Forever - Chapter 41 #2
Soon Nigel was just standing by the photographer, helping organize everyone for photos.
And Tanner kept telling me how to pose.
“Tanner, this doesn’t feel right,” I said as I awkwardly arched my back. No one stood this way.
He grabbed the camera from the photographer, turned it around, and let me see the photo.
Oh my God. I’d never looked so good in a picture before. All the awkward angles actually looked so normal in the photographs. I looked up at him. “How do you know all this stuff?”
“I’m the founder of Odegaard, remember? I know my way around a fashion show. And certainly around the perfect photo.”
I shook my head. He had said that to me before. But it made no sense then and it made no sense now. Because Odegaard was older than he was. And he was a venture capitalist, not a photographer on a runway. “You mean you own Odegaard?”
“Isn’t that what I said?” He shrugged.
No, it wasn’t. “Tanner, please get in some of the pictures.”
He cleared his throat. “Um…I can’t.”
I just stared at him.
“It’s a billionaire thing. Matt wouldn’t understand.”
Matt laughed. “Dude. James and Penny are in the pictures.”
“Old wealth versus new wealth me thinks.”
Me thinks?
“They do have old wealth,” Matt said. “Ish.”
The Hunter family was very wealthy. But I knew James had made his own personal fortune as well.
“Ish,” Tanner said. “The ish is the difference.”
“Between paupers and princes,” Nigel said.
“That’s not what I said.” Tanner stared at him.
Nigel shrugged. “But it’s what you meant.”
“I wasn’t calling our friends paupers,” Tanner said.
“But you’re saying they’re all destitute.”
“No,” Tanner said firmly. “I didn’t mean that.”
“But you said…”
“Hush, child,” Tanner said. “Let’s help the photographer more.” He walked away before I could question him or pester him to be in the pictures again.
I couldn’t help but laugh. Why had Tanner called Nigel a child? Nigel was a grown man. Well, mostly. He did look awfully young actually. “How old is Nigel?” I asked Matt.
“I have no idea,” he said. “A little younger than Tanner?”
“Huh.” The more I looked at him, the more I thought he could pass for a teenager. He just had this young suave look about him.
Tanner kept giving us instructions, the photographer snapping away.
Soon my cheeks actually hurt from smiling so hard. And I started to shiver.
This time I didn’t protest when Matt took off his jacket and wrapped it around my shoulders.
“Do you think that’s enough pictures?” Matt asked me.
I knew he wanted this to be perfect for me. But honestly, all I wanted to do was kick off my heels and curl up in front of a warm fire with him. And there was a fireplace in the restaurant…
“I think that’s plenty.”
“Thank fuck,” Rob said. “I’m freezing.” He looped his arm through mine and pulled me away from Matt.
“What are you doing?” I asked. I tried to look at Matt over my shoulder, but Rob kept guiding me farther away.
“Escorting you inside. And taking a moment to congratulate you.”
“Well, thank you.”
“And Daphne said I need to apologize for last night. I didn’t know anything would be set on fire. So I am sorry it got a little dangerous. But the rest worked, right? You’ll always remember that prank and forget about the one from 16 years ago?”
I smiled up at him. “Yes, Rob. I’ll always remember last night instead.”
“Good. So I thought now might be a good time to talk about our next prank…”
“Rob,” I groaned.
“I like when you say my name like that.”
I slapped his arm.
“I like that too, Sanders.”
I gave him a hard stare. “Caldwell.”
“No fucking way. That’s what I call Matt or Mason when they’re being dicks. You’ll always be Sanders to me.”
I smiled. I actually loved that nickname.
“And don’t worry, I’m not planning another prank. Yet. That’s my wedding gift to you. No more pranks for…a year.”
“A year?”
“Yup. Scouts honor.”
“Were you even in boy scouts?”
Rob shrugged. “Never heard of it.”
I laughed. “You’re ridiculous.”
“Just wait until my speech.”
“You’re not giving a speech. Only Kennedy and Mason are.”
“Psh.” Rob dropped my arm and opened the doors to the restaurant for me.
“It’s like you don’t know me at all. Of course I’m giving a speech.
Matt’s my best friend. Just because I’m not his best man doesn’t mean I’m letting this day pass without making fun of him publicly. Besides, it’s going to be epic.”
Oh no. That’s exactly what he’d said about the pudding prank last night. “Why exactly is it going to be epic?” We walked over to the fireplace to warm our hands. Please don’t set anything on fire.
He smiled. “Because it’s going to make you blush.”
“Robert Hunter, stop flirting with me. I’m a married woman.” I waved my hand in his face, showing off my new ring.
“Eh. It’s never stopped me before. Flirting with off-limits women is kind of my thing. Specifically my friends’ spouses. Just ask Penny.”
I hadn’t heard Matt approaching, but he put his arm protectively around my shoulders.
“Is this strange man bothering you?” Matt asked.
I laughed.
“You’re married!” Rob yelled and jumped into Matt’s arms.
I laughed even harder as Matt almost fell over from the impact.
A flash made me turn my head. The photographer hadn’t captured the moment, but luckily Kennedy had.
“Congratulations,” she said and put her arm around me. She rested her head on my shoulder. “I’m so happy for you. Who ever thought that when we were having sleepovers in your old apartment that one day we’d be here?”
“I never could have predicted any of this.”
“Maybe we could have predicted it a bit,” Felix said as he walked up to us. “Congratulations, Newb.” He leaned down and hugged me.
“Thank you.” And he was right. I could have predicted it a little. I’d wanted Matt back then. And I’d always thought Felix was a good fit for Kennedy.
“Is everything good with your dad?” Kennedy asked as I pulled back from the hug.
I looked over at my father. He was talking to Mrs. Alcaraz. “Yeah. I think it really is.”
“You should get a picture of that,” Tanner said as he joined us.
“Hm?” I looked up at him.
“Richard and Kennedy’s mom.” He pointed back at them talking.
“Why?” Kennedy asked.
“Because I have a feeling they could be a perfect match.”
Kennedy scrunched up her nose. And then immediately said: “Sorry. I just…it’s your dad.”
I laughed. Trust me, I got it. Trusting him was going to be an adjustment for everyone. But as I saw Mrs. Alcaraz laugh, I wasn’t sure if Tanner was that far off. And he’d mentioned something about my dad and Kennedy’s mom before. I turned back to Tanner. “A perfect match, huh?” I asked.
“Almost as perfect as you and Matt.”
I looked over at my husband. My husband. I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to think that without smiling. James was giving him a big hug.
“But they met 16 years ago,” Tanner said with a sigh. “Why has everyone always met before I introduce them? I never get any credit.”
“Credit for what?”
“The match.”
“I promise I’ll give you credit if our parents get together.” I looked at Kennedy and she laughed.
But Tanner just sighed again. “If only.”
I didn’t get a chance to ask him what he meant because Justin hurried over to us. Without saying a word, he grabbed my hand, pulling me away from Kennedy and Tanner. And then he did the same with Matt, pulling him away from James and Rob.
Justin walked us into the middle of the restaurant where all the tables had been moved for a temporary dance floor.
“You two are very hard to corral.” He pushed me and Matt together. “I know you’ve rented out the restaurant for the whole night, but there’s still a schedule to keep. And it’s time for your first dance as husband and wife.”
“For the first time ever, may I present, Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Caldwell!” the D.J. said from behind me.
Our song came back on. The original version this time.
“Now dance, you two.” Justin slapped my butt before walking off the dance floor.
I laughed as Matt pulled me in close.
“I really hate the way everyone keeps inappropriately touching my wife.”
I just stared up at him with stars in my eyes. I’d never grow tired of hearing him call me his wife.
His fingers sunk into my hair. “I thought I’d go through my whole life thinking about what could have been.”
I ran my hand down the back of his neck. I thought about Matt all alone for a decade and a half, thinking about our time together as teenagers. In his head about all of it. “This is our fresh start. Our new beginning.”
“Hm. I like the sound of that.”
It felt like the world around us hushed. It was just the two of us. In our own little bubble.
I took a deep breath, the smell of cinnamon swirling around me. “You know…dancing with you will always remind me of you being super drunk at homecoming.”
He laughed. “I was hoping it would remind you of prom now. And me proposing.”
I smiled. “Nope, still thinking about drunk Matt.”
He twirled me around. “Well now you’ll think about our wedding whenever we dance.”
“It’s going to be really hard to top homecoming.”
“What about all our dancing in the kitchen?”
I smiled. I loved dancing with him in the kitchen. And I loved this moment too.
He spun me around again. “I know how to make it memorable.” He let go of me for a moment and shimmied his shoulders.
I laughed and he pulled me back in close. What I loved so much about dancing with him at homecoming was that he’d been so honest with me. I’d gotten to really see…him. But he was always honest with me now. And tonight was unforgettable. “Okay, fine. Maybe this beats dancing with you at homecoming.”
He leaned closer and his lips brushed against my ear. “This definitely beats homecoming. Because you’re finally, officially mine, Brooklyn Caldwell.”
“I’ve always been yours.” A piece of me. I knew it was true. And I was done feeling guilty about everything. I was ready to live in the moment.
He kissed the spot right behind my ear.
I swallowed hard. I didn’t think anyone had ever kissed me there before. And I felt so…loved.
He dipped me low as everyone clapped. When the last note of the song played, he pulled me back up to his chest. “I can’t wait to rip this dress off of you.”
I laughed. “I want to keep it though. In case our daughter wants to wear it one day.”
Matt’s eyes grew round and his gaze fell to my stomach.