Page 58 of Forever

CHAPTER 20

ANABEL

“Are you nervous?” Sienna asks from her chair.

We’re all closed in a big wedding suite on the top floor of the hotel Emily booked for the wedding. Both Emily and Mom are downstairs checking the last-minute details before they join us in here to take some pictures and help me get dressed.

Meanwhile, the girls and I are getting dolled up. Sienna called in a favor and got us one of professional hair and makeup stylists she worked with before. Her gift to me. And she asked Johnny to be a photographer at the wedding since we wanted to keep it small, simple, and most importantly, private.

I look at my two best friends, smiling softly.

“Nope.”

“Not even a little?” Val adds.

I shake my head no which ends up messing my hair up and making the stylist scowl at me, so I sit still.

“This is it. William is it for me. I’ve know it for a long time. We’re just making it official.” I look at Sienna, laughing quietly. “And I know how to cook, so it’s not like he’ll suddenly change his mind and dump me.”

Her eyes narrow, but she can’t help but join me. Val looks at us, confused. She wasn’t there when Sienna and J.D. got married, so she doesn’t understand the joke. Sienna tells her all about her meltdown before the ceremony while I try to keep still as the makeup artist applies falsies and mascara.

They are both ready, dressed in matching red dresses. The design is simple—tiny straps over their shoulders with V neck satin dress that hugs their bodies and falls to the floor. Sienna didn’t want to look like tent or whale—her words not mine—and Val looks good in almost anything so she went along.

The door opens, Mom and Emily slide inside carefully closing the door behind.

“Everything is perfect!” Emily excitedly claps her hands. “The only missing thing is the bride.”

Both stylists fuss around me for a few more seconds before they take a step back, calling it quits.

Mom comes behind me, her hands wrapping around me. Her black hair is pulled into a bun, just a few strands curl around her face. Her eyes are more green than brown today, and I can see tears form in them, but she doesn’t let them fall.

“The dress?” Mom smiles at me. It’s big and genuine, and I know she’s happy for me.

I nod my head. “I’m ready.”

Just like what we did for Sienna’s wedding, they don’t let me turn around until I’m completely dressed and once I see my reflection in the mirror I know that this is it.

The moment I’ve been waiting for since I crashed into William more than two years ago.

The first time I laid my eyes on him I knew he’d be my undoing. Somewhere deep down inside, it’s like my soul knew William is it for me.

The missing piece of my heart.

My friend.

My protector.

My soulmate.

My home.

*

WILLIAM

“You aren’t nervous today,” J.D. observes out loud.

“If I were him I would be,” my brother chimes in. “Anabel is too good for him. She still has time to run as hard and as fast as she can in other direction.”

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