“I just don’t think it’s a good idea to go out for drinks, Alyssa. We’re both pretty tired,” Erika frowned. “Maybe next week.”
“Ah, come on! It will be fun! Plus, Logan’s working tonight at Jacob’s so we can annoy him by ordering food and sending it back nonstop. It will be so epic!”
Kellan smiled. “That does sound kind of fun. And I miss fun.”
Erika narrowed her eyes. “You want to go?”
He nodded rapidly.
“Seriously? You’re not tired?”
He shook his head rapidly.
She sat in deep thought for a moment as Kellan and I gave her the biggest puppy dog eyes she’d ever seen. When she finally gave in, we both cheered with excitement.
“One appetizer and one drink! Water for this dude,” she smiled, nodding toward Kellan.
“Just so you know, I’m going to sip my water really, really slow.”
When we arrived at Jacob’s restaurant, Erika frowned. “Why is there a closed sign on the door? It’s six in the evening.”
“I don’t know, that’s weird.” I grabbed the handle and turned, opening the door. “It’s unlocked. Come on, let’s see if Jacob is here.”
The moment we stepped inside, Erika gasped as she saw all of the wedding decorations. The place was packed solid with all of their friends, shouting, “Surprise!”
“What’s going on?” Erika asked, her eyes shooting back and forth.
Jacob came over, wrapping his arm around Kellan. “I’ll take care of this guy, and Alyssa, you help your sister out. The ladies room is free for you both.”
“For what?” Erika asked, still flustered, but I grabbed her arm and pulled her along with me. When we stepped into the bathroom, her hands covered her mouth. “Why is my wedding dress here, Aly?”
I smiled, almost feeling her overwhelmed energy. “I thought you knew? You’re getting married today.”
“What?”
“I said, you’re getting married today.” Her eyes started to water, and I shook my head. “Oh no. No crying. The make-up artist is going to be here in a few minutes. And we have to get you ready.”
“You mean… That wedding out there… Those decorations, those people. That’s my wedding?”
I nodded.
She huffed, placing her hands on her hips in disbelief. “You did this for me?”
“It was Logan’s idea.” She bit her bottom lip and started shivering. “Aw, honey. Don’t cry.”
“I’m not,” she sobbed, covering her face with her hands. “That was just a really, really nice thing for him to do.”
We hurried to get her ready, placing her into her beautiful white wedding gown, pinning her hair up into a delicate bun, and we laughed and laughed while drinking champagne. “Are you ready, sis?” I asked, standing behind her in my maid of honor dress.
“Yes. I just wish Mom was…”
I frowned. “I know.”
“But, it doesn’t matter. Tonight is about Kellan and me. Tonight is ours.”
When we walked out to the restaurant, Jacob was standing onstage with a microphone in his hand, ready to officiate the ceremony. To his left was Kellan in a suit and tie, and beside Kellan was Logan. My eyes danced across his face, taking in all of him. His smile was wide and spread to his eyes. His beautiful locks of hair were missing, though. All of his hair was gone, freshly shaved to match his brother. Not only did Erika tear up, but water fell from my eyes.
I loved him.
For always. For always. For always.
“You stay here,” I said to my sister. “Don’t move until you hear me playing, then go meet your soon to be husband.”
Erika was still in a beautiful shock, but she nodded. I headed over to the piano and began to play as I watched my sister walk down the aisle toward the love of her life. Tears fell down her cheeks, and tears fell down mine.
They deserved this moment. They deserved it more than anyone in the world. Jacob read his script, and the two lovers exchanged their vows, promising each other the hard days and the calm days. The painful heartbreaks, and the beautiful heartbeats. The forever and always. When they kissed, everyone in the room felt the love they shared.