Page 135 of From Us, Forever

With Michael, I never once felt like I had to fight for his love or affection; he gave it to me despite the odds. Like family, it didn’t matter how much you fought or disagreed. At the endof the day, they were your family, and he was mine. My brother.

He laughed, asking, “May I?”

I nodded as he crouched to the floor, gently lifted the skirt of my dress, and tied the ribbon around my left ankle, cursing under his breath as he tried to get the bow right.

“There.” He huffed out a breath. “Sorry, that’s the best these fingers can do when it comes to bows.” He wiggled them in the air.

“It’s perfect.” I gave him a warm smile as he leaned in to place a kiss on my cheek.

He glanced at his watch. “I gotta go. You’re two minutes out. I’ll see you at the altar, E,” he said, stepping back.

“You forgot something,” I called out when he was halfway through the door.

He spun around, frowning. “What?”

“Something borrowed.”

“Ah, shit.” He fumbled through his pockets. “I must have something.”

“How about…” I swallowed as his head snapped to me in confusion. “I borrow your arm instead? Will you walk me down the aisle and give me away, Michael?” My voice cracked.

The creases in his face softened, and the greens in his eyes gleamed with unshed tears. “Of course. It would be my greatest honor, Evy.”

He approached me, tugging me into a hug.

I nodded, trying hard not to let the tears roll down my face.

“Ready?” He handed me a bouquet of simple pink peonies held together in a single satin bow.

“As I ever will be.” I smiled brightly as I looped my arm with his while he carefully led me out.

The soft, pleasant breeze swept through my skin, and the smell of forest and peonies laced the air as he led me farther.

The organ started playing as soon as we rounded the corner. The crowd stood, and they all turned and glanced back, smiling toward me.

But I only had eyes for the man standing at the end of the aisle.

Jay inhaled sharply, his eyes widening as they took me in—raw, unfiltered emotion crossed through them. He looked so gorgeous in a triple black tux that looked like it was made for him, with his raven hair swept back neatly on top of his head.

My heart pounded loudly in my rib cage with every step I took toward him.

His eyes never strayed away from me, and neither did mine.

Nothing else mattered.

Here I was, walking toward the love of my life.

The moment I had been waiting for all my life.

My Jay; mine forever.

CHAPTER 27

“Have I told you how beautiful you look, Mrs. Jameson?” a voice whispered in my ear.

I blushed as my shy eyes glanced into those blues that gave me butterflies. “Yes, just a thousand million times,” I whispered. “And that’s today.”

“But you are, Mrs. Jameson.” Jay grinned, his eyes shining with love.

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