“We are thankful for him,” I say before a parent hollers for the boys, and they run off into the crowd.
Luke and I turn to watch the parade, but I’m not able to pay attention to the floats driving by. All my focus is onhim.
I stand up on my tippy toes and confess in his ear, “Just so you know, I was a goner the moment you entered my life.”
“Well, it took us long enough to realize that!” he exclaims, wrapping his arms around my waist.
“I know, right? What’s wrong with us?”
“We knew the whole time,” a few people from behind us say together. My face heats with embarrassment as I turn to look at the crowd behind us, everyone smiling in our direction. I recognize most of them, if not by name then at least by face.
“Well, why didn’t you tell us?” I shout at them.
“Because you needed to figure things out for yourself,” Raine replies, snapping anotherphoto of us.
“Also,” Mrs. Whitmore calls out from behind the cider stand, “I had a bet going with Steven at the hardware store. Said you two would kiss before Christmas. Looks like I win.”
There’s a ripple of laughter as Felix adds, “About time! I nearly went blind watching you two pine like teenagers.”
“Wait, you all had a bet going?” I blink at the crowd.
Everyone around us shakes their head in unison. Luke’s chest shakes with laughter from behind me, his arms still looped around my waist like he’s not planning to let go.
“You guys are ridiculous,” I say, grinning so hard my cheeks hurt.
“But we were right,” someone sings out.
I guess they were. Somehow, this chaotic, nosy, absolutely charming town knew what we were before we did. I shake my head, turning until I can look up at Luke, whose eyes are softening as they land on mine. If there was one moment in my life that I could anchor my soul to, it’s the moment I fell in love with my best friend.
Snowflakes fall around us like quiet blessings, the whole world feeling hushed, like it’s holding its breath just for us. I squeeze his hand and smile through the tears building in my eyes.
“All that pretending…and somehow this became everything.”
Luke’s thumb brushes over my cheek, his eyes never leaving mine. “It always was. I was just waiting for you to see it too.”
Epilogue
Four Months Later
Olivia
There was a moment of peace just before a gust of wind swept over the Wiley farm and brought a downpour of rain with it. I pull back the lace curtains to peek out the living room window to see that the storm has finally slowed down, leaving behind a hazy, ethereal-type atmosphere. There is a fine mist cloaking everything in a soft veil that I normally would find beautiful…if it wasn’t ruining the big day.
My two best friends are about to get married, and everything is soaking wet.
We spent all day yesterday decorating the round arch that Ryland and Zane built together in a cluster of wildflowers. It’s sitting underneath the large oak tree in front of the farmhouse. We’ve set up two long rows of chairs that are currently drenched in rainwater. There are several townsfolk outside the house, clutching their umbrellas, working hard to try to dry off the seats and put everything back together that the wind hasblown away.
I’m panicking inside. I already reapplied my deodorant once before, but I’m going to have to do it again, along with my mascara, because when I called Luke earlier, who’s with the other groomsmen in Raine’s Papaw’s cabin, I started crying because I don’t know how to make sure our best friends have a perfect wedding day.
They deserve the best, and even though I can’t control the weather, it feels like I’m letting them down somehow.
Annabelle runs past me, stealing one of the cookies that’s on the coffee table, and twirls, acting as if nothing is falling apart right now. It must be nice to not have a worry in the world like a child. I start crying again as I watch my little niece, who looks so beautiful in her dress.
“Pull yourself together!” Wren snaps at me and reaches into her bra to hand me a tissue.
I quirk a brow. “Why did you stuff your bra?”
“For moments like this!” She waves her hand around, gesturing to me. “Where’s Raine? We need to make sure she’s calm and assure her that everything is going to be okay instead of literally blowing away.”
