Page 76 of The Trouble with Runaway Brides

“Go,” my mom says, her voice strong. “We will handle it here. You go.” She puts her hand on my back and ushers me toward Brinley. “Get her out of here,” she tells Brinley.

“I love you guys. I’m so sorry.”

“No apologies necessary. Go.” My dad’s words are an order.

I kiss their cheeks and hug them as they usher me over to Brinley. She holds out her hand and I slide mine into hers.

“Let’s go get the love of your life. I swear, you are so stubborn.” A teary laugh escapes Brinley.

“Takes one to know one,” I say as we slide out the back door.

She pulls out her phone and texts someone as we make our way to Van’s truck. Van casually walks out of the resort a minute later with Easton by his side.

Easton’s eyes light up right away. “No shit?”

All I can do is nod.

“What changed?” he asks as the two men jog toward the truck.

“Unlock the doors, Van! It’s freezing out here!” Brinley shouts.

He uses his key fob and I quickly slide in the back seat.

Once we’re all inside, I realize I have nothing with me. Not my phone, not my purse. “I can’t call him. I don’t have my phone.”

“You don’t have to,” Brinley says.

“I do! I want to tell him I didn’t go through with it. I want him to know I’m getting on a plane and coming for him.”

“Not necessary,” she continues in a singsong voice.

“So, really, what changed now?” Easton asks.

“He sent her a shawl.” Brinley turns around to look at us in the back seat, wiping away tears.

“A shawl?” Easton says as though it’s absurd.

“You’re worthless when it comes to the art of romance, East,” Brinley says.

“I just… looking at my mom and her asking me if I loved Will, I couldn’t do it. I felt like a disappointment. When Jeanette brought the shawl, I realized it didn’t matter what I was trying to do. My heart was going to break if I didn’t have Lance in my life. And he’s worth the heartache. He’s so worth the heartache.”

“Yeah, he is,” Easton says.

“For sure,” Brinley says.

It’s then I realize we’re not headed to the highway. “Wait, where are we going?” I look around at the windy road and the woods surrounding us.

“To Lance,” Van says.

“But I have to go to the airport. He’s in New York City.”

Van pulls into a driveway in front of a cabin.

“What am I missing?” I ask.

“Just go to the door,” Brinley says.

“Why? I don’t understand.”

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