“I just got a text from Austin. He’s in town.” Tinsley adjusted her crown.

I glanced at my phone and I had a message from him as well, and Teddi had sent a selfie with him.

Tinsley peered over my shoulder. “Lord, that man photographs like a damn dream.”

He did. I had FaceTimed with him enough, and hell, been around him my whole childhood, but the way he could smolder at a camera brought out the feral part of me.

Once we all had water bottles and phone battery packs, we were ready to leave. Now that Teddi had a month to prepare, it was going to be an all day affair.

When we got to the sidewalk, it became a march to get downtown. There wasn’t an official parade, though Teddi had her sights on that someday in the future. Instead, we were meeting in the park. It had acres of grass and rolling hills. It was great for photos and events.

Teddi had a band set to play, and there were a few speakers and a lot of businesses that were providing “favor bags” for anyone attending.

The only problem was the dark clouds bullying their way into the crisp blue sky. Parker pointed at them with his middle fingers. “If they screw with my hair, I’m going to throw a fit. Bridezilla style.”

Tinsley and I linked our arms in his and pulled him forward. He could fight the clouds after we got to the park. It was warming up, and the humidity was ticking up as well.

When we got to the park, it was decorated in white ribbons and balloons. Every company that had a booth contributed to the silver and white theme. It already looked like a great time.

In a wall of white dresses and veils, I was looking for him.

Austin. It had been a year since he left. A year since I laid eyes on him. I didn’t realize how being near him calibrated my internal happiness until I didn’t have access anymore.

The rain started. First, a mist, then in earnest. Tinsley and Parker went one way, and I went the other.

I found a large tree that was helping provide some cover, and I could see Tinsley and Parker hiding under a small pop-up canopy.

There were four other people under the tree with me. It wasn’t the best, as the leaves started to bend with the weight of the drops.

A tall person with a white umbrella scurried underneath the tree, and when they lifted it to include me in the shelter, I was inches from Austin’s face.

I felt my shoulders slide down a bit as release rolled through me.

Here. He was here.