Everyone laughs, including Claire, who shakes her head at him.
“But then,” Levi continues, “you came to work with me. You so brilliantly helped me with my business, because I clearly didn’t know what I was doing, and along the way, I got to know you. I realized that maybe there was a reason for your trust issues. Maybe you’d been disappointed too many times by other people in your life.”
I can see Claire’s eyes starting to well up.
“So I made it my mission to prove that I would always be there for you. Every éclair, every croissant, every single gluten-free treat I’ve made you has been my way of saying, ‘I see you, I understand you, and I will never let you down.’ You’re careful with your heart because it’s precious, and I promise to treat it like the treasure it is. I love your lists, your spreadsheets, your need to have everything planned down to the minute. I love that you make me want to be better, more organized, more worthy of the incredible woman who somehow decided I was worth taking a chance on.”
He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small box. “I know we already exchanged rings, but I couldn’t resist one more surprise.”
Claire’s eyes go wide as he opens the box to reveal what looks like a tiny éclair, except it’s clearly made of gold and diamonds.
“It’s an éclair pin,” Levi explains, and now he’s getting choked up. “Because you’re my sweet Claire, and I want you to carry a piece of my love with you everywhere you go.”
My throat tightens, and I have to blink so I don’t start crying. Even Tobias is wiping at his face.
Claire takes a shaky breath before starting her vows. “Levi, six months ago, if someone had told me I’d be standing in a Vegas chapel, marrying a man who proposed with pastry, I would have suggested they seek professional help.”
More laughter.
“I had my life planned out in five-year increments. Color-coded calendars, detailed budgets, contingency plans for my contingency plans. There was no room in my carefully organized world for a charming baker who thinks ‘spontaneous’ is a food group.”
Levi laughs, and she smiles at him with so much tenderness it makes my chest ache.
“But then you walked into my life with your terrible jokes and your incredible pastries, and you turned everything upside down in the most beautiful way possible. You taught me that the best things in life can’t be planned. They have to be felt. You showed me that love isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about being willing to figure them out together.”
She pauses, her voice getting stronger. “You saw past my walls and my rules and my need to control everything, and somehow, you made me feel safe enough to let go. You make me laugh when I want to cry, you hold me when the world gets too overwhelming, and you’ve never once made me feel like I need to be anyone other than exactly who I am.”
She reaches up and touches the éclair pin he just gave her. “So yes, I’ll be your sweet girl, but only if you promise to keep being my steady, wonderful, slightly ridiculous man who shows love through gluten-free pastries and terrible puns.”
“Deal,” Levi whispers, and they’re both crying now.
The officiant pronounces them husband and wife, and when they kiss, the whole chapel erupts in cheers and applause. I find myself clapping along, genuinely happy for them despite the hollow ache in my chest.
As everyone starts filing out for the reception, I catch sight of Cricket wiping tears from her cheeks. River leans down and says something to her, probably asking if she’s okay, and she nods and smiles up at him with such trust and affection that I have to look away.
This is what I’ll never have. This certainty, this perfect fit, this sense of finding your person and knowing without a doubt that they’re yours and you’re theirs. I had my chance with Cricket, and I was too blind, too scared, too stupid to see what was right in front of me.
Now she’s found someone who sees her the way Levi sees Claire, the way Tobias sees Kiki, the way Noah sees Savannah. Someone who makes her laugh and holds her when she cries and doesn’t take her incredible, generous heart for granted.
I should be happy for her. Iamhappy for her. But I’m also devastated because I know I’ll spend the rest of my life wondering what could have been if I’d just opened my eyes a little sooner.
As we head to the reception, Cricket falls into step beside me, River having been pulled aside by Skyler, who wanted to show him something.
“That was beautiful,” she says, still a little teary. “Levi’s vows were perfect.”
“Yeah,” I manage. “They’re good together.”
She looks at me sideways. “You okay? You seem quiet.”
For a second, I think about telling her everything. About how I realized too late that I love her, about how watching her with River is like slowly bleeding out, about how I would give anything to go back and do it all differently.
But then River appears at her other side, sliding his hand into hers with an ease that speaks of growing familiarity, and Cricket’s face brightens like he’s the sun.
“I’m fine,” I lie.
She squeezes my arm with her free hand, the same comforting gesture she’s made a thousand times before, but now it feels like a goodbye.
“Come on,” she says. “Let’s go celebrate your brother finding his happily ever after.”
