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On cue, Jaz’s mother steps forward, reading from a card. “If everyone could please come together and hold hands, forming a circle around Jaz and Darcy as they stand beneath the wisteria branches.”

Collin extends his hand to me, his other in Danika’s. “We flipped for it,” Collin whispers, nodding toward Danika, who’s mock-sulking.

“Cheater,” she hisses at Collin. He gives me a wink.

I love them. I love everyone right now. I kiss the back of Jonathan’s hand. I have to get some of this love out of my body before I hug everyone in the circle. Jonathan tugs me closer, which has a chain effect, pulling Collin and Danika along too. Danika’s left hand is picked up by Darcy’s younger brother as we settle into our spots.

I rest my head on Jonathan’s shoulder.

The music stops, and the voices of two of my closest friends fill the speakers.

“I love you.”

“I love you.” They repeat after one another. My smile doesn’t feel like it can get any bigger, but it does.

“Darcy, you’ve had my heart since the day we met. But now you have all of me. Every breath. Tear. And smile. You know me completely. I don’t want to walk a day upon this earth without you by my side. I commit my heart to you, from this day until eternity.”

Darcy blinks back tears.

Mine drip from my lashes. Jonathan kisses the top of my head.

“Jaz. My dazzling, brilliant, Jaz. You are my strength when I can’t stand on my own. You are my laughter when no one else thinks I’m funny.” This gets everyone to chuckle. “You are the stars when I’ve lost my way. You will forever be my best friend, the love of my life, my otter misfit.” Darcy waves at our little group.

Collin raises our joined hands in solidarity.

“I commit my heart to you, even after it stops beating. You are my fairytale ending.”

They kiss. So sweet. So loving. I cry harder.

We’re suddenly tugged forward, our hands still connected, and embrace them within our circle of love.

Once they’ve hugged each of us, Jaz announces, “Now it’s time for some debauchery!”

“Celebrating,” her mother corrects.

Jonathan leads me over to the bar while Danika and Collin pick a table for us to sit at… on the ground. Which reminds me of last Thanksgiving and how much Darcy loved eating seated on our floor.

“Seeing you this happy watching your friends commit themselves only makes me more excited to marry you,” Jonathan says quietly as we wait our turn to be served. “I want to make you this happy.”

“First of all, they’re our friends. And you do make me this happy. Everyday. I’m a gushy mess over you. I can hardly wait to see you each day, and we live together.”

“Marry me next summer, after we graduate.” Jonathan’s eyes twinkle from the fairy lights. “August or September?”

“We’re setting a date right now?”

“Yes. I can’t wait any longer.”

This makes me laugh. “I’ll pick the month. You pick the day.”

“August,” I decide without giving it another moment of thought.

“The third weekend—whatever dates those are.”

“The entire weekend?” I laugh at his absurd answer. Jonathan’s nearly as giddy as I am. There’s something infectious about being surrounded by love. And Jonathan Reeves is not immune.

“We need the entire weekend. It’s going to be one hell of a celebration,” he announces, kissing my nose. “I need at least that long to declare to the world how much I love you.”

I smile so big, it hurts. “But I already know.”