Fallen Crest Forever
Page 72
Logan nodded. “She did.”
“Mason was an ass—”
“Children!” someone yelled.
“—not great guy,” Nate continued. “And he’ll say he still isn’t, but he is. You’ve made him a better person. You made him love harder. You made him forgive harder, and the fact that he forgave even a little is a big deal. Mase was never built that way.”
Mason squeezed my hand, nodding along with Nate.
“And you’ve made him want to build a better future with you than I think he would’ve if you hadn’t been in the picture. I don’t know what we all would’ve done without you. You’re the glue for us. You hold everyone together, whether you realize it or not, and I thank you for that. I thank you for always being kind to me.”
Another tear slid down my cheek. “It wasn’t hard,” I murmured. “You were kind to me too.”
He grinned. “Yeah, well, sometimes I wasn’t the nicest guy.” He shared a look with Mason. “But we’re all here now, and I think I’m kind of in shock.” He clapped Mason on the shoulder, moving to Logan’s shoulder too. “We grew up, guys.”
Both brothers nodded.
Nate laughed. “The fact that none of us are in jail right this second speaks volumes. Thank you, Sam, for that too.”
Laughter rose from the audience.
“But I really just want to say I love you both. You’re family to me. I know that’ll never change, and I guess, thank you for making it official.” He raised his glass. “To not living in sin anymore.”
He took a sip as everyone laughed again before joining his salute.
Heather stood next to me, holding her hand out. “Okay. It’s time for the girls.” Matteo had started to stand, but she shook her head. “Nope. It’s maid of honor time.”
Matteo sat.
And Nate handed the microphone to Heather.
Heather laughed into the microphone, her voice light. “Now, it’s the ladies’ turn.” She moved the bottom of her dress over so it was more centered around her. Heather had been the most reserved about the dress. She’d confessed in the bathroom that she worried everyone would see her breasts. I’d doubled over in laughter, and I giggled again now, thinking about it.
She had looked sheepish, shrugging as she grabbed her boobs and pushed them up, adjusting.
“What? I might like to dress skimpy, but I never really show off the girls. They’re for Channing only.”
“No.” I had touched her arm, still shaking my head. “I have no idea why that’s so funny, but thank you. I worried about the dress, but everyone just agreed, and you never said anything.”
“I felt bad. I think we’re all just happy for you.” She’d grinned. “Besides, we all look ridiculously hot in this getup.” She looked down at the sheer, light green fabric flowing over the sheath beneath. “You’ve got style. I’ll say that for you, even though Malinda fought you on it. Didn’t she?”
I’d nodded, still chuckling. “Yeah.” I yawned to stop laughing and wiped at a tear. “She was thinking I’d want a more formal dress, but nope. That’s not me.” I’d reached out and touched Heather’s dress. It was a simple cut, falling just above the knee with a ruched top. The girls had picked their style. They could have spaghetti straps or sleeveless like Heather’s. They all looked comfortable, but so beautiful, and the wedding was all light green and cream. I had little white lights filling the church where we got married, and the reception too. If I had to say so myself, the entire place looked beyond regal and elegant.
“Malinda started crying when she saw everything last night,” I’d told her. “She said I’d been right and how dare she question me.” I’d smiled, feeling Malinda’s hug again. “I love her.”
“You got a good one there.” Heather had nodded, her flirty eyes growing serious and misty. “You’re a good one, Sam. I know you think you’re the lucky one, but it’s not you. We’re the lucky ones.”
I bit my lip, my throat swelling.
“Those friends you had before, they were assholes. They lost out, completely. There’s a reason Mason loves you, a reason Logan loves you like a sister and has since day one. A reason Malinda cherishes you so much. A reason Mark adores you, and not just because he’s your stepbrother. They all love you because of you. You’re amazing, and you have no idea how good of a person you are.”
We’d stood in front of the bathroom mirror, and I turned so I was half-hidden by the tampon bin. I felt the tears flowing and couldn’t do anything to stop them.
“Sam.” Heather had pulled me into her arms. She’d hugged me, and while it should’ve been awkward because both of us had our hair done up and makeup on, it wasn’t.
I’d hugged her back, whispering, “Thank you.”
She was the friend I needed who’d appeared at just the right time. And there’d never be words enough for me to express my gratitude to her.
“Thank you,” she’d whispered back. I’d felt her tears on my shoulder.
A moment later, I’d stepped back and fluffed her dress out. “See? Another reason my taste is spectacular. Another bride couldn’t have done that.” I’d smoothed my own dress.
Heather had laughed, dabbing at her eyes. “Yes, another reason.”
And she was dabbing at her eyes now too, as she held the microphone. Putting her glass down, she reached for a balled-up tissue.
“I haven’t even started.” She laughed huskily. “I hope it’s okay, Mason, but I’m going to center more on Sam.”
He nodded. “Of course.”
She cleared her throat, patting the side of her dress so it was smooth. “So, I have a lot of friends from Roussou and my boyfriend . . .” She gave him a soft smile, and Channing nodded from where he sat at the end of Mason’s groomsmen. “He lives and works there, and he grew up there. I went to Fallen Crest, and Samantha doesn’t know this because she’s never stopped to think about it, but she was actually one of the first good friends I had. I grew up with Roussou people, so my Fallen Crest friends were lacking, until one day I’m sitting outside the bar my dad owned at the time, and here comes this skinny, gorgeous girl. She’s all sweaty and looking at me like she’s a lost puppy wondering if she can have something to eat. I think I scared you that day, but you thanked me earlier today for becoming your friend at just the right time. You don’t know this . . .”
Her voice grew hoarse, and she blinked back tears. “But you did the same for me. I needed a friend too; I just didn’t know it. You always say I’m the tough one, but that’s not true. It’s you. You’re so strong, and I am beyond blessed that you chose me. Like Nate and Logan, I don’t consider you a friend. You’re a sister to me, and I’ve never had one of those. So thank you for that.” She bit off the last word, unable to keep going. Her tears were blinding her.
Standing, I took the microphone from her and pulled her in for a hug. I struggled to keep my emotions in check, but that’d been the story today. I was crying one second, then laughing the next. I knew we were just starting the evening too.
Heather tucked her head into the crook of my neck and shoulder. “I’m pregnant.”
“What?” I pulled back and grabbed the microphone. It hadn’t caught that, but I wanted to be safe. I passed it off to Mason and looked back to Heather. “You’re sure?”
She nodded. “Channing knows, but don’t tell anyone. We’ll announce it later. Will you be her godmother?”
Her.
I touched my chest. I was going to be a godmother. “Yes! Yes.”
And we were back to hugging.
I had a feeling we’d be doing this all night long.
After we settled back in our seats, Matteo made a toast. Courtney and Grace did one together, and even Channing stood for a few words. After that, it was our parents’ turn. Malinda cried the whole time, so it was really just David speaking, but when he’d finished, she grabbed a piece of paper and shoved it into his hand. He read from it, so we heard Malinda’s word through him. Then it was James and Analise’s turn. Everyone tensed slightly, but James only laughed.
“Mason was an ass—”
“Children!” someone yelled.
“—not great guy,” Nate continued. “And he’ll say he still isn’t, but he is. You’ve made him a better person. You made him love harder. You made him forgive harder, and the fact that he forgave even a little is a big deal. Mase was never built that way.”
Mason squeezed my hand, nodding along with Nate.
“And you’ve made him want to build a better future with you than I think he would’ve if you hadn’t been in the picture. I don’t know what we all would’ve done without you. You’re the glue for us. You hold everyone together, whether you realize it or not, and I thank you for that. I thank you for always being kind to me.”
Another tear slid down my cheek. “It wasn’t hard,” I murmured. “You were kind to me too.”
He grinned. “Yeah, well, sometimes I wasn’t the nicest guy.” He shared a look with Mason. “But we’re all here now, and I think I’m kind of in shock.” He clapped Mason on the shoulder, moving to Logan’s shoulder too. “We grew up, guys.”
Both brothers nodded.
Nate laughed. “The fact that none of us are in jail right this second speaks volumes. Thank you, Sam, for that too.”
Laughter rose from the audience.
“But I really just want to say I love you both. You’re family to me. I know that’ll never change, and I guess, thank you for making it official.” He raised his glass. “To not living in sin anymore.”
He took a sip as everyone laughed again before joining his salute.
Heather stood next to me, holding her hand out. “Okay. It’s time for the girls.” Matteo had started to stand, but she shook her head. “Nope. It’s maid of honor time.”
Matteo sat.
And Nate handed the microphone to Heather.
Heather laughed into the microphone, her voice light. “Now, it’s the ladies’ turn.” She moved the bottom of her dress over so it was more centered around her. Heather had been the most reserved about the dress. She’d confessed in the bathroom that she worried everyone would see her breasts. I’d doubled over in laughter, and I giggled again now, thinking about it.
She had looked sheepish, shrugging as she grabbed her boobs and pushed them up, adjusting.
“What? I might like to dress skimpy, but I never really show off the girls. They’re for Channing only.”
“No.” I had touched her arm, still shaking my head. “I have no idea why that’s so funny, but thank you. I worried about the dress, but everyone just agreed, and you never said anything.”
“I felt bad. I think we’re all just happy for you.” She’d grinned. “Besides, we all look ridiculously hot in this getup.” She looked down at the sheer, light green fabric flowing over the sheath beneath. “You’ve got style. I’ll say that for you, even though Malinda fought you on it. Didn’t she?”
I’d nodded, still chuckling. “Yeah.” I yawned to stop laughing and wiped at a tear. “She was thinking I’d want a more formal dress, but nope. That’s not me.” I’d reached out and touched Heather’s dress. It was a simple cut, falling just above the knee with a ruched top. The girls had picked their style. They could have spaghetti straps or sleeveless like Heather’s. They all looked comfortable, but so beautiful, and the wedding was all light green and cream. I had little white lights filling the church where we got married, and the reception too. If I had to say so myself, the entire place looked beyond regal and elegant.
“Malinda started crying when she saw everything last night,” I’d told her. “She said I’d been right and how dare she question me.” I’d smiled, feeling Malinda’s hug again. “I love her.”
“You got a good one there.” Heather had nodded, her flirty eyes growing serious and misty. “You’re a good one, Sam. I know you think you’re the lucky one, but it’s not you. We’re the lucky ones.”
I bit my lip, my throat swelling.
“Those friends you had before, they were assholes. They lost out, completely. There’s a reason Mason loves you, a reason Logan loves you like a sister and has since day one. A reason Malinda cherishes you so much. A reason Mark adores you, and not just because he’s your stepbrother. They all love you because of you. You’re amazing, and you have no idea how good of a person you are.”
We’d stood in front of the bathroom mirror, and I turned so I was half-hidden by the tampon bin. I felt the tears flowing and couldn’t do anything to stop them.
“Sam.” Heather had pulled me into her arms. She’d hugged me, and while it should’ve been awkward because both of us had our hair done up and makeup on, it wasn’t.
I’d hugged her back, whispering, “Thank you.”
She was the friend I needed who’d appeared at just the right time. And there’d never be words enough for me to express my gratitude to her.
“Thank you,” she’d whispered back. I’d felt her tears on my shoulder.
A moment later, I’d stepped back and fluffed her dress out. “See? Another reason my taste is spectacular. Another bride couldn’t have done that.” I’d smoothed my own dress.
Heather had laughed, dabbing at her eyes. “Yes, another reason.”
And she was dabbing at her eyes now too, as she held the microphone. Putting her glass down, she reached for a balled-up tissue.
“I haven’t even started.” She laughed huskily. “I hope it’s okay, Mason, but I’m going to center more on Sam.”
He nodded. “Of course.”
She cleared her throat, patting the side of her dress so it was smooth. “So, I have a lot of friends from Roussou and my boyfriend . . .” She gave him a soft smile, and Channing nodded from where he sat at the end of Mason’s groomsmen. “He lives and works there, and he grew up there. I went to Fallen Crest, and Samantha doesn’t know this because she’s never stopped to think about it, but she was actually one of the first good friends I had. I grew up with Roussou people, so my Fallen Crest friends were lacking, until one day I’m sitting outside the bar my dad owned at the time, and here comes this skinny, gorgeous girl. She’s all sweaty and looking at me like she’s a lost puppy wondering if she can have something to eat. I think I scared you that day, but you thanked me earlier today for becoming your friend at just the right time. You don’t know this . . .”
Her voice grew hoarse, and she blinked back tears. “But you did the same for me. I needed a friend too; I just didn’t know it. You always say I’m the tough one, but that’s not true. It’s you. You’re so strong, and I am beyond blessed that you chose me. Like Nate and Logan, I don’t consider you a friend. You’re a sister to me, and I’ve never had one of those. So thank you for that.” She bit off the last word, unable to keep going. Her tears were blinding her.
Standing, I took the microphone from her and pulled her in for a hug. I struggled to keep my emotions in check, but that’d been the story today. I was crying one second, then laughing the next. I knew we were just starting the evening too.
Heather tucked her head into the crook of my neck and shoulder. “I’m pregnant.”
“What?” I pulled back and grabbed the microphone. It hadn’t caught that, but I wanted to be safe. I passed it off to Mason and looked back to Heather. “You’re sure?”
She nodded. “Channing knows, but don’t tell anyone. We’ll announce it later. Will you be her godmother?”
Her.
I touched my chest. I was going to be a godmother. “Yes! Yes.”
And we were back to hugging.
I had a feeling we’d be doing this all night long.
After we settled back in our seats, Matteo made a toast. Courtney and Grace did one together, and even Channing stood for a few words. After that, it was our parents’ turn. Malinda cried the whole time, so it was really just David speaking, but when he’d finished, she grabbed a piece of paper and shoved it into his hand. He read from it, so we heard Malinda’s word through him. Then it was James and Analise’s turn. Everyone tensed slightly, but James only laughed.
