Page 192 of Forever

“I am so thrilled that you came back to the city, Brooklyn. And that you found your way back to Matthew. Because I do see it now. He looks at you the way I used tolook at your mother. And the way your mother used to look at me.” He cleared his throat.

Okay, that was actually kinda sweet.

“And now that he’s a grown up, I do believe he can protect you.”

I sighed. Another jab from the past. I didn’t remember Mr. Pruitt being so sassy.

“I didn’t have time to pick up a gift because I was informed fairly last minute of this wedding,” he said. “So as my gift to you, I’ll of course be paying for all this.” He gestured around the room.

“That’s really not necessary…” I started.

“I insist,” Mr. Pruitt said. “And I wish you both a lifetime of happiness. And here’s to many more heirs to come. Our legacy shall live on.”

Rob started clapping.

Daphne elbowed him in the side.

And I just laughed. We’d have time to work on the whole heir and legacy thing. Because my family was not going to be anything like his. “Thanks,” I said.

Brooklyn lifted her water glass. “Thanks, Dad.”

Her father finally sat back down.

“That was a lot,” Brooklyn whispered to me out of the corner of her mouth. “I’m so sorry.” But she actually looked…pleased. Brooklyn didn’t have a father growing up. She didn’t know what it was like to be embarrassed by him in public. And I think it tickled her.

“Well, he was right about a few things. I will protect you. We’re going to make lots ofheirsfor him. And I am the better Caldwell brother.”

Brooklyn laughed.

“Mhm,” Mason said and stood up from the table right next to ours. “I heard that.”

“I was just kidding,” I said.

“Sure you were.” He tapped on the microphone and lifted up his glass. “To my annoying little brother.”

Everyone laughed.

He smiled and turned toward me. “I don’t really mean that. Weirdly enough, we’ve always gotten along. All four of us.” He nodded at Rob and James. “But that doesn’t mean I’m not about to embarrass the shit out of you.”

Oh no, what are you about to say?

Brooklyn laughed.

Mason smiled at her. “There’s something you should know about the man you just married. He’s been head over heels in love with you since the moment you stepped foot in Empire High.”

Well, he wasn’t wrong about that. And I wasn’t embarrassed.

“When we were teenagers, I used to joke around with him about it. But I’ve always respected him for knowing what he wanted. And not settling for less. He wanted the kind of love my parents have for each other. The kind of love we grew up around. And he found that with you. I think he taught all of us that we could be happy if we found the right person.”

James nodded. Rob too.

“And when we lost you?” Mason took a few seconds, and I knew he needed to try to steady his breathing. “Sis.”

Brooklyn sniffled beside me.

I put my arm around her shoulders and squeezed her tight.

“Your disappearance brought the whole world down with you. Nothing was ever the same again. You broke my brother. Hell, you broke all of us.” He took a deep breath. “But when you came back? I see him again now. You gave me my brother back. The little lovesick puppy that he is.”

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