I shiver, and it’s not from the cold.
“What’s the surprise?”
He opens his mouth?—
“Use the umbrella, dumbass!”
I jerk at Jace’s voice, see him get swatted by Marie, who’s wearing a gorgeous emerald dress that’s the same color as her eyes.
“He’s not wrong,” Brooks murmurs, opening an umbrella I didn’t even realize he was holding. “But as usual, I forget myself when I’m with you.” He settles it over us, but I just pluck it from his hand and toss it to the side.
“I love the rain, Jace!” I shout as I turn toward him, sticking out my tongue. “So there!”
All of Brooks’s friends—no,myfriends now, too—start laughing.
I fight my smile as I plunk my hands on my hips and turn back to Brooks, tapping my toe. “Now what is this surprise of yours?”
He grins.
Then takes my hand and draws me into the trees. “I was going to wait until we were officially married, but”—a shrug—“I don’t want to.”
“Where are you going?” Rory shouts. Chrissy shushes her, but she just says, “What? They’re supposed to be getting married!”
I grin and…just go with it.
Because once upon a time, I lost everything I wanted.
Because once upon a time, I never thought I’d get it back.
But I have.
And it’s better than anything I’ve ever dreamed of.
So, I just tighten my fingers around Brooks’s and let him lead me down a narrow, winding trail. Though, I am glad I opted for sneakers glittered with rhinestones instead of heels this time around.
We turn the corner and?—
“Oh,” I breathe.
He’s led me into another clearing. Small and encircled by huge pines, grass and wildflowers covering the ground everywhere…
Except where the trail leads.
It takes a lazy path toward a small wooden structure that had once been an old hunting cabin…
“Brooks,” I whisper, my eyes burning.
That decrepit structure where I once spent the worst week of my life is gone. And in its place is something truly wonderful.
God, I love this man.
The cabin is more like a tiny house now, with glass doors and a chimney coming out of the roof, its walls covered with colorful climbing plants. But that’s not the best part.
A huge copper tub sits just outside the back door.
“There’s an awning that folds out so you can use it even in bad weather,” he says as we draw close, pulling it out and showing me?—
I gasp.
