Page 179 of Forever

“Maxwell?” my dad asked.

“I don’t know who that is,” Jacob said.

I smiled. Max was Mason’s dad. Jacob just knew him as Grandpa. Jacob was referring to Tanner when he mentioned his abuelo. Which felt like a long, confusing conversation for this moment.

“Well, how about you call me Nonno?” my dad said.

“Nooooooo nooooo,” Jacob said, drawing the no’s out in the adorable way I loved. “Okay. I’ll call you that. And be good so I don’t have to punch you.”

“Deal,” my dad said.

Justin whistled. “It’s starting!” he shrieked at the top of his lungs. He downed the entire contents of a mug ofcoffee and slammed it on a table. I was surprised the mug didn’t shatter.

He’d had way too much caffeine. But he had pulled everything off. I knew he’d be able to do it. I’d always known he was the best.

I squeezed Jacob’s shoulder and stood back up.

Justin opened the door. All the groomsmen had assembled right outside to escort the bridesmaids down the aisle. Kennedy walked out first and Mason looped his arm through hers. The door closed for a moment before Bee stepped out to walk with Rob.

I pulled the curtain a bit to the side to watch. The bridge, altar, and path up to it were beautiful. Everything was decorated similarly to Tanner’s apartment last night. White pumpkins, gold fall leaves, garland, and twinkle lights. Matt was standing at the altar, fidgeting with his cufflinks. He looked so nervous, but so sure at the same time. I let the curtain fall back into place.

James grabbed Penny’s hand as she walked out the door. But before it closed, Tanner stepped in.

“Just wanted to make sure everything was good…” his voice trailed off when he saw me. “Wow. Brooklyn.”

I smiled. “Everything is good.”

“You look exquisite.”

“Thank you, Tanner. Thank you for…everything.” I’d seen the decorations outside. They matched the ones in his apartment. And I knew he’d helped Justin pull all this off.

Tanner nodded and turned to my dad. “Thank you for coming, Richard. It means the world to me and my friends.”

“I wouldn’t have missed it. But thank you for alerting me so…obsessively.”

Tanner laughed. “I couldn’t let you miss it.” He clapped my dad on the back.

“It’s your turn, you big hunk of man meat,” Justin said.

Tanner grabbed Daphne’s hand. Everyone else that wasn’t in a couple had done the signature arm loop. I was pretty sure Tanner did it just to piss Rob off. Tanner escorted Daphne outside.

“Okay that’s our cue,” Justin said to Nigel and put his hand out for Nigel.

Nigel sighed. “No holding hands. We’ll just walk adjacent. And doesn’t that big stranger need to get outside?” He pointed to Donnelley who was just standing there with his arms folded across his chest.

Justin’s eyes grew round. “You! Get that gorgeous ass outside immediately. You’re ruining everything.” He slapped Donnelley’s butt.

Donnelley laughed.

And I couldn’t help but smile. I wondered if this was the first time they’d talked. It wasn’t a bad re-introduction after 16 years.

Donnelley looked at my father.

“It’s okay,” Mr. Pruitt said. “Go on out.” He nodded towards the door.

Donnelley winked at Justin and then walked out the doors.

As soon as the doors closed Justin squealed and spun toward me. “Did you see that?! He winked at me! What does it mean?! Does he remember me?” He started fanning himself. “I think he remembers. We did so much stuff in the closet. Not the figurative closet, I was way out, even though he was way in. The actual literal closet. We used to hook up in closets is what I’m trying to say…”

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