Page 80 of Give Me Forever Love

“My own house,” she says in disbelief.

“Yes. Yours. Ours. Our future kids. It’s done.”

She shakes her head as a tear falls down her cheek. Me asking her to marry me didn’t get this response, and I think I know why. K has never had a place to call her own. She’s bounced around from renter apartment that she knew she couldn’t have alone. She left a house, which is no longer standing, I might add, happily, that wasn’t hers.

Nor did she call it home.

And then she moved in with me, and I know she didn’t feel like it was hers, because even months later, there are unpacked boxes slid into the closet.

But this. This is hers, and I even made sure her name was on the title. All she has to do is sign it.

“Thank you,” she says, turning to me. “Thank you for this amazing life.”

I wipe a stray tear and pull her to me in an embrace. “No, thank you,” I say, kissing the top of her head.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Kathrine

Looking at the full-length mirror, I exhale the nerves and breathe in this moment. I know Blondie thought Annie was crazy, but there’s something to be said for over twenty years of marriage. I will take her advice and I will try my hardest to remember how much I love Bryce right now.

Because I know life doesn’t work out the way we want it sometimes. And I know we are going to argue and I’m going to want to strangle him, but right now we aren’t, and I don’t.

Right now, my heart is full and overflowing.

Right now, I’m standing in my wedding dress and Claire is over by the dresser as we occupy Bryce’s childhood bedroom, fussing at how swollen her ankles are and praying everything goes smoothly during the ceremony. She’s such a worrywart.

I only smile, because honestly, I would expect nothing less. You prepare for things to go smoothly, you get disappointed less when you do, and it helps you not take life so seriously.

I know a lot of brides run around like a chicken with their heads cut off about their wedding day, but not me. I knew what I wanted, it wasn’t over the top, and we made it happen. I know that life happens, and things get messed up, so I take it as it is.

There’s no such thing as perfect. Who even made up that word?

“Here,” I say, handing over Claire’s flowers. “You look fine. You can’t even see your ankles in that dress.”

She huffs, “Whatever.” And then she looks at me.Reallylooks at me. Her eyes water, and she covers her mouth with a gasp. “Oh, Kat. You look absolutely beautiful, my friend.”

My lip quivers. “Stop it. No tears.”

She nods and sniffs. “Yes. No tears. My ankles may be swollen, but my makeup is on point.”

I laugh as a knock sounds on the door. “Kat?” Mills says.

“Come in,” I reply. The door swings open and there stands my dad in a black suit with a matching tie.

He clears his throat and adjusts his tie nervously. “Never worn one of these.”

I smile. “Well, you wear it well.”

He smiles back. “You’ve never looked more beautiful.”

My cheeks blush at his compliment. “Thanks,” I say.

He nods. “You ready to get married?”

“Yep. Let’s do this.”

Claire leaves first, and moments later we follow arm in arm. We make small talk as we climb down the stairs, and he says he’s thinking about retiring. I grin. “I’m really glad to hear you say that. You’ll wanna watch your grandbaby grow up.”

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