Page 132 of Almost Always

“I love you too,” he whispered and pulled her closer with his arms around her waist and kissed her softly.

She sighed into his mouth and leaned back. “We should probably get to Truffles.”

He nodded and stepped back, taking her hand as they started towards the entrance. The minute the tall doors opened, all she could hear were cheers and hooting. Her eyes widened as she stepped outside and found their friends standing in lines on either side of the stairs, while all dressed to the nines and beaming at them.

“What the hell?” she muttered, stunned at what she was seeing.

Frankie stepped forward, hand on her hip. “Did you really think you could get married inmytown secretly?”

“Or that we wouldn’t show up to celebrate your big day?” Ginny added as she stood beside Frankie.

“And seriously, why would you let someone else make your cake?” Clementine asked with a scowl.

“I’m sorry, man. I tried to keep it a secret,” Mack said as he offered them sheepish smiles.

Everleigh came over with flower crowns and a beautiful smile. “I’m really happy for you two,” she said and handed them the floral circles. “Congratulations.”

Then everyone descended on them, hugging and congratulating them. Any hope she had of not crying again was gone the minute her girlfriends wrapped themselves around her. They took their places on either side of the stairs and as she and Rafferty walked down, confetti and flowers rained down on them.

At the bottom of the stairs, everyone stopped for a photograph and she glanced at her husband. She had the love of her life, a kid she loved with every fiber of her being, the greatest best friend a person could ask for and a group of incredible humans who showed up on the biggest day of her life because they wanted to support her.

What more could a girl who didn’t have anything ask for?

EPILOGUE

Husband and wife.

He was still reeling from everything that had happened that day. To think it was only a few months ago that he’d seen Daisy Heroux for the first time in twenty years and now they were bound to each other for life. And unlike his previous marriage, he knew this would last a long fucking time. Not only because of their history and penchant for commitment, but because this wasDaisy. He’d loved her long before he fully understood the feelings twisting his stomach and making his heart race.

Hell, he’d loved her all the time they were apart.

More than that, when he looked at her or even thought about her, he knew that nobody else would ever be able to make him feel the way she did. They supported each other, guided the other through whatever was going on and stood by their side through the good and bad. And she accepted Cal like her own without even thinking about it. When his son had asked, for the second time, if she would be his mother, Rafferty almost broke down. The first time had been a shock, but understandable. He was better prepared for the second time, but it still rattled him.

Now, standing on the back porch of the Thomas-Rhodes house, he watched hiswife.

Ever since that night when she showed up at his house draped in yellow, he’d been fascinated by sarees. She’d shown him how to put it on and he’d sat with her once while she browsed online stores looking for more. On its own, the cloth was very basic. When wrapped around his wife? Incredible. He had expected a simple white dress for their town hall wedding, but he should have known that she’d go all out. Every curve of her body was accentuated with how snug the saree was. That was all the permission he needed to admire her every chance he got.

The sound of her laughter drew his attention to the people around them. Theirfriends. After the Fourth of July getaway, he’d run into these people a few times. They had become so special and important to him too, not to mention the fact that Cal was so excited to be with hisunclesagain. His friendship with Mack was evolving every single day and he was building a bond with Wyatt, though at a much slower pace. But he was so proud of himself for finally taking Louise’s advice and getting out there.

He’d have been happy with just his family and nothing would have been amiss. To have this large group of people who wanted to celebrate their big day with them? Unbelievable.

After being surprised by everyone outside town hall, they piled into various cars and drove outside of town limits to where Gavin and Ginny lived in a gorgeous converted farmhouse. A congratulations banner had been hung up, a bar area was set to one side, tables were overflowing with food and a gorgeous cake with flowers sat in the center.

Daisy had been stunned too, tears clinging to her long lashes as she looked around at all of the beautiful things their friends had done. For him, it was everything he never had in New York, a group of people who included him and his son in all festivities.

All it took was finding Daisy again to feel like he finally belonged.

“You’re supposed to be out there with your wife, not creeping on her.”

He chuckled and glanced at the tall blond man stepping up beside him. “Since she’smywife, I’ll do whatever I want.”

Mack chuckled and held his beer out and Rafferty clinked his bottle against it before both of them took long pulls of their drinks. “Happy for you, man. But seriously, why are you all the way over here?”

“Sort of processing that this is real, I guess.”

“That after twenty years, you actually got your shot with the love of your life?”

He laughed at the way his friend said it, but nodded. Mack was probably the only person here that really knew the history Rafferty and Daisy shared. He’d given him advice, sometimes unsolicited, but it had been good to talk to someone about what was going on that wasn’t biased.

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