Page 108 of Wish You Would

“And look at you making me eat my words,” she murmurs, flattening her palm over my heart.

“I love you the most,” I say before she lifts her head, eyes hazy, and I kiss her with everything I have to give.

“I love you with all four letters.” Then she gives me that smile that will always make my heart skip a beat.

A smile pulls at my lips as Briar rests her head back down on my chest. I don’t know how I got so lucky to marry the girl of my dreams.

Some people are worth the risk. I’m just glad I took a chance on the right girl.

BRIAR’S EPILOGUE

FIVE YEARS LATER

Briar

The smell of churros and popcorn fills the air as I tighten my grip on Hayes’ hand. His little fingers, slightly sticky from cotton candy, curl around mine as we weave through the bustling crowd. Holden walks beside us, carrying our daughter, Harlow, on his shoulders. Her pigtails bounce as she excitedly points toward Sleeping Beauty’s Castle in the distance.

“Mommy! Look! It’s the castle! Just like in the movies!” Harlow squeals, her voice full of awe.

I smile up at her, my heart swelling. “It’s even better in real life, huh?”

She nods so enthusiastically that Holden reaches up to steady her. “Careful, Princess,” he teases, flashing me that grin that still makes my stomach flip, even after four years of marriage.

Ahead of us, our best friends and their kids—18 of us in total—walk together, the kids laughing, talking a mile a minute about which ride to go on next. The dads are already strategizing in that way they do, debating Genie+ times andthe best way to tackle the park without too many meltdowns.

“Alright, game plan!” Jake announces. “We do Fantasyland first for the little ones, then split for the big rides.”

“Don’t forget Dole Whip,” Birdie chimes in, tossing her mom, Everly, a knowing look. “It’s tradition.”

“Oh, I would never forget Dole Whip,” Ev say dramatically, making her 14-year-old laugh. I still find it hard to believe that Birdie is a teenager.

The kids cheer as we make our way to Peter Pan’s Flight, the four strollers parked nearby like some kind of parental army base. While the dads keep the younger ones entertained, Holden and I steal a moment to ourselves.

“Can you believe we pulled this off?” he asks, glancing around at our chaotic, beautiful group. “Four families, ten kids, and we’re all still standing.”

“Miraculous,” I agree, watching as Holden leans down to help Harlow fix her Mickey ears. The sight of my husband—the man who started out as my temporary roommate and pretend boyfriend, now a father to our two little loves—makes my heart ache in the best way.

“Ready, Mommy?” Hayes tugs on my hand, his green eyes filled with excitement.

“Ready!” I say, squeezing his fingers.

As we step onto the ride, the laughter of our friends and children surrounding us, I realize this moment—right here, in the middle of the chaos, in the middle of Disneyland—is pure magic.

As the ride begins, the ship tilts forward, gliding over the miniature London below. Hayes gasps beside me, his tiny fingers gripping mine tighter.

“We’re flying, Mommy!” he whispers, his voice filled with wonder.

I smile, soaking in the joy on his face. Next to us, Holden has one arm wrapped around Harlow, who lets out a delighted giggle as we soar past twinkling stars. For a moment, the world outside disappears, and we’re just here—suspended in magic, in laughter, in love.

As we step off the ride, the rest of our group is waiting just outside the exit. The dads are wrangling the strollers while the moms are handing out snacks in a well-rehearsed assembly line.

“Next stop?” Tucker asks, lifting his son, Theo, onto his shoulders.

“Teacups!” the older kids shout in unison, making all the parents groan.

“Oh no,” Jake chuckles. “Not again. You’re on your own for that one.”

“Come on,” Everly teases, nudging him in his side. “You survived last time.”

---