Page 160 of Never Forever

There was a ripple of gasps of laughter.

“Matt Sullivan is an idiot,” she said, firmly. “But he is the best man I have ever known.”

Cecelia sobbed behind me.

“He is far, far from disappointing. I am lucky that he loves me and I swear, I swear…” Her voice broke. “I don’t know what I did to deserve him, but I will do everything in my power to love that man as well as he has loved me.”

I stepped up to the edge of the stage and she, with all the faith in the world, leapt into my arms.

“You’re an idiot,” she said.

“I know.”

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there to help you. I’m sorry-”

“Stop. Please. Stop. Don’t cry. I can’t handle you crying.”

She leaned back, so beautiful with her swollen eyes and running nose. I kissed her. Kissed her again. People whooped and I didn’t care. My quiet boring life was torn apart and I loved it.

“You can’t… keep secrets like that,” she said. “Not from me. Never again.”

“I won’t,” I promised. “It nearly killed me letting you go.”

She stroked my face.

“Hey,” Weidman barked. “Anyone mind if we go back to the planned horror musical instead of the rom com currently playing here?”

“Sorry.” Carrie said.

“Wait,” she stopped me. “We said no more secrets.” She pulled the microphone back up to her mouth. “Matt knocked me up and we’re having twins!”

I howled. In the shadows, Dad and Cecelia nearly fell over.

Carrie handed Weidman the microphone and we got away from the stage. At that point it might have been too late to save the play. The crowd was up on their feet, applauding and hollering… for us I guess.

It was a legit happy ending.

As soon as we cleared the audience, I set her down on her feet and cupped her face in my hands.

“Marry me. Please.”

“Okay,” she said, like it was just so easy.

I pressed my head to her forehead. “Love me. Please.”

“I always have,” she smiled up at me. “I never stopped.”

“Don’t ever leave me again.”

“Not even if you tell me to go. You’re stuck with me for life.”

Yeah, I thought. With her. For life.

That was the real happy ending.

EPILOGUE

Carrie

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