Forever - Chapter 39 #2
Justin whistled. “It’s starting!” he shrieked at the top of his lungs. He downed the entire contents of a mug of coffee and slammed it on a table. I was surprised the mug didn’t shatter.
He’d had way too much caffeine. But he had pulled everything off. I knew he’d be able to do it. I’d always known he was the best.
I squeezed Jacob’s shoulder and stood back up.
Justin opened the door. All the groomsmen had assembled right outside to escort the bridesmaids down the aisle. Kennedy walked out first and Mason looped his arm through hers. The door closed for a moment before Bee stepped out to walk with Rob.
I pulled the curtain a bit to the side to watch.
The bridge, altar, and path up to it were beautiful.
Everything was decorated similarly to Tanner’s apartment last night.
White pumpkins, gold fall leaves, garland, and twinkle lights.
Matt was standing at the altar, fidgeting with his cufflinks.
He looked so nervous, but so sure at the same time. I let the curtain fall back into place.
James grabbed Penny’s hand as she walked out the door. But before it closed, Tanner stepped in.
“Just wanted to make sure everything was good…” his voice trailed off when he saw me. “Wow. Brooklyn.”
I smiled. “Everything is good.”
“You look exquisite.”
“Thank you, Tanner. Thank you for…everything.” I’d seen the decorations outside. They matched the ones in his apartment. And I knew he’d helped Justin pull all this off.
Tanner nodded and turned to my dad. “Thank you for coming, Richard. It means the world to me and my friends.”
“I wouldn’t have missed it. But thank you for alerting me so…obsessively.”
Tanner laughed. “I couldn’t let you miss it.” He clapped my dad on the back.
“It’s your turn, you big hunk of man meat,” Justin said.
Tanner grabbed Daphne’s hand. Everyone else that wasn’t in a couple had done the signature arm loop. I was pretty sure Tanner did it just to piss Rob off. Tanner escorted Daphne outside.
“Okay that’s our cue,” Justin said to Nigel and put his hand out for Nigel.
Nigel sighed. “No holding hands. We’ll just walk adjacent. And doesn’t that big stranger need to get outside?” He pointed to Donnelley who was just standing there with his arms folded across his chest.
Justin’s eyes grew round. “You! Get that gorgeous ass outside immediately. You’re ruining everything.” He slapped Donnelley’s butt.
Donnelley laughed.
And I couldn’t help but smile. I wondered if this was the first time they’d talked. It wasn’t a bad re-introduction after 16 years.
Donnelley looked at my father.
“It’s okay,” Mr. Pruitt said. “Go on out.” He nodded towards the door.
Donnelley winked at Justin and then walked out the doors.
As soon as the doors closed Justin squealed and spun toward me.
“Did you see that?! He winked at me! What does it mean?! Does he remember me?” He started fanning himself.
“I think he remembers. We did so much stuff in the closet. Not the figurative closet, I was way out, even though he was way in. The actual literal closet. We used to hook up in closets is what I’m trying to say… ”
“I think he remembers,” I said.
Justin shrieked again. “He is the hottest man I’ve ever been with. Should I go talk to him? I think I should go talk to him…”
“Justin?”
“Yes?”
“I think it’s your turn to walk down the aisle.”
“Oh my God. You’re right. It’s such a tease move. He won’t be able to keep his eyes off me.” He spun toward Nigel. “Please, Nigel. Hold my hand. I want Donnelley as jealous as possible.” He put his hand out for Nigel.
Nigel sighed. “Put your arm though mine. Final offer.”
“Deal.” Justin slid his arm through Nigel’s and Nigel escorted him to the doors.
“And Brooklyn?” Justin said over his shoulder.
“In exactly 30 seconds, the music will change. Send the ring bearer and flower girls out at 35. And you start walking 30 seconds after that. Or really just whenever they make it to the altar. So that all eyes are on you instead of on the adorable kids.” He patted Jacob’s head. “Okay?”
I nodded and then the door closed. I started counting but then my father pushed up his sleeve to look at his watch.
My father had this covered, so I pushed the curtains aside again.
Everyone seemed to be laughing at Nigel and Justin walking down the aisle.
But I saw Donnelley staring. I smiled and looked back at Matt. He was laughing too.
I couldn’t help but smile.
“That’s 30 seconds,” my dad said. “Jacob, you and the girls are almost up.”
“Come on, Scarlett, come on, Sophie.” Jacob waved them over to the door.
The girls looked so cute in their frilly little dresses. They each had a basket filled with yellow rose petals.
And even though they’d practiced walking separately, Jacob put his arms out like he’d seen the other men do. Each girl linked an arm with Jacob. He looked like such a little stud between them.
“And 35,” my dad said and opened the door. “You’re on.”
Jacob escorted them both out the door. I could hear all the “aws” before the doors closed.
In 30 seconds I’d be walking down the aisle to Matt.
It was weird. I thought I’d be nervous. But I’d never been more sure of anything in my life.
I was about to marry Matthew Caldwell. I was going to be Brooklyn Caldwell.
I’d remembered doodling that in my notebooks back at Empire High.
I felt tears welling in my eyes. In a thousand years, I never thought today would come.
But here we were. Together after everything in the world had tried to keep us apart.
It felt like fate. Twisted and cruel fate, but fate nonetheless.
My dad peeked out the door. “They’re just about there.” He glanced at his watch. “Perfect timing too.” He put his arm out for me. “It’s time.”
I wasn’t sure how I was going to hold it together. I was already blinking fast to keep my tears at bay. But putting my arm through my dad’s calmed me down.
He opened the door and we stepped out.
I heard a few gasps. I wasn’t sure if it was because of my dress or because of my dad’s presence.
I was too focused on the song that was playing.
I recognized it right away. It was an instrumental string version of My Dirty Little Secret.
Yeah, I was definitely not going to get through this without crying.
Matt and I had been so busy, we didn’t have much time to think about music.
But Tanner had mentioned something about handling it.
He’d done this. Honestly, I wasn’t even sure a string version had existed before. He really could make anything happen.
The chairs were full of people, but I didn’t truly see any of them. My eyes were focused on Matt. He rubbed the tip of his nose with his index finger.
Our signal. I was smiling so hard it hurt.
Walking up to him right now, I couldn’t believe I’d stayed away for 16 years. I couldn’t believe all the pain I’d caused him. I’d spend the rest of my life making it up to him.
When I got closer, I realized there were tears in Matt’s eyes.
God, he was going to make me cry.
But I loved the way he was staring at me. Not like he was picturing me 16 years ago. But like he loved me right now. In this moment.
My dad and I stopped right in front of the altar. “Congratulations, angel.” He leaned down and hugged me.
Matt put his hand out for him.
My dad shook it. “Take care of my girl.”
“Always,” Matt said and then put his hand out for me.
I slid my hand into his and joined him in front of the altar. He cradled both my hands in his as he stared down at me.
“You look so beautiful,” he said.
“Matt, stop,” I whispered. “You’re going to make me cry.”
He blinked fast and cleared his throat. “I’m going to be promising the world to you, but I can’t promise not to cry.”
I laughed and squeezed his hands.
“Are the two of you ready?” the pastor whispered with a kind smile.
We both nodded. I’d only met him just a few weeks ago. But he’d married Matt’s parents. I couldn’t think of anyone better for this occasion.
“We’re gathered here today to witness the sacred union of Matthew and Brooklyn.” He kept going, but I barely registered his words.
I just kept staring at the man in front of me. I’d fallen in love with a boy. We’d both grown and changed so much. But we’d still found our way back to each other. And Matthew Caldwell was all man now.
“You’re shaking,” Matt whispered and inched a little closer to me.
“I’m just cold.”
He tried to release my hands so he could give me his jacket.
I held his hands tight. “Nope. We did not spend a fortune altering this dress just for me to cover it up.”
“But…”
“Don’t even think about it.”
He smiled.
The pastor cleared his throat.
We both turned to him.
“You have agreed to read your own vows, right?” he asked.
The crowd chuckled.
I was pretty sure this wasn’t the first time he’d asked us.
“Yes,” Matt said. He let go of my hands and grabbed a piece of paper from his jacket pocket. He slowly unfolded it and looked at me.
And I already knew he was going to make me cry.