Page 134 of Forever

Tanner froze for a second. And then started laughing. “Just kidding. Not about the movie. Central Parkisa movie and it’s a classic. I meant about everything else. Like timeframe wise. But you’d like the movie, Brooklyn. It’s about some kids getting mixed up with New York City gangsters. Never mind,” he quickly said. “Let’s forget I said anything.”

Rob shook his head. “I don’t know what all that was. But regardless… Central is two syllables too you maniac.”

Tanner shrugged. “I was just joking around.”

Rob started pretending to throw up in the fire again.

“Sick!” Bee yelled and pointed to Rob. “You’re getting sick!”

He nodded.

“It’s Jurassic Park!”

“Yes that’s it! Thank fuck,” Rob said and sat back down. “You’re all so terrible at this game. One of you is up.”

“I’ll go,” I said.

“No, not you,” Rob said. “I already know you’re just going to squat and pretend to poop for Winnie thePooh. Next.”

How did he know that? I shrugged. Okay, maybe I did like to do that one for charades. But it had been forever since we’d played this game together.

Brooklyn laughed as I sat back down and put my arm around her shoulders.

I smiled down at her. This was not at all a normal bachelor or bachelorette party. But all that mattered was that she was smiling.

“One week,” she whispered.

“One week.” I’d waited a lifetime for her to be Mrs. Brooklyn Caldwell. And this time next week she finally would be.

Chapter 30

Thursday – Thanksgiving Day

Brooklyn

I always felt a little sick to my stomach on Thanksgiving. Remembering what happened that day 16 years ago was always hard. Matt’s words had haunted me for half my life. And my father’s betrayal the following day haunted me too. So yeah, this time of year my stomach tended to churn. But today I wasactuallysick. Not from memories of the past. I leaned over and threw up in the toilet.

Matt pounded on the door. “Brooklyn?!”

“I’m fine,” I groaned as I leaned over the toilet bowl again. God, I hated throwing up.

He jiggled the handle, but I’d locked the door. “Brooklyn, what’s going on?!” he yelled.

“I’m fine,” I said again and coughed.

But instead of listening to me, he kicked the door in. The wood splintered and the door hit the wall and almost fell off its hinges.

I stared over at Matt standing in the doorway with a bewildered expression on his face. And I couldn’t help but laugh. And then I leaned over the toilet and threw up again.

“Jesus.” He knelt down beside me on the floor and pulled my hair back for me. “What’s going on? Is it the baby? Do you feel okay? Should I call the doctor?” He put his hand on my stomach.

“It’s just morning sickness, Matt.” I laughed again, but again it made my stomach turn over. My cheeks puffed up, but I didn’t throw up anymore. I was pretty sure there wasnothing left in my stomach. I took a deep breath and stared at him. “I can’t believe you just broke down the door because of a very normal pregnancy symptom.”

“I didn’t know what was going on.” He moved his hand from my stomach to my back and slowly ran his hand up and down my spine.

“I’m okay, I promise. I just need some paper towels.”

He grabbed some paper towels off the vanity for me. “Are you sure that’s what it is? Morning sickness?”

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