Page 95 of My Scorned Best Friend

“I go where Xavier goes. He’s my husband.”

I side-eye my fiancée and laugh. “So Little Clara would’ve gone to San Francisco with me.” She shoves me with her elbow, and I wrap my arm around her shoulders. “Just kidding. It’s been so long since I heard her voice.”

She wipes her face. “Me too.”

At the end of the video, our moms turn the camera to them and we gasp at the same time.

“Xavier and Clara, eight years old.” They both have their fingers crossed as if they’re hoping we’ll end up together.

“I guess that means I have your family’s blessing.”

She nods. “Want to play it again?”

“Definitely.”

We watch the video over and over, in each other’s arms.

“Do you think they know we fell in love?” Clara looks up at me.

I nod. “I think they knew then it was inevitable.”

She laughs and wiggles in my arms. “Probably.” Turning her head to meet my gaze, she says, “I love you.”

“And I love you. Although just so we’re clear, you forced me to say I do back then.”

“Not this time. You can’t wait to marry me now.”

I grin. “Damn right.”

EPILOGUE

“UM, DID WE MISS A MESSAGE STRING WHILE WE WERE GONE?”

Xavier

After we found the tape, we realized how fast time goes by and we didn’t want to take years to plan a big wedding. So with the help of a lot of people in town, and of course Marla, we pulled off a wedding in only one month.

The first day of spring, I stand in what was my old bedroom, putting on my tuxedo. Clara is a few doors down in Posey’s old room. We’re getting married in Hank and Marla’s backyard.

My dad pokes his head in. “Ready?”

“Yep.”

He walks in and hands me the bracelet that was once my mom’s. “Marla wants to know if you want to give this to her yourself or have her give it to her as her something old.”

“Let me write a note real quick.” I find a piece of paper and pen.

This is your something old. It was my mom’s and I’d be honored if you wore it on our special day. She would have loved to have you as her daughter-in-law. See you at the end of the aisle. Love, X

I hand it to my dad, and he says he’ll be right back.

The next thing I know, we’re being told it’s time for me to go downstairs. We opted for no groomsmen or bridesmaids, just the two of us. In a family as big as ours, a wedding party can get out of control real fast. We did ask Emelia to be the flower girl and Trey, Adam and Lucy’s now adopted son, to be the ring bearer though.

I head down the stairs and out back. Although it’s spring, it’s not that warm out. Doesn’t matter. My only goals for today are to make Clara my wife and make sure she enjoys our day.

I give a nod to Ben, Ashton, and a few other teammates I invited. It’s a small wedding and decorated moderately. I chuckle, thinking the Xavier from a couple years ago would be disappointed that People magazine wasn’t here doing an exclusive story. What an idiot I was.

The music begins shortly after I arrive at the end of the aisle, and Clara walks out of the back door on my dad’s arm. Her white dress clings to her small curves. She has subtle makeup and no veil. She looks perfect.

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