“This is the prettiest bracelet I’ve ever seen,” Goldie says, admiring her wrist.
“I’m glad you like it.”
“Did you see Milo?” she asks.
“Not yet.”
“Would you check on him and make sure his parents feel welcome?”
“Of course.”
She blows out a breath. “Okay.” She nods again and smiles. “Okay. I’m getting married, Tulls.”
Her lip wobbles again, just as the girls come through the door.
“Oh no, you don’t. We’re not having any crying yet,” Erinsays, pointing at us. “I saw Sex on Stilts out there. He is looking groom-worthy, I tell you what. Are you ready to do this?”
“I am,” Goldie says, wiping her face. “I’m so ready.”
Goldie and Milo stand facing each other, staring at each other with dreamy expressions that I’d laugh at if I weren’t crying.
“We were intense before we ever began,” he says. “You were the most beautiful, most infuriating person I’d ever met, and I thought about you constantly…and never stopped.” He exhales a small laugh. “I promise to always be in your corner. To argue with you honestly and love you loudly. I didn’t see you coming, Goldie. But I don’t remember my life without you, and I don’t want to. I want to spend forever making you smile.”
Goldie blinks, and a tear drops. Then she lifts her chin like she’s steadying herself.
“You were so annoying,” she starts, and the whole room laughs. “You got under my skin before I even knew your name. And then one day I woke up, and the most terrifying thought I’d ever had was losing you.” She takes his hands tighter. “I promise to choose you. Not just today or on the easy days, but on the difficult ones too. You make me happy every day, and I will spend my whole life making sure you know how much you mean to me.”
My God, I didn’t cry like this at Camden’s wedding, but this one is getting to me. They’re pronounced husband and wife, and we break into applause.
After we take a million pictures in the chapel and in front of the fountain, Goldie throws her bouquet directly at Lola, who catches it on instinct. They both look at me, Goldie witha pointed expression and Lola more furtively, and I grin. I’m not scared of committing to Lola. I can’t wait to spend my life with her.
We eat a delicious meal, everyone laughing and talking at once. Then Dad and my grandmas hug Goldie and go up to one of the suites with all the kids.
Dylan appears between us with an arm around each of our shoulders. “Are we painting the town red?” he asks.
“Or white!” Goldie says, throwing her hand up in the air. “Just let me go change really quick.”
It’s not long before she’s back in a short white dress. She walks up to us and grins.
“All right, I’m ready—I want to go dancing!”
“What my wife wants, she gets,” Milo says, tugging her to him and kissing her hard.
My brothers and I groan, and they just laugh.
We go to TAO Nightclub, and Goldie leads Milo on the dance floor by his tie. We drink and dance and I kiss Lola and we drink and dance and kiss some more. All of us end up in the middle of the floor, dancing like it’s our job. It’s been a long, stressful year, and letting loose with my favorite people—I get overwhelmed. I’m so grateful to be here, now.
Even Noah dances, and he’s not terrible!
At some point, I see him talking to someone. Dark hair, bright smile, leaning in to say something close to his ear. I watch Noah laugh and thinkHuh, interesting, and then she turns slightly, and I catch a few words.
“It took forever to get through customs?—”
I nudge Lola and lift my eyebrows when Noah laughs again. Lola grins back—she’d already noticed.
Later, much later, we spill out onto the street, and Goldie tips her head back.
“It’s Christmas,” she yells.
