Page 66 of Faking It with my Billionaire Grump

“I love you, and I’m in love with you,” I say. “You were always the guy for me. I just needed to make a mess of my life to figure that out.”

Pushing himself up, he leans across the table and presses his lips against mine. Yesterday, my soul was grieving. Now, it’s singing from the rooftops. Just like before, everything in my body comes alive, and this serene feeling washes over me.

Things are going to be okay now. I couldn’t have imagined a more perfect ending to our drama, but now, as I kiss him tenderly back, I realize it’s not an ending at all. It’s a whole new beginning.

When he finally pulls away and sits down again, he smiles and says, “So, are you going to marry me, or what?”

“Well, with such a well-thought-out and romantic proposal, how’s a girl supposed to refuse?”

26

Epilogue

Jake

Six months later…

These last months have flown by, but the day has finally arrived for me and Tilly to make it all official. Today is our wedding day. I won’t lie and say I’m holding it all together. I’m actually pretty nervous. But excitedly nervous. I suppose I just can’t wait to make the woman I’ve loved since high school my wife.

My proper wife. Not a fake one this time.

A lot of time, money, and effort has gone into this day, but as I stand on the porch with my coffee in hand, gazing at the giant marquee, the beautifully decorated area, and the white chairs dressed in beautiful flowers, it’s all been worth it. It’s perfect.

“Well, brother,” Joey slaps me on the back, nearly making me spill coffee all over my suit. “Today’s the day.”

I look over at Joey. “And you’re going to stay sober, at least until the ceremony is over, right?” I smirk.

“Scouts honor,” he says with a salute.

“You were never in the Scouts,” I return.

“I know.” He grins widely back at me.

A few minutes later, Cal walks out of the house, followed by Phil and Chris. A few months back, I had a pretty tough choice to make. One of them had to be my best man, and I had to choose between the two of them. The decision was impossible. They’re both my closest friends from high school, and they’ve both been there for me whenever I’ve needed them.

How on Earth was I supposed to make the decision? How could I possibly choose one over the other?

In the end, it was Tilly who came up with the solution.

“Why don’t you have two best men?”

I frowned at her and shook my head. “You can’t do that.”

“Says who?” she came back. “We live in the 21stcentury, you know. Do what you want. Honestly, if you saw some of the things they do in New York, it would make your hair curl.”

At first, I still wasn’t certain, but after lots of back and forth and a conversation with Cal, who assured me I would not be completely nuts if I chose to do it, I eventually gave in. Tilly was right. It was our wedding. We could have it any way we wanted.

And so, I now have two best men. And they are, apart from my brothers, the best men I know. They’ve been there for me through good times and bad times, and I don’t know how my life would have turned out without them.

“You know,” Chris says, looking me up and down, “I never thought I’d see the day where you didn’t wear your cowboy boots. After all this time, you look kinda weird in shoes.”

“I was tempted.” I smirk back. “But then I figured one day without them wouldn’t kill me.”

“Besides,” Cal says, “you’d look ridiculous.”

“That, too,” I concede.

Cal rests a hand on my shoulder and smiles at me. “I wish Dad were here to see this day. He’d be so proud of you, Jake.”

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