Page 181 of Forever

My dad shook it. “Take care of my girl.”

“Always,” Matt said and then put his hand out for me.

I slid my hand into his and joined him in front of the altar. He cradled both my hands in his as he stared down at me.

“You look so beautiful,” he said.

“Matt, stop,” I whispered. “You’re going to make me cry.”

He blinked fast and cleared his throat. “I’m going to be promising the world to you, but I can’t promise not to cry.”

I laughed and squeezed his hands.

“Are the two of you ready?” the pastor whispered with a kind smile.

We both nodded. I’d only met him just a few weeks ago. But he’d married Matt’s parents. I couldn’t think of anyone better for this occasion.

“We’re gathered here today to witness the sacred union of Matthew and Brooklyn.” He kept going, but I barely registered his words.

I just kept staring at the man in front of me. I’d fallen in love with a boy. We’d both grown and changed so much. But we’d still found our way back to each other. And Matthew Caldwell was all man now.

“You’re shaking,” Matt whispered and inched a little closer to me.

“I’m just cold.”

He tried to release my hands so he could give me his jacket.

I held his hands tight. “Nope. We did not spend a fortune altering this dress just for me to cover it up.”

“But…”

“Don’t even think about it.”

He smiled.

The pastor cleared his throat.

We both turned to him.

“You have agreed to read your own vows, right?” he asked.

The crowd chuckled.

I was pretty sure this wasn’t the first time he’d asked us.

“Yes,” Matt said. He let go of my hands and grabbed a piece of paper from his jacket pocket. He slowly unfolded it and looked at me.

And I already knew he was going to make me cry.

Chapter 40

Friday

Matt

God was Brooklyn beautiful. For a second I just stood there staring at her. I really couldn’t believe this was happening. I didn’t bother to look down at the paper in my hand. I knew what I wanted to say.

“I feel like I’m dreaming, and any moment I’m going to wake up.”

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