Mrs. Jenkins had both hands pressed to her chest.
Doris was crying openly.
Betty was holding a bouquet of wildflowers. I’m sure she got them from Tessa’s flower shop.
Dad stood beside them.
Arms folded.
Trying very hard not to smile.
Wolf, Nora, Trigger, and Rylie leaned against the fence.
All of them looked far too pleased with themselves.
“You knew?” I whispered.
Beast looked over his shoulder.
“Everybody knew.”
Trigger grinned.
“Except you.”
I laughed through the tears already filling my eyes.
Then Beast took my hand.
The world got quiet.
Just like it had the first time I kissed him.
Just him and me.
“Sadie,” he said.
My breath caught.
“I spent too long thinking I didn’t deserve something good.”
His thumb brushed across my knuckles.
“Then you reminded me that good things aren’t something you wait for. They’re something you fight for.”
Tears slipped down my cheeks.
Beast looked at me like I was everything.
Like I was home.
“I want every morning with you,” he said. “Every fence. Every argument with your dad. Dinner with the Magnolia Ladies, trying to plan our lives.”
Mrs. Jenkins sniffled loudly.
Beast smiled a little.
Then looked back at me.
