Page 96 of My Brother's Forbidden Friend

Something shifts inside me when I’m talking to her. A weight lifts off my shoulders and a feeling of peace wraps around me, and for the first time in as long as I can remember, I feel as if everything will work out okay.

Twenty minutes later, I stand and wipe the last of my tears. When I turn toward the street, Cam is there, waiting in front of his jeep. He waves to me. Just as my mom told me to, I decide then and there to live my life like there’s no tomorrow.

I run toward his waiting arms, and he catches me as he always does. As I know he always will.

“I love you,” I say once I’m secure in his arms. “I love you so much.”

“I love you too, girlfriend.” He lowers me to the ground, and I look up into his eyes.

“I think I like the sound of wife better.”

His smile radiates joy as he brushes my hair out of my face. “Done.”

EPILOGUE

“THE GIRL IN THE PURPLE DRESS.”

Chevelle

A few months later…

“You look like a winter wonderland,” Nikki says, admiring me with her hand on her very swollen belly.

I look at my reflection in the mirror in the apartment above the garage at Fisher’s. Everyone came together to make this a bridal suite for me, since this is the only place I could ever marry Cam. It just fits.

Cars fill the driveway, and luckily, neighbors were willing to give up their driveways for our guests to park. It took more planning, and it’s not exactly ideal, but we kept our ceremony small. Or as small as you can with a family as big as mine.

I’ve read the advice my mom left me for my wedding, and one thing she said was to pick a meaningful place to get married. This is my day, and screw everyone else. She also said to not pick any trendy songs for my dances, pick classics, especially the father-daughter dance. I’ve tried to take each of her suggestions into consideration.

One thing I made my brothers incorporate into our lives is that once a month, we get together and share stories about Mom. Even the boys have been remembering more now, and I feel as though I’m really starting to understand who my mom was.

My dad opens the door to the apartment. “Your groom just arrived.”

I look out the window to catch a glimpse of him, but Cam’s already gone around the side of the house.

“I’m ready.” I take one last look in the mirror.

“She’s more than ready. Barely needed us.” Posey shakes her head.

I have no bridesmaids and he has no groomsmen, which pissed off Fisher until we had to remind him that he ran away to get married.

The Alaskan winter air hits me as soon as I walk out and follow my dad down the outside stairs. Once I’m at the bottom, I hook my arm in his, and he escorts me away to the tree-lined path that leads through the forest.

“Only you and Cam would pick an outdoor wedding in January.” His breath comes out in a big white puff.

“Thanks for being a good sport.”

“Anything for you, little girl,” he says and kisses the top of my head.

The snow crunches under our feet as we pass the pictures we placed along the path of those Greene couples who found love before us, starting with Grandma Ethel and Grandpa, and ending with Mandi and Noah. Dad and I arrive at the clearing where lights have been hung in the trees and red hearts swing in the cold breeze. All of our guests are lined along the edge of the lake, but my eyes only search out one person.

Cam’s standing on the other side of the small lake. I have to step up on the wooden plank path my brothers and Cam built for our wedding.

“You got this,” my dad whispers, tightening his hand around mine.

I think this might be as hard for him as it is for me. We follow the path lit with lanterns to the other side, where only Cam and the officiant wait.

Cam looks stunning in his dark suit and perfectly styled hair. Who knew a childhood crush could turn into real love?

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