Page 167 of Forever

“Where is Nigel?” I asked. He’d been popping in and out all afternoon, but he promised he’d be ready on time. I had no idea where he’d been running off to all day.

James turned around in a circle. “I swear he was just here. Liam was crying and he quieted him down.”

“He was definitely here a minute ago,” Rob agreed.

“I think he may have said to just meet him at the venue,” Tanner said. He snapped his fingers. “That was definitely it. He’s just helping out with last minute stuff, I’m sure.”

“Should we leave him a note just in case?” I asked.

“The door will be locked,” James said.

“A note on the door then.”

“Sure, I guess,” Tanner said. He pulled a pad of sticky notes out of his pants’ pocket and grabbed a pen from his breast pocket. He quickly scrawled something across the note. “There. That’ll do.”

I could only see the note out of the corner of my eye, but I swear it said: “Stop it right now before they pull out the binoculars!”

Who the hell would be bringing binoculars to the wedding? Nigel was so strange sometimes.

“Looking dapper, Matt,” Tanner said as he walked toward the door to hang his note.

I laughed since we were all dressed exactly the same. Jacob was in a miniature version of the same tux too.

“You ready, son?” my dad asked and put his hand on my shoulder.

I nodded and looked down at Jacob. “You ready?” I asked him.

He nodded. “Ready, Coach.”

Chapter 37

Friday

Brooklyn

“Brooklyn.” Kennedy’s voice cracked. “You look so beautiful.”

I had dreamt so much of today. Both recently and 16 years ago right around this time. And here I was. Standing in the same wedding dress I’d picked out all those years ago. I stared at the new deep V of the neckline. Justin had been right. The tulle material made it classy. It also made it very easy to see my old wedding ring and engagement ring. They were dangling from the gold chain Matt had bought me to hold them. I blinked fast, trying my best not to ruin the makeup Justin had expertly put on me.

I felt whole.

I felt broken.

I had no idea how I could feel both at the same time. My fingers dropped to the center of my chest. The gold chain holding my rings clashed with the necklace Matt had given me this morning. I would miss Miller every day for the rest of my life. He would be with me every day. I clasped the rings in my fist.

But I couldn’t think about Miller today. If I did, I was worried I wouldn’t be able to walk down the aisle to Matt. And as much as it killed me, I needed to focus on the present. It’s what Miller wanted. I felt my bottom lip trembling.

“Can you unclasp this chain?” I asked.

Kennedy put her hand on top of my fist. “You don’t have to.”

I took a deep breath. Actually, I did. Matt knew I’d never stop loving Miller. He didn’t need that reminder today though. Today was about us. “Please.”

Kennedy didn’t say anything else. Her hand dropped from mine and she slowly unclasped the chain. She placed the rings and chain in my hand.

I’d put it back on tomorrow. I tucked the rings into a drawer and turned back to Kennedy.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

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