Page 93 of Forever

“If you’re about to ask me why you don’t get to try any entrees, save your breath. There’s no time. You’ll have steak and crabcakes.”

“That sounds great…”

“Don’t you darebutme right now. There’s no time for buts!”

“I wasn’t going to. That truly sounds great. I just wanted to ask…”

“No, you can’t choose the wine list, Brooklyn. You’re pregnant.”

I wouldn’t know how to choose a wine list even if I wasn’t pregnant. “Justin…”

“Save your breath, you’re choosing cake #7.” He pointed to a beautiful cake with yellow icing. I smiled. My mother would have loved it. I felt an ache in my chest. I’d do anything for her to be here with me right now.

“Justin, she’s trying to ask you an important question,” Matt said. He put his arm around my shoulders.

“She doesn’t get to ask any questions until she answers all of mine.” He held up a stack of papers. “Like, who’s walking you down the aisle?”

I swallowed hard. I really didn’t want to talk about that.

Matt cleared his throat. “Justin. Just hear her out. It’s one question.”

“I don’t have time for questions!” Justin downed the rest of his cup of coffee. “I need more caffeine!” He snapped his fingers and a waiter with coffee appeared.

I really didn’t think he needed more caffeine right now.

“You’re going to want to make time for this question,” Matt said calmly. He nodded at me when Justin had finally quieted down with his new coffee mug in hand.

At least if he was drinking he wouldn’t be able to interrupt me. “Justin, I know you’re going to be busy the day of the wedding, so I’m not sure how it’ll work exactly, but I’d love for you to be in the bridal party.”

Justin spat his coffee out all over the table. “Excuse me?”

“Jesus, Justin,” Mason said and wiped some coffee spittle off his tie.

Kennedy laughed.

I couldn’t help but laugh too. “Justin, I was hoping you could be a bridesmaid. Or bridesperson?”

“Shut the hell up!” Justin yelled.

Was he upset? Or excited? I felt like I was wording it wrong. “Or…bridesman?”

“Brooklyn.” He put his hand to his chest. “You beautiful last-minute goddess. I would love nothing more. And I will look amazing in a yellow tux.”

“You really will.”

He screamed at the top of his lungs and threw his arms out, accidentally knocking over the yellow cake. “Oops. But this one really is divine, just trust me.” He licked a little icing off his fingers.

“I do,” I said.

“Save that for your gorgeous hunk of a husband,” Justin said and winked at Matt. He sighed “To think, the two of us almost kissed.”

Kennedy laughed. “Wait, the two of you almost kissed on your date?”

“No,” Matt said.

At the same time, Justin said, “yes.”

Matt laughed. “Definitely not.”

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