Page 132 of Mr. Almost

“I love you, Livvy baby. Now let me show you how much.”

I spend the rest of the afternoon showing her how much she means to me, knowing that she and Ari are my reason for living.

Life can’t get any better.

Epilogue

OLIVIA

One year later

It’s the happiest day of my life, besides the day my daughter was born. I never thought that we would be here. I imagined it but always chalked it up to a fantasy.

Here we are, though.

Max is standing next to me, looking handsome in his suit. I just watched my five-year-old daughter walk through the doors, tossing flowers around. I swear, each day she acts more and more like she is thirty. I wish she would stop growing. Then again, I can’t wait for her to grow. It’s so hard to come to terms with.

Any minute, those doors will open. The music will flow, and I will walk down to the love of my life.

“You nervous?” Max asks.

“Not even a little bit. I feel like this is a long time coming.” I smile at him. “Thanks for walking me down the aisle.”

“I am honored that you would ask me. You and Ari have been the blessing this family needed. Never doubt that.”

“You have been a pretty great brother-in-law. Thank you for always being here for us.”

The music changes then, and the doors open.

“Are you ready?”

“I’ve been ready.”

He puts my hand in the crook of his elbow. Then he leads me through the doors of the church.

I smile at all the guests. It’s not the big wedding everyone suspected we would have. I mean, the CEO of The Williamson Group renouncing his bachelor status and taking a wife had the town all abuzz. There are magazines that requested inside access to our event.

Instead, he kept everything hush-hush. The only people here are the ones we love.

It’s a small group, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Mason stands at the end of the aisle with tears sliding down his face as he watches me walk toward him. When we started planning our wedding, I told him he had better cry, and he told me he’s a man and doesn’t cry. To see him now only makes my heart beat harder for him.

This man is my everything. He is the future I never let myself hope for, but the one I always wanted.

Ari pulls his hand, drawing his attention. He smiles down at her before he picks her up and puts her on his hip. She rests her head on his shoulder.

When we finally get to the end, Max kisses my cheek before handing me off to Mason. Mason takes one of my hands while Ari takes the other.

The minister steps into place.

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the union of this woman and this man. They have asked me to forgo a traditional ceremony and requested that they be theones to speak today. So I am going to allow them to express their love.”

Mason clears his throat. “This is years in the making. I knew the night I met you that you were something special. Little did I know that you would be the one who changed my life forever. Life with you is a rollercoaster ride, but one that I want to ride over and over again. I’m committing myself to you today, but also to our family. I want to be with you for the rest of my life. I’m beyond blessed to have you as my wife.”

I pull my hand away from his to wipe my face, leaving the one with Ari.

“You are the best man I have ever met. You found out about our daughter, and you ran with it. You never doubted that she was yours. You just wanted to be here for it. Our lives are better with you in them. I know that spending the rest of my life with you is the best and easiest decision I’ve ever made. I love you more than you will ever know, and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life being your wife.”

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