“Yes.”
“Yes?”
She presses her forehead to mine, whispering against my mouth. “It’s you and me.”
I kiss her with every ounce of love I’ll ever have to give. “You and me.”
“You know I love the beach, but right now, I just want to go home with you.”
Home.
She’s talking about my house,ourhouse that we’ll share.
But I’m already home.
It was never a place. Never four walls and a roof like I always thought.
It’s sitting right beside me.
My lucky penny.
EPILOGUE
Aspen
Two Months Later
If it were up to Reid, we would’ve gotten married the day after he asked. And while I’ve never been one to sit around and dream about my wedding one day, I still wanted to put together a small celebration.
So a couple of months was our compromise, and now I stand at the start of the short aisle on a small alcove of the beach, ready to marry my best friend.
Slow waves roll over the shoreline. Carter’s dad built us a wooden arch, which she then draped in billowing pieces of white cloth, that flow in the sea breeze.
Since we’re keeping it intimate, we decided against bridal parties. Instead, as I begin my descent down the aisle, bouquet of roses in hand, just Reid stands waiting for me at the altar. Our families line either side of my walk, allbrimming with joy that pales in comparison to my own as I look ahead into those stormy blue eyes.
Sand tickles my toes with each step since I opted to go barefoot. My light, flowy dress skims the tops of my feet. It’s a cooler day, but the sun beams down, like it’s shining just for us today.
Marley helped braid part of my hair back, so only a few loose strands blow in the wind across my face, while the rest cascades down my back in loose waves. She winks at me as I pass her. Sara clutches her hand, beaming at me.
I mouth,I love you,to the two of them.
Turning my attention back to Reid, I close the few final steps between us. He’s dressed in navy-blue dress pants and a white button-up shirt. The top few buttons are popped open, giving a teasing view of the ink below, with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows.
He looks devastatingly handsome as the breeze ruffles his hair in that perfect, messy way of his. His eyes shine with unshed tears as he drinks me in, and I can feel every trail of his eyes like a physical caress.
He reaches a steady hand out, enveloping mine to pull me in front of the altar. I quickly hand off my flowers to Sara, so I can join both hands with his.
“You’re breathtaking,” Reid murmurs. “Absolutely fucking breathtaking.” The awe in his tone makes my toes curl and my heart race.
“You clean up nicely yourself.” I wink.
He smirks and squeezes my hands.
Arun walks behind us, leather-bound notebook in hand. He pats Reid on the back as he takes his place facing the small crowd gathered.
He clears his throat, bald head shining under the sun. “Thank you all for coming here today on behalf of these twopeople right here.” His brown eyes flick between Reid and myself, warm with gratitude for the honor we asked him to do today. When we were trying to figure out who could officiate the ceremony, I didn’t have anyone in mind.
But Reid immediately pitched Arun, and after he and I met for the first time, I instantly loved him. He has a fatherly nature toward Reid that’s apparent in the way he not only speaks to him, but about him to others.
