Page 166 of Forever

“Brooklyn is our friend too.”

“I don’t like theourin your sentence.”

Tanner shrugged.

“Which one of you told her I’d get off if she wore my jersey?” I asked. Because honestly, whoever gave her that advicewasmy best friend.

Mason laughed. “Damn that’s hot.”

“Sexy,” Rob said. “But I didn’t tell her that.”

Tanner shook his head. “Me neither. I would have told her to wear a football jersey.”

I knew he meant soccer by that. But that meant that no one had told her to dress up. They’d just told her to give me head. I smiled. I said whoever told her to wear my jersey was my best friend. It made sense that Brooklyn had come up with it all by herself. She knew me best.

***

I never thought this day would come. It’s what I’d always wanted. But for 16 years I’d given up on it. I’d given up on living.

There was a knock on the door. “It’s almost time,” Mason said from the other side. “You ready?”

“Yeah, one second.” I finished putting on my tie and then opened the door. Mason was dressed just like I was. In a navy tux with a yellow tie. The tie matched the yellow bridesmaid dresses. “Could you help me with these?” I handed him the box of cufflinks that Penny had given me as I finished buttoning my vest.

Mason popped open the lid and pulled one of the cufflinks out. He stared at the inscription but didn’t sayanything. He put one on and then the next, not saying anything about the second inscription either.

I slid my tuxedo jacket on and straightened my lapels.

“Were those from Brooklyn?” Mason asked.

I shook my head. “No. Penny.”

He smiled. “Figures.”

“The day my life stopped. And the day my life started again.” But today felt the most momentous to me. Everything had led me to this point.

Mason folded his arms and leaned back against the vanity. “I was worried about that for a while.”

“Worried about what?”

“Penny.”

Yeah, all my friends had been worried about that.

“You put me in a very awkward position,” Mason said. “And I think I would have had to beat the shit out of you if you ever tried to pull something on her.”

I laughed. I’d certainly thought about it. I’d tried to fill this hole in my heart with anything I possibly could. My crush on Penny was probably the most destructive though. Because it would have hurt all my friends. Penny included. And James and I had been through enough fighting for one lifetime.

“But it was hard to be mad at you when you were walking around like your life was over,” Mason said. “I’m so glad Brooklyn came back.”

“Me too.” I think I’d always have a hard time thinking about the time she’d chosen to stay away. But the important thing was that she’d come back to me. And that was all that fucking mattered.

Mason cleared his throat. “And here you are saying that you’re ready, and your tie isn’t even straight.” He adjusted my tie for me. “There. Let’s do this thing.” He cleared his throat again.

My brother was not an emotional guy. But I could tell he felt it today. I’d put him through hell the past 16 years. I think I’d worried him the most because he saw me the most. “Thank you, man.”

He nodded. Like he knew I was thanking him for more than straightening my tie.

We walked out of the bathroom, down the hall, and into James’ living room. My father and all my friends were all dressed, standing around talking. Except for Nigel.

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