Page 131 of Summer Ever After
Jane
A Year and a Half Later
Walker holds my hand as we wait around the corner of the giant white tent set up in my backyard. Tables of wedding guests line the perimeter holding friends and family who’ve come to watch us exchange vows and begin our life together.
“Are you ready for this?” Walker’s smile still knocks me off my feet just like it did that first day I saw him in the halls of my middle school. But add a fitted black suit to his dark curls, and I’m sold. Forever and ever.
“I’ve only been dreaming about this moment my entire life,” I say, squeezing his hand.
“I hope it’s everything you wanted.”
My love-struck gaze roams over his face. “It already is.”
“Ladies and gentlemen…” my dad begins, and Walker and I smile at each other, a buzz of excitement circling between us. I bounce up and down with happiness, waiting to be announced as man and wife. “Please put your hands together for Mr. and Mrs. Walker Collins.”
Mr. and Mrs. Walker Collins?
It’s surreal.
Last summer, when I vowed to fall in love, I neverthought the Summer of Jane Hayes would lead me here—into Walker’s arms. Call me crazy. Call me desperate. Call me whatever you want. I don’t care. I’m no longer alone. Instead, my days and nights are filled with the one man I’ve always wanted. Thirteen-year-old Jane still hasn’t come down from cloud nine yet.
Walker dips his head to me, brushing a sweet kiss on my cheek. “That’s us.”
Everyone cheers as he leads me into the tent, my white wedding gown flowing behind me. He pumps his fist in the air like I’ve seen him do hundreds of times after the perfect putt, but this time, his happiness isn’t about golf. It’s about me.
I make eye contact with Capri and see the joyful tears in her eyes. I’m so glad I didn’t have to choose between my friendship with her and my love for Walker. She’s my maid of honor—another BFF Code of Conduct that we adhered to—and I wouldn’t want it any other way. We’ve all morphed into one big happy family. It’s borderline sickening how happy we are, but it’s a feeling I fight for every single day.
We stop in the middle of the dance floor, and Walker pulls me to him for a passionate kiss—determined, like the one he gave me last summer when he came back to Sunset Harbor for me.
I still get the chills whenever I think of that moment.
His kiss sends a quick thrill through my body, a hint of what’s to come later tonight.
“I’m going to hand the microphone over to Jane’s beautiful mom, Loretta,” my dad says. “She’d like to dedicate this next song to the happy couple for their first dance as man and wife.”
My dad steals a kiss from my mom as he passes her on the stage, and it’s like my life has come full circle. I’vealways wanted the kind of love my parents have. I’ve watched them my whole life, seen every cute hug on the beach, every glance across the room, every butt tap from my dad when she bent over to empty the dishwasher, every time they took care of each other, the times they chose to forgive, and the times they chose to be there for each other no matter what.
And now I have all of that with Walker.
Ever since that rainy day last summer, there’s never been a doubt in my mind that I was the most important thing to him—even more than golf. I don’t know how I got blessed with so much happiness, but I did.
We both did.
My mom smiles at me from the stage. “This one is for you, Janey.”
String instruments from the live band play the beginning of “At Last” by Etta James.
Walker spins me around once, then pulls me to him, wrapping a strong arm around my waist. It’s the possessiveness behind his hold that does me in.
His lips skim the side of my ear, whispering, “Okay, Mrs. Collins, let’s see what you got.”
My mom starts singing as Walker glides me around the dance floor, my dress flowing and twirling as we go.
“Who would’ve thought that the talented Loretta Lee would be singing at my wedding?”
“Who would’ve thought that you’d leave everything in Jupiter and move to Sunset Harbor to be with me?” I smile up at him.
“Eh, it wasn’t that big of a move.”
