Page 84 of Deadly Forever

“You’re so sick,” Grady muttered, shaking his head. “You are the best friend I’ve ever had, though. You’re also a great brother. If we’re sharing, I figure I should share that.”

“You’re a great brother, too,” James said. “I’m going to see you again, though. This isn’t goodbye forever.”

“It’s not,” Ally agreed. “We’re starting a new life when we get back, though. I just wanted to see one of the most important people in my old one before I left.”

“She’ll still be in your life, Ally,” James said. “We’re all embarking on this new life together.”

“Oh, leave her alone,” Sophie said, tears running down her cheeks. “It’s a girl thing. Can’t you just let her talk without being mean?”

James sighed. “Hurry up, hens. I feel a vigorous need to cluck … and I don’t want witnesses when it happens.”

Grady snickered. “And there’s the brother I know and love.”

“Right back at you,” James said, his expression softening. “Have fun on your honeymoons. The work … and us … will be here when you get back.”

“I just want you to know that I’ll miss you,” Ally said to Mandy. “I value you more than you can ever know. Jake is my husband, but there will always be things I share only with you.”

“I feel the same way,” Mandy said, her voice cracking.

“Is that it?” Grady asked, annoyed. “Can we go on our honeymoons now? I want to get my wife naked.”

“We can go,” Ally said, smiling. “We’ll all miss you.”

“It’s easier to miss someone when you leave,” James pointed out.

Ally ignored his tone. “You’re the best big brother a girl could ever have. You made all of this possible. I love you, too.”

James was surprised by the naked emotion on his sister’s face. “I love you, too, Ally. I always will. No matter how annoying you get – and it’s very annoying, in case you’re wondering – I will always love you.”

“We really have to go, angel,” Jake said. “It’s time.”

Ally nodded. “I’ll see you when I get back. I’ll be the tanned and cute one.”

Mandy chuckled. “I’ll be waiting.”

James and Mandy watched them go, taking the opportunity to wave before they disappeared into the limousine. Then they were alone again.

“So, where were we?” James asked, kissing Mandy’s neck.

“Can I ask you a question?”

James froze. “Absolutely not. Are you trying to kill me?”

“It’s just one,” Mandy pressed.

“Fine.”

“If you had to do it all over again … .”

“Nope, we’re not playing this game,” James said, grabbing Mandy around the waist and spinning her. “You win, baby. If I had to do it all again I would fall madly in love with you even though you were only fourteen. I’d figure out a way to get your parents to sign the paperwork so we could get married and we’d live happily ever after.”

Mandy giggled at his hangdog expression. “That’s not what I was going to ask, but that’s something I’ve always wanted to hear.”

“I mean it,” James said. Surprisingly, he did. “If I knew then what I know now, I wouldn’t want to wait for happily ever after. I would take it as soon as possible. This is our happily ever after, though, baby. Are you ready to start living it?”

“I was born ready.”

“So, let’s do it,” James said, smacking a loud kiss against her lips. “Happily ever after, here we come.”