Page 82 of The Sweet Spot

And the month and year we came to Block Island all those years ago is engraved in the leather beneath it.

“Deacon...” My words die in my mouth, and I drop down on the bed next to him.

“It’s when our story started,” he tells me with his chin resting on my shoulder. “I thought maybe you’d want to fill it with all our adventures.”

“It’s the most perfect thing anyone has ever given me.” I bite down on my lip, completely overwhelmed.

“You’re the most perfect thing I’ve ever been given, Brynn,” he tells me, and I very carefully place the book on the nightstand. “What are you doing?”

I pull my nightgown back over my head. “It’s not like they can start the wedding without us.”

His smile is so damn sexy. “No, baby, it’s not. But it’ll be a funny chapter.”

“Maybe we don’t let anyone else ever read this book, okay?” I push back on his shoulders and run my fingers over his lips. “I love you.”

“Until the very end, Brynn.”

“Until the very end, Deacon.”

BRYNLEE

And they lived happily ever after . . .

—Brynlee’s Secret Thoughts

Iwatch my mother attach my veil through the reflection of the antique mirror in the bridal suite. She’s trying hard not to cry, but the woman the world likes to call an ice queen is struggling.

“Don’t cry, Mom. It’ll ruin your makeup.” I smile back at her as she sucks in a shaky breath.

“Look out. She’s gonna cry now,” my little sister teases, and oh boy, am I glad I’m not on the receiving end of the glare Mom just threw her way.

“Zip it, you,” Mom warns Livvy while Gracie and Everly laugh. “Can you three give us a minute?”

As the door closes behind them, I turn to face my mother. This woman I’ve wanted to emulate my whole life. And I’m suddenly tongue-tied, trying to tell her how I feel.

“Mom . . .”

“Shh... I know,” she whispers as she fluffs my dress out around me and dabs the corners of her own eye with a tissue. “You, my darling girl, are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my life, and I’m so incredibly proud of the woman you’ve become.” She gently moves my hair behind my shoulders, then adjusts my veil once more before she smiles. “I’d like to think I had a little something to do with that. Thank you for letting me be your mother.” Her voice catches, and she purses her lips as she tries to hold back her tears. “I love you.”

My lips tremble, and my eyes fill as I wave my hand in front of my face, trying to stop my tears from falling.

If they start now, they won’t stop.

“Now you’re going to make me cry. Stop,” I plead lovingly before stepping into her arms and holding her as if my life depended on it, like I used to do when I was a little girl. “There was never a better mother than you,” I manage to get out before someone knocks on the door.

“It’s time, Brynn,” my dad calls out. “Can I come in?”

I look back at my mom, suddenly nervous. “Do I look okay?”

She nods with a trembling smile. “You look beautiful, baby,” she manages to get out before opening the door for my dad and whispering something to him before he walks in, as handsome as ever in his tux.

“Brynlee,” he whispers reverently. “You’ve never looked more beautiful.”

“Thank you, Daddy.”

He takes my hands in his and swallows. “I love all my children equally. But you and me, kid. We’re special in a way they can’t understand. Not your mom or your brother and sister. It was just you and me for a long time. You taught me what unconditional love is. You helped shape the man I am. And now you get to do that for Deacon too.”

I look up at the ceiling, trying desperately to get my emotions in check.

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