Page 138 of My Best Bet

“Better?” he whispered in my ear, looping his strong arms around me.

“Much.” I closed my eyes, feeling secure for the first time since he left for his Florida game.

“I feel so responsible.” He held my face and smoothed his thumb under my eye. “I’m so sorry, Mer. I didn’t think…” He choked up.

“No, it’s okay.” I grasped his wrist. “None of this is your fault, Colt.”

“Did Piper tell you…?” His body went tense with apprehension.

“Yes. She told me everything.”

His body slightly unfurled. “I’m so sorry. My head is a mess right now. I just keep looping back through everything. This changes… everything. All my memories, everything, it’s all tainted now.”

“Hey, it’s okay,” I craned my neck to peer up at him and I smoothed my hand up his scruff-covered cheek. “Don’t do that to yourself. Don’t go back to the past. It’ll drown you. Someone really smart once told me that it’s good to move forward.”

His face cracked and he covered his eyes. “I just don’t know how to move on from this.”

“Hey, you’re not alone. We’ll work on it together, right?”Please say right, I silently begged in my head.Please.

“Yeah.” He turned to press a kiss to the inside of my wrist. “Together. I’m never leaving you again. Never,” he swore.

He leaned forward and pressed his lips to mine. My lips immediately parted, and his tongue swept through my mouth, sending butterflies coursing through my body.

“Okay, c’mon guys, really? In a hospital bed?” Kappy complained.

“Leave them alone,” JP countered quietly.

“I think it’s sweet,” Lucy said softly.

“Yeah, what’s wrong, you afraid of a little PDA, Richard Charles?” Piper chimed in.

He whirled on Piper. “Is that a challenge?”

“What? How is that a challenge?” Piper’s cheeks went red. “You’re the one who was yelling at them.”

Colt and I just laughed as they all continued to bicker.

EPILOGUE

Mer - Six Months Later

“Last chance to run,” Piper whispered, wagging her eyebrows. Her white-blonde hair was pulled back in an updo and she looked beautiful in a light green dress that perfectly matched her eyes.

“No way,” I said with a laugh. I wanted to go to a courthouse as soon as Colt asked me to marry him, but I think he wanted a party, so we waited and planned. I was glad we did it this way because Lucy and I had so much fun shopping and picking everything out. But now I was ready. I wanted to call Colt my husband. I wanted to be his wife.

“Didn’t think so.” Piper smiled. “If only our teen selves could see us now.” She gave my hand a squeeze and then reached to pick up her little bouquet.

Lucy, dressed in an adorable white flower girl dress with a big bow on the back, peeked out a little window to see the lakefront where a hundred chiavari chairs had been set up. “Daddy’s up there in his fancy suit!” she said excitedly. “Is it time?!”

Piper went to her side to look through the little window, then shared a look with Lucy. “It’s time.”

Lucy let out a little squeal of excitement before twirling in her dress. She stopped suddenly and patted her head. “Did I mess up my hair?” Her hair was twisted into french braids which ended in a little bun.

“Not at all,” Piper told her with a smile. “Alright, ready? Remember how we’re gonna walk?”

“Poised and chic and confident!” Lucy repeated.

“That’s right,” Piper smiled proudly, giving her a high-five. “Let’s go.”

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