Rose opened the door all the way and came inside. Holly and Violet were behind her, full of smiles, but Violet dabbed her eyes with a hankie.

“No crying, Violet. If you cry, I’ll cry. Look at my face. There is no way I can fix this if I mess it up.”

Violet took a shaky breath, and her eyes cleared. “I’m just so happy for you, and only five percent jealous,” she said and hugged me.

“I’m one hundred percent jealous,” Rose said, then joined the hug.

“I’m not jealous at all,” Holly added, then joined in.

We had a fancy-dress sister group hug for a minute, then we headed out to do this thing.

Luke

I waited for her. Under an arch made of flowers and lights, I waited as my heart overflowed with love.

I could finally breathe and feel my chest expand to let more than just air inside.

Liam stood at my side, and Cade. They were standing up for me on this day, just like they always had been. Only now, I could see it, now I knew I was worth it and could turn around and give it back. My eyes had opened. I was finally, truly home.

Liam slapped my shoulder as we heard the music start. “I’m happy for you, man,” he whispered. I smiled at him and knew he would be okay. There was no way I would have it any other way.

We watched as Lily’s nephew Mark led Dahlia to her seat in the front. She winked at me, and I smiled back. Holly was next, followed by Rose, then Violet. They took their places on the other side of the arch.

Everyone oohed and ahhed as Dylan, in his little tuxedo, walked down the aisle with the rings on a pillow. He hugged me, then stood between me and Liam.

But everyone collectively lost their shit when Madison and Mara began pulling Calla down the aisle in a little white wagon. They were all dressed in the fluffiest pink dresses I’d ever seen, wearing crowns made of flowers, and throwing white rose petals side to side. Mara had to keep pulling the petals away from Calla, who was more interested in putting them in her mouth. After they reached us, Violet went to the wagon and carried Calla up to stand in her place, then Mara and Maddie stood in front of Rose and Holly.

It seemed like I had been waiting for her forever, and now I was finally finished marking time. She would be mine again. Forever this time.

The music changed, and I lost my breath as I saw her and Ben step forward. With each step she took toward me, I breathed again.

The vows we took went by in a blur, even though I meant every word.