Page 118 of Strictly Pretend

Here,

in this moment,

we are complete?—

two hearts,

one song,

forever in tune

He ends the words, and looks at us both. “She was a good woman,” he says, his voice cracking. Next to me, I hear Emma’s breath turn ragged. “She would have loved you, Brooks. She would have loved you because you make our girl smile. You make her laugh. You know her worth.”

He lifts a brow and I nod, because I do.

“Be good to each other. Don’t let the sun go down on an argument. Don’t let a day go by without telling each other how much you love them. And most of all, cherish every moment together. They go way too fast.”

EMMA

As Granddad finishes speaking and closes up the book, Brooks’ eyes catch mine. There’s so much emotion there, it hits me in the center of my chest. I love this man so much. I’m so lucky to have him.

For a moment the whole beach is silent, save for the lapping of the waves against the shore, but then a little voice pipes up.

“Is it time for cake yet?”

Brooks eyes catch mine and we both start to laugh. He turns to look at his nephew, Oliver, who’s standing on Myles’ lap. Like all his boy cousins, Oliver is dressed up for the ceremony, wearing a pair of the tiniest dress pants I’ve ever seen, along with a shirt, vest, and a perfectly knotted tie.

The Salinger family breed beautiful children. I barely go a minute when I’m with them without one of them hugging me or kissing me or asking me for help. It’s the best of all worlds. I get to love them all day and their parents get to deal with the tantrums at night.

“Not yet, buddy,” Brooks tells him. “But we’re gonna do this thing real quick and then the first slice is yours.” Then he blinks and looks at me. “Sorry, that was the most unromantic thing I’ve probably ever said. At my wedding, too.”

I grin at him. “It wasn’t unromantic. I want to get this done real quick, too,” I tell him, rolling onto my tiptoes and pressing my lips against his. “Because I have plans for you later.”

The officiant – who is thankfully not Mark – clears his throat. “Ah, we have a few words we need to say first,” he says. “May I?”

“You may,” Brooks intones, squeezing my hand, and I’m starting to think this is the best wedding I’ve ever been to. Not only because it’s exactly how I wanted it. Casual, full of love, full of kids and laughter.

But because I’m standing next to the only man in the world I’ve ever wanted to marry.

First we repeat his words. Then he asks us to read our vows. We both agreed to write our own, and I watch as Brooks unfolds the piece of paper he’s taken out from his pocket.

“Emma Robbins,” he says, his lips curling as his eyes catch mine. I have no idea what he’s about to say because he refused to let me look at his document. I even tried to sneak a peek at his laptop, but he password protected the file. “From the moment I saw you walk barefoot into my life, howling at the moon and stealing the whiskey bottle from my hand, I knew you were the one for me.”

There’s a ripple of laughter from the guests.

I lift a brow at him.

“It’s not just because you’re the most beautiful woman in the world. Or the funniest, or the most well read.” His eyes are soft as they look at me. “Although you are. But it’s because you’re the best person I’ve ever met. You’re strong, you’re vulnerable, you’re caring, and you’re protective. You’re the first person I want to see after I’ve had a good day, or a bad day, or a so-so day.” His smile is lopsided. “And you’re the last person I want to see before my eyes close at night. I’m the luckiest man in the world to get to be your husband. And baby, I’m not gonna mess this up.”

His brothers let out a whoop and I’m grinning right along with them.

“Well, all right,” the officiant says. “Now Emma will read her vows.”

I don’t take out a piece of paper. I’ve spent the last few weeks trying to decide what to say while staring at a blank sheet of paper. But now I’m looking at him and my mind is suddenly so full of words I don’t know where to start.

“Brooks,” I say, taking his hands in mine. “Thank you for letting me love you. And for showing me how to accept your love back in return. Thank you for being there to share in my smiles, to wipe up my tears. On the good days and the bad days and the so-so days. Which are still the best days I’ve ever had.”

I’m beaming at him, even though my eyes are full of tears. “From the moment I saw you, sitting on the grass alone, avoiding weddings because we’re both not really fans…” I trail off as there’s more laughter.

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