Never Marry Your Brother's Best Friend (Never Say Never, #1)

“Thanks,” I say more sincerely.

She wraps her arm through mine, and we step down the aisle together. There’s a small gathering—the Harringtons, Samantha, Zack, Elena, Nelda, Stanley, and Bernard—but I don’t notice anything except Carter. Mom has to hold me back from running to him. But even with as slow as she’s going, in a blink, I’m in front of him.

“Hi,” I whisper, waving with my free hand. But I forgot I was holding flowers, so it looks like I’m flapping them around.

“Hi,” he answers with a sexy smile that makes me glad he’s my husband. He knows me, knows I’m awkward, and loves every second of it.

I hand off my bouquet to Samantha and take Carter’s hands. The officiant speaks, but I’m lost in Carter’s eyes and don’t really register the words until he asks, “Does anyone have any reason these two people shouldn’t be married today?”

It’s not the question that gets my attention, but Zack clearing his throat. Carter whirls, his eyes wide and incredulous.

Zack grins back. “I was just gonna say that you can’t ‘be married today’ because you’re already married.” He slaps a solid pat to Carter’s shoulder. “You’re my best friend. You weren’t worried I was actually gonna object, were you?”

“No, of course not.” Carter totally was.

I kinda was too, even though Carter and Zack are fine now. They’ve continued their business, with Zack picking up another small property to flip just last week. Though Carter spends all his professional time working on the Cartwright estate, he and Zack spend the occasional lunch or hang out time here and there, talking business and investing what Carter calls ‘fun money’. Zack, on the other hand, calls it his livelihood, but it works for them the same way it always has.

“May we continue?” the officiant asks. When Carter and I look back to him, he nods. “I understand you’ve written your own vows. Please proceed.”

Carter licks his lips and for the first time, I see nervousness in his expression. We’re already married, so it’s not like anything he says here will change that, but this is important to us both.

“Luna, I wish I could offer you pretty words or art that’d make you feel how much I love you because you deserve the moon, the stars, and more. Unfortunately, all I’m offering is me. I hope it’s enough because I love you. I will always love you. We started with lies and chaos, things I know you don’t like, but they were somehow the perfect beginning to something real. I vow to always be truthful with you and with myself, to protect your heart as if it’s my own, and to stand in front of you when you need a moment to hide, beside you as we tackle life together, and behind you when your badass comes out. All versions are equally you and equally beautiful to me.”

“Wow,” I breathe, and everyone giggles, which makes my cheeks hot. I clear my throat, trying to remember the words I’ve practiced dozens of times, but they’re gone. My mind is completely blank.

“It’s okay,” Carter says quietly, reading me again. “Look at me. It’s just us.”

I fall into Carter’s blue eyes again, like I have so many times now, and see the warmth and acceptance there. I don’t need my practiced words. I know how I feel.

“I hated you, and then you tricked me into this situation that made me uncomfortable. But those aren’t bad things. You pushed me to grow and showed me that things aren’t always what they seem. And in more ways than one, you made my dreams come true. And now, we have a lifetime to create our future and become whoever we want to be . . . together. I vow to bravely go with you on this journey and enjoy every step along the way . . . even when we have to take a step backward to truly go forward.” I glance over at Mom, and she’s tearing up that I used her words in my vows.

“Lovely,” the officiant says. “And now, you may seal your vows with a—”

Carter doesn’t wait for him to say kiss. By the time the officiant says the word, I’m already in Carter’s arms with his mouth on mine. His lips move against me, promising even more than his vows did, and I kiss him back with just as many promises.

We did it. Well, we’re already doing it since we’re technically—legally—already married, but we did it again! I just hope we don’t have to keep having wedding ceremonies and proposals because I’m kinda over the public displays. But as Carter lets me go and we smile at our family and friends, I realize . . . this isn’t that bad. Not nearly as painful as a school field trip tour, at least.

“Woo-hoo!” I shout, holding our entwined hands up high.

There are shocked faces at my outburst, but then everyone celebrates with us.

“Congratulations!”

“Make sure Luna doesn’t pass out again!”

“So happy for y’all!”

“Nutbuster, get your ass over here!”

That last one is Kyle, who’s pulling on Peanut Butter’s leash as the dog tries to make an escape for the barn. I guess he’s hoping to see a particular horse again. He and Ed were good buddies when Peanut Butter visited before, plus the dog knows where the oat cookies are in the barn. Together, he’s made up his mind on where he wants to be and even Kyle isn’t going to hold him back.

“It’s okay, let the mangy mutt run. I’ll take him to the barn and meet y’all up at the house.” Bernard sounds almost . . . happy? Almost as if he realizes it, he adds, “It’ll keep him from tearing up my petunias or pissing on Rosalia.”

“Rosalia?” Kyle echoes in confusion, but Carter and I just laugh.

“Long story,” I offer.

Inside, Elena has the formal dining table expanded to its maximum capacity, and we all sit down. Carter’s at the head of the table, an honor Elena said she would be delighted to extend to him, and I’m on his right.

“I’d like to thank each of you,” Carter says, raising his wine for a toast. “Somehow, you each played a part in getting Luna and me here today, and it’s exactly where we both belong. We couldn’t have done it without you.”

We sip, and that begins a round of toasts from almost everyone. Except me. I’ve had enough time in the spotlight today.

When Elena stands, holding her glass up, she’s more serious than I expect on such a joyous occasion. I would think her toasts would include limericks and creative cursing, but rather, she says, “I lost the most important person in my life and was going through the motions of life. Until a charming young man and a passionate young lady showed up on my doorstep for dinner. And that changed everything. Now, I have an entirely new family.”