Chapter Fifteen
TWO WEEKS LATER
I’m surrounded by kids,balloons, and loud parade music. The parade floats travel slowly down Main Street, separated by costumed dancers grooving to the beat.
The Cinderella float comes by next, and a pang fills my chest. Brooke would have loved this one.
But she’s not here.
And I’m alone.
Cinderella is about to pass in front of me, smiling and waving at all the kids. I’m always impressed with how well they keep up their acting for what feels like forever.
“Did I miss it?!”
I turn and see Brooke, returning from her trip to the bathroom. A wide smile fills my face. “Just in time!”
Brooke squeals in delight, then bounces up and down and waves at Cinderella. The princess seems to smile right back at her and waves, too.
I shake my head. “Everyone loves you.”
“But I love you,” she says, rising on her tiptoes, wearing the shoes I gave her, and giving me a kiss on the cheek.
“And that’s all I care about.” I wrap my arm around her waist and pull her in close.
We watch the rest of the parade, something we hadn’t done the first time we came, then make our way to the Dole pineapple whip stand outside of the Tiki Room.
“I didn’t tell you yet,” Brooke says, taking my hand as we walk, “but I called my parents yesterday.”
I raise my eyebrows. “And how did that go?”
She shrugs. “Just as I expected. They think I’m making a terrible decision, but they said that I’m an adult and need to face the consequences on my own. I said fine, as long as they don’t interfere again like they did with Landon.”
“Whoa. Feisty Brooke.” I pull her in close and squeeze her waist. “I like it.”
She blushes. “Thanks.”
“How do you feel?”
She thinks for a moment. “Free. A little scared. But most importantly,” she kisses my cheek, “happy.”
I beam down at her, filled with gratitude at having my girl with me in this moment. I can’t believe the circumstances that led us back to each other, but who am I to question the roller coaster we are on? We’re together now, and that’s all that matters.
“And I intend to keep it that way,” I say. “Now, what would make you happy right now?”
“Hmm.” She grabs my belt loops, pulling me right up against her, and kisses me. “That makes me happy.”
“Then let’s keep doing that forever,” I say. Because no matter where the roller coaster of life takes us, I know the one thing that will make me happy is having Brooke by my side.
Forever.