Page 201 of Forever

All you could hear was our laughter in the swirling snow.

Penny laughed as James took a snowball right in the face.

And Bee kept screaming and trying to hide behind Mason.

“Help me!” Mason said. But then he realized that Bee didn’t have any gloves.

Penny didn’t have any either, but that wasn’t slowing her down. She was throwing them even faster than James.

The kids had started making snow angels, already bored of the snowball fight. But the adults were very much enjoying attacking each other.

I tried to dodge a snowball from Mason and started to slip.

Matt caught me around the waist and somehow we both toppled into the snow.

He moved on top of me to cover me from the onslaught of snowballs.

I couldn’t stop laughing. But Matt silenced me with a kiss. God, I’d been dying to be alone with him all night. And even though it felt like just the two of us in that moment, I knew we were surrounded by people. And snow. So much snow. It fell around us and I couldn’t really describe the feeling in my chest. I felt at home whenever I was with Matt. But I felt it so much in that moment. It was like a piece of the lake house was back here in the city with me.

The tip of Matt’s nose was red. And his cheeks were rosy. And even with all the planning and craziness leading up to this day, I was pretty sure this was what I’d remember most. The snowball fight with our friends.

His lips fell from mine and moved to my ear. “So much for not ruining your dress.”

I groaned. I could already feel the chill seeping through the thin material. “At least it’s just snow. But you do have a good point. Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

“That we should get you and the baby out of the snow?”

I laughed. “Not exactly.” That was another good point though. I bit my lip, hoping he’d get the message that my thoughts were much more sinful.

He smiled. “Then you’re probably thinking we need to get you out of this wet dress and hang it up to dry. Immediately. So it doesn’t get ruined. Right?” He smiled.

I doubted he really cared about the state of my dress. He was staring at me like he was just excited to get me out of it. “Yes, please.”

He pulled me to my feet.

I took one last look at all our friends playing in the snow. When I was around Matt, I truly did feel like a teenager again. This was honestly madness. And the best wedding ever.

“Ready?” Matt asked.

I squeezed his hands. “I’ve been waiting for this moment all night.”

Chapter 44

Friday

Matt

We said goodnight to Jacob and goodbye to all our friends. They responded by throwing more snowballs at us. Getting pelted by snowballs for our departure wasn’t exactly what I’d pictured. Weren’t you supposed to throw seeds or have sparklers or something?

Part of me wanted to stay and win this fight. But a much bigger part of me wanted to be alone with my wife.

Brooklyn and I ran hand in hand through the snow falling in Central Park.

Her laughter was the only thing I could hear in the snowy night. Walking in Central Park with her had always been one of my favorite things. But running with her through the snow in her wedding dress? Nothing was ever going to top this.

When we reached the hotel, she pulled me to a stop.

I put my hands on her hips as she put hers behind my neck. Her mittens were cold from the snow, but I barely felt it.

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