Page 105 of Forever

I swallowed hard. Because I already knew what he was thinking. That this was a betrayal to Miller.

Donnelley pressed his lips together. “I don’t know, Brooklyn. Miller…”

I pulled back from Matt. “Yeah. No.” I shook my head. I didn’t need him to say the words out loud. But he didn’t understand. Miller wanted me to be happy. He’d want me to keep living. And hadn’t I just reinforced the idea in my mind that time was limited? I wasn’t wasting another second. I cleared my throat. “Of course. I understand.”

Donnelley nodded.

“Actually, Donnelley, if you’d reconsider, I’d really like you to come,” Matt said. “You were friends with Miller. You knew him even before Brooklyn did. It would mean a lot to both of us if you got to know Jacob. He’s going to want to know all your stories about his dad. And we want that too. It would mean a lot to all three of us. The four of us, actually.” He put his hand on my stomach.

All four of us.Every time I thought I couldn’t love Matt more, he surprised me.

Donnelley looked down at my stomach. “You’re pregnant?”

I nodded.

“Is it…is it Miller’s too?”

“No.” It was the same question Rob had asked. I’d wished that I was pregnant after Miller’s death. I’d cried when I’d gotten my period. I understood that hope. And I could tell Donnelley that this wasn’t planned. That we’d never meant for it to happen. But I wasn’t going to justify this to him. I wanted this baby. I needed this baby.

Donnelley turned back to Matt. “Yeah, man. I’ll come. It’s what Miller would have wanted.”

Matt put his hand out for him.

Donnelley hesitated for a moment, but then shook it. “Congrats,” he said. “To both of you.” He turned back to me and smiled.

Donnelley always had been sweet. And for some reason, his approval made me feel better. Almost like talking to the north star always made me feel better.

“And I’ll keep trying to reach Mr. Pruitt for you, Brooklyn,” he said.

“Thank you.” I felt tears welling in the corners of my eyes again. God, every day I felt like I got more emotional.

Chapter 25

Thursday

Matt

Brooklyn looked down at her phone and then pushed it away from her on the coffee table.

It had been almost a week since we’d found the letters. And there was still no word from her dad. We’d read every single one of the letters.

I didn’t like Mr. Pruitt. I didn’t forgive him for what he’d done to us as teenagers. But my heart had never been as big as Brooklyn’s. I knew these letters changed things for her. It was pretty clear that Mr. Pruitt regretted asking her mom to have an abortion. And it was pretty clear how much he’d loved her mom.

Brooklyn wanted to make things right because of that big heart of hers. I didn’t know what that looked like for our future. Mr. Pruitt coming to Sunday football games? I kind of hoped not. But if she wanted him in our lives, I’d make do. Brooklyn had already forgiven him for everything. And I knew that was hard for her. The least I could do was not be an asshole to him.

“Brooklyn, I’m asking a vital question here,” Justin said and put his hand on his hip.

I hadn’t realized he’d spoken either. I was more focused on Brooklyn’s frowns. I wanted to turn them back into smiles. But I didn’t know how to fix this. What if we couldn’t get a hold of Mr. Pruitt before the wedding? What if he missed it?

“Sorry, what did you say?” Brooklyn asked.

Justin squinted his eyes at her. “The rehearsal dinner. On Thanksgiving. In two freaking weeks! Where? Where the hell could we possibly have it? It’s Thanksgiving, Brooklyn! Thanksgiving!”

“Maybe we can all just calm down…” I started.

“Matthew Caldwell, do not tell a boy to calm down!”

I didn’t. Justin was a grown ass man. But I kept my mouth shut because he seemed extra hyper tonight.

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