Page 190 of Forever

I laughed and he pulled me back in close. What I loved so much about dancing with him at homecoming was that he’d been so honest with me. I’d gotten to really see…him. But he was always honest with me now. And tonight was unforgettable. “Okay, fine. Maybe this beats dancing with you at homecoming.”

He leaned closer and his lips brushed against my ear. “This definitely beats homecoming. Because you’re finally, officially mine, Brooklyn Caldwell.”

“I’ve always been yours.” A piece of me. I knew it was true. And I was done feeling guilty about everything. I was ready to live in the moment.

He kissed the spot right behind my ear.

I swallowed hard. I didn’t think anyone had ever kissed me there before. And I felt so…loved.

He dipped me low as everyone clapped. When the last note of the song played, he pulled me back up to his chest. “I can’t wait to rip this dress off of you.”

I laughed. “I want to keep it though. In case our daughter wants to wear it one day.”

Matt’s eyes grew round and his gaze fell to my stomach.

Chapter 42

Friday

Matt

It’s a girl?I stared at her stomach. “We’re having a girl? When did you find out?”

Brooklyn opened her mouth and then closed it. “No. Yes. Maybe? I’m so sorry, I don’t know. I just…” her voice trailed off. “I feel like it might be.”

I smiled. She was so adorable.

“And if it is, I’d like her to have the option of wearing this dress. So please don’t rip it into pieces.”

“I’m not a wild animal. I was probably just going to pop a few buttons.” Although the tulle between her breasts was just begging for me to rip it with my teeth.

She raised her eyebrow at me.

“But I promise I won’t.” My eyes trailed down between her breasts to her stomach. “A girl.” I smiled. “I was thinking it was probably a boy. But I could picture us having a little girl. A littleyou. I want to fill our house with little Brooklyns.”

“I feel like if I smile any more my cheeks are going to freeze like this.”

I leaned down and kissed one of her cheeks. “I hope they do. I love it when you smile.”

Her smile just grew even more. “This is so much better than Black Friday 16 years ago. And now we can always remember this instead.”

I thought I wanted to completely erase that memory. Set the world right. But I was grateful for every moment we’d had rekindling our relationship. I was happy righthere, in this moment. And so was Brooklyn. That’s all that really mattered.

Someone tapped their silverware against the side of their champagne flute. I turned to see Mr. Pruitt stand up. “A toast,” he said. “To the happy couple.”

The D.J. handed him the microphone.

“I didn’t know the father of the bride was going to make a toast!” Justin said from behind us. “Brooklyn, why didn’t you tell me?!”

Brooklyn laughed. “Justin, I didn’t even know he was coming. How could I have possibly told you he was making a toast?”

“You two need to go sit down! The toasts have been commandeered! This is an emergency!”

“Justin,” Brooklyn said and put her hands on his shoulders. “Kennedy and Mason’s toasts were planned for right now anyway. It’s fine. But because this seems like a big deal to you…I should probably warn you that Rob is planning a toast too.”

I laughed. Of course he was. Rob would never miss an opportunity to upstage my best man.

“Damn that hilarious hunk of man meat! Sit, sit,” he shooed us toward our table.

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