Page 51 of Marry Your Best Friend

Dom and Holden follow suit.

All the women are wiping their eyes and wishing us congratulations.

I get everyone’s attention. “King.”

He comes over to me. “Yeah, honey?”

“I hope it’s okay to ask you this. You’ve always looked out for me… heck, for all of us… and I would love it if you would be the one to give me away.”

He pulls me in for a hug and squeezes me until I have trouble catching my breath. “It will be my honor,” he says, his voice thick with emotion.

Gabe pulls me back into his chest. “The preacher is outside. If everyone wants to go with me, I’ll show you where to go.” He turns to me. “And I’ll see you in a few minutes.”

I nod happily, and he leans down. “Don’t forget what I said I’d do if you have second thoughts.”

I kiss him softly. “It’s too bad because I don’t have any second thoughts. I’m ready to be Mrs. Chrissy Gray.”

He kisses me again, and before it gets too hot and heavy, King clears his throat. “Come on now. You’ll see her in a few minutes.”

He sends Gabe outside, and then King turns to me. “You ready for this?”

I suck in a breath. “I’m ready.”

He nods and looks outside where all our family is. “If you were marrying anyone else, I would have to lay down the law and have a come-to-Jesus meeting and threaten him. But I don’t think I’m going to have to worry about that with Gabe. He’s loved you forever, Chrissy.”

I nod. “I love him too.”

King puts an arm around me. “I know you do. I’m just glad to see that you two finally figured it out.”

Everyone is in their seats, and the preacher lifts his hand.

I take a deep breath. “That’s our signal to go.”

“Well, let’s go. If I keep you in here any longer, your soon-to-be husband is going to come in here threatening me again.”

We both laugh as King takes my arm and walks with me down the makeshift aisle into my backyard. We stop when we reach Gabe.

King hugs Gabe, kisses the top of my head and hugs me, and then sits down with Haven.

The ceremony is everything I thought it would be. Gabe was worried I’d want something bigger, but this is perfect. I wanted to be surrounded by all the people that love us, and that’s what we have.

We each say our vows, promising to love each other forever, and when he pronounces us husband and wife, everyone in the backyard hoots and hollers their excitement. Gabe kisses me until my knees buckle, but he’s right there, holding me up.

Our family surrounds us, offering congratulations, and it’s not until hours later, afterdinner that was catered in and more celebrating and it’s just Gabe and me alone that I let myself think about the past and how we got here. Gabe and I have been through so much through the years, and it’s only now that I have full appreciation for how far we’ve come.

We’re lying in bed, both satiated and relaxed, when I turn to him. “Thank you, Gabe.”

He holds on to me like he never wants to let me go. “What are you thanking me for?”

I rest my cheek against his chest. “I have at least a thousand things I can thank you for, but thank you for loving me all these years. For showing me that I deserved to be loved and how I should be loved. You make me happier than I’ve ever been in my life.”

“I love you, Chrissy. I love you more every day, and I’m so thankful that I get to spend the rest of my life with you.”

He kisses me then, sealing his devotion with the pressing of his lips. I would never have imagined this would be my life, but I’m so thankful it is. “I love you, Gabriel Gray.”

He smiles and kisses me again. “I love you too, Chrissy Gray.”

EPILOGUE 2

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