Page 64 of Aisle Come Back to You

“I can’t justnotmarry him though, right?” she asks, her eyes frantically darting between the two of us. “Everyone is here. People are already starting to arrive.”

“Fuck everyone else,” Blair bluntly states, waving a dismissive hand behind her. “Today has always been about you and Pete. The rest of us, we’re just confetti. You get to do whatever you want, whether that’s marrying Pete or changing your mind. The decision is ultimately yours. Hell, most of the people coming today are only here for a good party; none of them have to live with the consequences, so don’t let anyone else’s feelings dictate your life choices.”

“She’s right,” I agree. “I don’t want to come across like I’m trying to sway you in one direction, but remember, this is coming from someone who did make the wrong decision, even when I knew that I was making the wrong choice that day. I can confidently say that choosing to get married not only hurt me in the long run, but hurt Jenny as well,” I explain with a loud sigh. “While I’m sure it would’ve hurt her to cancel the wedding, I’m pretty sure we’d both now agree that we were far more hurt by going through with it. We wasted so much of our lives being married to the wrong person, and I’d hate for you to make the same mistake I did.”

“Oh God, what do I do?” she cries, quickly wiping away the first stray tear. “How do I tell him that I can’t do it? Because I think you’re both right. I can’t marry him. He’s not it. He’s not my person, and he’sdefinitelynot my soulmate.”

“Do you need me to do it?” Blair asks, as both Ronnie and I turn to look at her.

“I can’t ask you to do that.”

“Why not? I mean, come on. It’s Pete. He’s an asshole, but I can handle him. And I’m sorry, but I just don’t see him taking the news very well and since you’re already a mess,” she says, looking Ronnie over. “If anything, I can’t ask you to do it either.”

“Really?” she asks, sniffling, as she seems to think it through.

“Really.”

“I mean, if you’re serious, then that would help a lot. I just—I think I need to get out of here,” Ronnie finally decides as she stands.

I nod my head. “Maybe I should come with you,” I offer, not feeling like she should be alone, especially not after making such a huge and life-changing decision.

“No, stay with Blair because, oh shit,” Ronnie curses. “Someone is going to have to tell my family, and everyone elsetoo.” She panics even further as she lifts her hands to cover her face.

“Don’t worry about it,” Blair says, taking Ronnie’s hand into hers once more. “We’ve got this. We’ll take care of everything. You just worry about taking care of yourself, but Ford’s right. You shouldn’t be leaving alone, but don’t worry,” she offers, as she seems to put together a plan in her head. “I’ll take care of that, too.”

“I don’t deserve you guys,” Ronnie’s voice quivers as she sniffs and extends her hand toward mine as well, intertwining her fingers with ours.

“You’d do the same for us. It’s nothing,” I promise her.

“Ford, you sneak her out back, and I’ll have someone there to take you wherever you need to go,” she tells me before pulling Ronnie into a big hug and then rushing out of the room.

“Am I really going to do this?” Ronnie asks, as the first genuine smile of the day comes to her lips. Worry still lines her features, but it’s obvious a huge weight has been lifted from her shoulders.

“I think you are, and more importantly, I think you’re making the right choice.”

Perhaps I shouldn’t be projecting my thoughts and feelings onto her during such a pivotal moment, but I also feel like if they truly were right for each other, and if for some reason it turns out that they do love each other and this is just a case of cold feet, she can come back and they will eventually figure things out. If anything, Blair and I are the perfect example of that. Either way, if she’s feeling this uncertain, there’s no reason she should be walking down that aisle today.

“Ford, one more thing before we go,” she starts, giving my hand a small tug. “Will you tell my parents how sorry I am and tell them that I promise to pay them back for everything? Also, with everything already being paid for and since the entire town of Evergreen Grove is about to show up, can you tell them thatI still want the party to go on? Just because I’m not here to enjoy it, and even if Pete’s family won’t want to either, there’s no reason for everything to go to waste, right?”

“I’ll take care of it,” I promise as I give her hand another squeeze. “And don’t worry. Your parents will be fine. Plus, I have to imagine that they’ll be just as understanding as Blair and I are. Your parents are good people and I know that the only thing that’s important to them today and always is that their daughter is happy. If running is what makes you happy, then they’d want you to do this too.”

“I don’t know about that, but I appreciate hearing it,” she says through a nervous laugh as she stands on her tiptoes to press a kiss to my cheek.

“Alright, let’s get you out of here, Miss Runaway Bride,” I quip, attempting to lighten the mood, even if I’m not entirely convinced it’s working.

I’m not sure if Blair truly meant to be sneaky and stealthy about things as I help Ronnie make her big escape, but I do it anyway as I crack the door open and peek out first. Luckily, the hallway is empty as I reach backward for her hand before we head out.

Keeping it up, I meticulously scan around each corner before we turn, and, most importantly, sneak her out the side door, especially since the backyard is already filling up with people, and out front, even more guests are making their way up the pathway that’s been highlighted by flowers and lanterns.

As we walk through the door, Blair meets us and takes Ronnie’s hand from mine. “Miles is going to drive you wherever you need,” she explains.

“Your brother?” Ronnie gasps, since it’s always been pretty clear that Blair’s big brother isn’t exactly our best friend’s biggest fan.

“Yes, but don’t worry. He’s going to be on his best behavior, plus you get to ride in style,” she explains, motioning toward a red Ford Mustang—which happens to be Miles’ baby—where he’s currently leaning against the passenger door with his arms folded across his chest.

“Well, desperate times call for desperate measures I suppose,” Ronnie mutters before breathing out a large breath of air as she turns to face Blair and me. “I love you guys. I hope you know that.”

“We do,” I assure her, and suddenly I’m caught in a tight three-way group hug, feeling the intense love and unity of our bond. I truly don’t know where I’d be without the two of them, and despite all the craziness of this morning and what’s still about to come, everything about this moment just feels right.

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