.
I feel her lean in, her lips pressing against my ear. “I’m going to love you no matter what, Charles-Jay Everhert.”
My head flops to the side, my mouth feeling like sandpaper. “Love you, my… Cupcake,” I tell her, feeling myself sink into the darkness.
EPILOGUE
Allie
Six years later
Today’s the day I open a new chapter in my life. It’s the day I pledge myself to the love of my life. It’s the day I’ve been dreaming about since CJ asked me to marry him six years ago, a few weeks after leaving the hospital.
The day finally is here, and I couldn’t be happier.
I glance in the long-length mirror behind the door, running a hand down my white, silk dress.
“You make a beautiful bride,” Milly says, leaning over my shoulder to kiss my cheek.
I watch her in the mirror, smiling. “Thank you. Is everything ready?”
“Nearly?”
I panic, turning to face her. “What do you mean, nearly?”
She giggles, taking both my hands in hers. “Calm down,” she tells me, before facing the door. “Willow, come in now.”
Willow, my maid of honour, walks in wearing her floor-length, dark green bridesmaid dress. She’s absolutely beautiful, and my eyes immediately go to her round bump under her dress. At eight months, she looks radiant. Pregnancy suits my best friend.
I glance from Willow to Milly, nervous about what’s going on. “Has something happened?”
Willow chuckles. “No, we came to give you these,” she tells me, and signals for Milly to go ahead.
I watch her pull a box out of her bag, handing it to me.
“This is something borrowed from me. They belonged to my nan,” she tells me.
My eyes begin to water when I open the box, finding a matching pearl earrings and necklace set. “They’re beautiful. Thank you,” I tell her, feeling choked up.
She helps me put them on before stepping aside, letting Willow through. “This is something blue from me,” she tells me, and hands me a tiny gift bag.
I peek inside, laughing when I see the baby-blue garter inside. I pull it out and pass it to her. “Can you put it on? In these shoes I’m afraid I’ll break an ankle.”
She laughs, her eyes glancing to Milly for a second before nodding. “Sure.”
I help lift my elegant but simple dress, cursing at the high-heeled shoes they made me wear. I can’t walk for shit in them, but they don’t seem to care.
I drop the dress when she’s finished, and a thought occurs to me. “Wait, shouldn’t there be something new, something borrowed, and something blue?”
“We thought we’d save the best till last,” Willow answers, glancing at Milly.
