“What?”I yell. “Are you saying what—oh my goodness! When? How long?”
The guys grab the book and we all start yelling at once.
“Congratulations, man.” I hug him hard.
“Thank you. I know it's not the typical Playbook entry, but it felt fitting today to say it. When you and Elle start your family, it's just gonna complete everything you've already built together. Levi will be amazing with a baby brother or sister, and you'll have the experience you missed out on before. My situation is a little different because what I had wasn’t bad with Bree,” he says, “but this pregnancy is so much more, because Tru and I aremeant to be together. I can't wait to see you become a dad again.”
“Let's get him married first,” Bowie says. “Then they can work on that.”
Laughter fills the room and I don’t think I can take much more happiness than this.
But then I see Elle walking toward me on the beach. Her hair is down and her white dress is beautiful, but it’s her face that enraptures me. Her smile is radiant. I’m not ashamed to say that I ugly cry.
Her dad officiates the ceremony and I honestly don’t even comprehend what he’s saying becauseElle is standing in front of me. She’s looking at me with so much love, so much trust, and I see all the versions of her I’ve loved throughout our life together. The girl in college with baggy clothes who would drop anything to hang out with me. The first time I saw what she’d been hiding under all those baggy things. The tears over hurts and stresses and when we’d see each other after a long time had passed. The excitement that lit her eyes every single time I walked into a room. The devastation when I told her I’d gotten another woman pregnant. The first time I kissed her, made love to her…all of it whirls at me and I grip her hand tightly, wanting to remember all of it, but to be right here, feeling this moment now most of all.
When Doug turns to me to say my vows, I can only hope that I’ll be able to speak without losing it.
“Elle.”We smile at each other. “When you entrusted me with your friendship so many years ago, you gave me the greatest gift I’ve ever known. It was so great that I did whatever I could to protect it, sometimes failing miserably, and often at the cost of experiencing what we’ve found here today. Your friendship will always be what carries me, whatfills me with joy, but it’s your love that sustains me and fills the void that was always missing. It feels like we’ve already lived a couple of lifetimes in this relationship, but I’m most excited for this next one we’re starting together. I promise to love you, honor you, and cherish you through every single step of us. I promise to make you happy, do whatever it takes to make it right when you’re not, and to always keep you fed.”
She laughs through her tears at that last one.
“You’re forever for me. I’ve waited a long time to say that you’re mine and I’m going to be grateful until the day that I die that I can say it now. And I’m yours. Always have been. Always will be.”
She dabs her face with a pretty handkerchief and clears her throat. Her voice is shaky when she starts.
“Rhodes, it was always you.” She gives me a wobbly smile. “I have always been in love with your smiling eyes, your generous heart, the way you can make me laugh so hard, and how everyone is comfortable around you. Don’t get me started on the dimples...”
Everyone laughs and her smile brightens as her eyes never leave mine.
“We said we werejust friendsa lot, but it’s never fully been true because the wordjustwill always be too limiting when it comes to you. You are larger than life, unfairly beautiful,” she pauses when everyone laughs again, “and have the biggest heart I know. And you have always, always loved me so well. I will love you with everything in me for as long as I live. I will honor who you are with pride, and I will cherish this life we have been given. I promise to never keep another secret from you again, I’ll always put you and Levi first, and I will be present so I don’t miss a single moment. I’m yours, forever. Always have been. Always will be.”
I wipe the tears from my face and bring her hand to my lips to kiss her fingers.
“I love you,” I whisper.
“I loveyou.”
“Do you have rings to seal these vows?” her dad asks.
I grin and look back toward the house. Bogey’s there, sitting like a good boy. I had one of my cousins watching to make sure he stayed in place. We put a wooden runner down the beach so Elle’s dress wouldn’t get dirty walking down the aisle, and when I whistle, Bogey displays the trick we’ve been diligently working on. He hops up on a skateboard and that short little leg bobs out to get him started. He rolls toward us to the delight of everyone, especially Levi and Elle, and stops when he reaches me. I bend down and take the ring that’s tied around his bowtie and give him a treat from my pocket.
“Good boy,” I tell him. “You are a fine specimen and an exemplary ring bearer, dear sir.”
Elle leans down to pet him, still laughing. “And the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.”
I turn the skateboard around and he skates back to where he started.
“Amazing,” Elle says, cracking up again.
She beams up at me and I hold onto my heart because she steals it every time with that smile.
We exchange rings and when we’re pronounced husband and wife, I don’t wait for her dad to tell me I can kiss her. I tilt her back and kiss her as if I’ve got all the time in the world to do it.
Because I do.
EPILOGUE
MILESTONES
