Page 99 of Love Again

Geo smiles and glances down at me. “I’m pulling rank here, Devon. You need to go get ready for your wedding.”

“It’s not a wedding,” I correct him.

“It is for us,” says Claire.

Travis squeezes me even closer and kisses my cheek.

΅

My dress is a beautiful deep crimson with three-quarter sleeves. It’s snug and sheer across the top of the chest. It hits knee-length because I’m practical, and I want to be able to wear this again.

Laurel does an amazing job with my hair, and after two tries, everyone agrees with what I’ve always known: mascara and I do not mix well. Chloe uses a little blush, a light lipstick, and an eyebrow pencil to fix a teenie spot where a scar notches my left eyebrow.

It was the bungie cord. It’s also my little secret—still. I have to save one for myself. One by one, each sibling leaves to get ready, and I’m left alone with Geo.

Then it’s time to go.

Thank God that, except for Geo, we’ll all be barefoot. I can’t stand fancy, tight shoes.

There’s a wide fan of raked beach, and gathered around is everyone I love: Mateus, Laurel, and Cory, Bryce and Chloe, Finn and Claire, Travis, Nic, and Geo is on my arm, leading me to Luke.

Luke waits for me in a dark suit. I don’t know where he got it. Then I realize it’s a navy-blue pinstripe. It’s got to be one of Nic’s. They’re the same height and same build. Luke is clean-shaven, his hair gleams, and his eyes are bright. When Nic moves to the side, I can see Keller, also in a suit. It’s a tan-looking thing with wide lapels, and it looks like it’s from the ’80s, but he’s handsome and just beside himself. His big nose is red.

Carlson, a justice of the peace, is the master of ceremonies.

He’s still in his baggy pants, though they’re less rumpled looking.

Luke’s gaze catches mine, and I give Geo a kiss on the cheek before I take Luke’s arm.

Cory steps forward, holding a box. Inside are two simple gold bands. The wind ruffles his hair.

“Now?” he says and lifts the lid.

“Now,” Luke and I say together.

It seems fitting to do it all out of order.

Luke uses parts of the letters he wrote to me in his vows. I improvise. He speaks of loving me with such tenderness and devotion that tears well, though I smile through everything he says. Every word forces me to reflect on the power of love. The transformative power of love.

Not the way I used to think of love.

No one laughs at me.

We hold hands while others speak about us—what they knew to be true of us. Luke’s hand squeezes mine the whole time.

Now, it is time for the rings. Cory, very seriously, puts up an index finger with both rings. I slide Luke’s off and he retrieves mine.

When he slips it on my finger, my hand shakes. He raises it and kisses the top. I slip his on and do the same.

Carlson, who smells of cut limes and strong aftershave, clears his throat.

“Devon Russo, do you pledge your life to Luke Walker?” It was the only thing we gave him that was scripted.

“Yes. Always and Forever.”

“Luke Walker, do you pledge yourself to Devon Russo?”

“Yes. Always and Forever.”