Page 169 of Forever

I exhaled slowly. “Yeah.”

“Oh, Brooklyn.” He sounded so sympathetic, even through the phone. “Are you okay?”

“I just wanted to read the part about Matt. Miller was giving me his blessing. He wanted me to keep living. And I just needed to remember that. I need to remember that most days,” I said with a sad laugh.

“Of course that’s what Miller wanted. Humans have such a bad habit of wasting time, even though their time on this earth is so fleeting.”

I laughed. He always said stuff like that. As if he wasn’t one of us mere mortals. “Does Matt seem nervous?”

“No,” Tanner said firmly. “He’s wanted you and only you since he was 16 years old.”

His words eased the ache in my chest. “I know.”

Justin started fidgeting with a few strands of my hair even though I was pretty sure I hadn’t messed it up. I’d left it down and Justin had put some loose curls in it. It was the same way I’d worn it back in high school. Only a million times better with Justin’s help.

“Remember what I told you?” Tanner asked. “That you’re one of the…”

“One of the lucky ones,” I said. “Yes. Because I got to experience a great lovetwice.”

“Exactly. And it’s okay to love both of them equally. I think I may have forgotten to mention that bit before. It’s okay that you loved Matt when you were married to Miller. And it’s okay that you will continue to love Miller when you’re married to Matt. It’s okay, Brooklyn. No one is asking you to forget. No one wants you to erase your past with Miller. Matt loves you exactly the way you are right now in this moment.”

I nodded and Justin grabbed both sides of my face so I’d stop moving. I smiled at him.

He tsked me and grabbed a makeup brush.

“Thank you, Tanner,” I said. Tanner had told me exactly what I’d needed to hear.

“So you’re not getting cold feet?” he asked.

I laughed. “Definitely not.”

“Good, good. Because I’m not sure I could pick up the pieces a second time. Matt needs you.”

“And I need him.” I smiled and put my hand on my stomach. We both needed him. And Jacob too.The four of us against the world.I smiled, thinking of my mom.

“And Brooklyn?”

“Yes?”

“Is Nigel with you? Matt is getting nervous about where he keeps running off to. And I’m assuming he’s with you.”

I laughed. “He is. I’ll tell him to head back to you guys.” Nigel had been so wonderful all day. Popping in and out to make sure I didn’t need anything. Even though he was a groomsman and should have been focusing on Matt.

“I will let your ladies take it from here. I’ll see you soon.”

“Thanks, Tanner. For…everything.”

“Anything, for my best friend’s friend,” he said.

I laughed, remembering when he was pretending to be Kennedy’s best friend. I had no idea how Tanner had gotten Matt and I back together, but I knew he’d had a lot to do with it.

“Or in this case my best friend’s wife. In a few hours, anyway. Call me if you need anything, okay?”

“I will.”

We both hung up and now I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face.

Justin smiled and stepped back. “Perfect.”

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