Elias cocks an eyebrow. “What did you have in mind?”
“An immature sleepover with a load of overgrown frat boys?”
He laughs, shaking his head. “Sure, let’s do it.”
EPILOGUE
ELIAS
Ican’t describe how good it’s felt these past few days, showing Ben around my hometown. Telling him stories about my childhood. Talking about Mama and allowing the good memories to wash over me. Having him here has helped me focus on my good memories of her until they overtake my sadness over losing her.
Ben’s been walking around, repeating every German street name with a perpetual grin on his face. He pronounces everything like he’s talking about cute, little toys or something—how Swiss German people speak—so maybe that’s his boarding school days coming back. I have tried to tell him not to make his mouth too small when he speaks, trying to help fix his pronunciation, but he can’t help himself. After a while, I realize it actually fits with his adorable personality. My sister’s enjoyed listening to it, anyway. Though my family have annoyed me by finishing his sentences every time he tries to practice. I think they’reknocking his confidence, but he won’t let me tell them to stop.
He looks insanelygood in the new suit he bought especially for my brother’s wedding.
The rain has stayed off, thank god, and the sun shines through the window as he adjusts his tie in the mirror.
“Come here, let me do that for you.”
He turns and lets me straighten his tie.
“You’re not nervous, are you?” I ask, noticing the way he keeps biting his lip.
“Me? No. Why would I be nervous? I’m only going to a wedding with my boyfriend for the first time ever and meeting his entire extended family, and the family of his sister-in-law—who, by the way, is a supermodel!”
A soft laugh escapes me. “Everyone is going to adore you. Carina’s already obsessed.”
“My accent’s weird.”
“It’s cute. And everyone will be speaking English because Mercy’s grandparents don’t speak German, either.”
“They don’t?”
“No. We’re polite like that.”
“And your English is better than mine.”
“That’s not true.” I stroke his face and he leans into my touch.
“Is everyone gonna hate me because I’m American?”
“Don’t be silly. Just tell them who you voted for, it’ll be fine.”
He still looks nervous. “Elias?”
“Yeah?”
“I love you.”
I swallow through the lump in my throat. “I love you too, Ich liebe dich.”
“Mm,” he smiles. “So pretty.”
I shake my head and kiss his forehead. “Come on, weirdo. We’d better make a move.”
As expected, my extended family are delighted to meet Ben. He’s polite and well-spoken—in English and in his Swiss-accented German. My aunts and my grandmother can’t stop talking about how handsome he is. Ben’s blushing so hard I think he’s going to explode.
I help Ben find his seat on the front row of the outdoor venue before taking my place with the other groomsmen. There’s a flower-garlanded arch where the minister stands, smiling peacefully and holding her notes. Noah looks like he might pass out. I catch his eye and wink at him and he winks back, his expression softening a little.
