Page 62 of The Forever Game

Slipping the ring onto his finger, I give it a squeeze and open my mouth with an excited smile.

“It is with great pleasure that, by the power invested in me, I can now pronounce you husband and wife.”

A cheer goes up around us.

“You may now kiss your bride.”

Baxter’s arms curl around my waist as he bends down to meet my lips. I giggle against his mouth before he deepens the kiss, lifting me off my feet and holding me close.

“I love you so much,” he murmurs between kisses.

“I loveyouso much,” I whisper back, my insides going crazy when he pops me back on me feet and I stare at my wedding ring. “We did it!”

“About time!” Kai groans, and we all start to laugh.

This moment right here couldn’t be more perfect. Sure, we’re in a hospital waiting room and Caroline’s in a wheelchair and her precious daughter is in an incubator, but I’m so freaking happy right now.

“Thank you.” I take Caroline’s hand, kissing her on the cheek before Casey wheels her away to go see Lyla. Troy gets buckled into the stroller while Billy dances over seats, being chased by his grandfather.

Nova reaches for Baxter, and he nestles her in his arms as Kai wraps me in a hug. I kiss his head and snuggle him against me. We get a string of congratulations from all our friends… and those sitting around us.

“You know, the reception area is still set up. We could go there?” Lani suggests.

I look up to Baxter, to see what he thinks, and he’s nodding in agreement. With broad smiles, we gather the tribe and start heading for the door and this special surprise he’s planned for me.

Just as we’re exiting the hospital, a cell phone rings behind me. I look over my shoulder, watching Mikayla wince, glance at Ethan, who’s shaking his head, then answer the call.

“Fuck,” he mutters under his breath, scowling deeply as she turns her back to him and walks around the corner of the hospital.

Running a hand through his hair, he stands there fuming while Rachel gives him a confused frown but is beckoned away by Liam.

I wonder if this has something to do with their fight last night, but it’s probably not my place to ask. Slipping into Baxter’s truck, I watch Ethan pace around the side of the building and hope everything’s okay.

Baxter made some comment about Ethan and Mikayla going through a few struggles at the moment. But surely they’ll be okay. They’re Ethan and Mikayla. They’re one of my favorite couples ever. Their marriage can’t be falling apart. They’re meant to be together for life… just like me and Bax.

CHAPTER23

ETHAN

“What is it now?” I bark as soon as she ends her call.

She jolts, obviously not realizing I followed her around the corner. I want to rip that cell phone out of her hands and smash it. She’s been on it all fucking day. She even replied to a text during Tammy’s vows, for fuck’s sake.

Her shoulders slump as she takes in my expression, and her eyes dart to the ground. It’s so obvious she’s steeling herself, and my heart sinks. Raising her chin, she sniffs and tells me, “I have to go do this thing. I’ve been trying to get out of it all day, but they won’t stop harassing me, so I need to just leave and get it done.”

“In the middle of a wedding?” I flick my arms wide.

“The wedding’s over now.”

“What about the reception?”

She sighs, closing her eyes and squeezing the bridge of her nose. “I have to go, Ethan. It’s in the contract, and I’ll get fired if I don’t show. Shit, I could get sued if I don’t go!” Her arm slaps against her leg, the shimmery fabric of her dress wrinkling.

She straightens it, pulling it back down her hips with a huff.

I want to tell her she can’t do this. I want to drop to my knees and fucking beg her to stay, but we can’t keep having this same conversation, right? She said so herself.

With a sad frown, I stare at my girl, wondering where she’s gone, if my lil’ mouse is even still in there.

---