“You gave me this, Beckett. You showed me that I could reach for it. It’s the greatest gift I’ll ever receive. You and this family.”
I took her mouth in a slow kiss. “It’s only just beginning.”
EPILOGUE
ADDIE
ONE MONTH LATER
I held the washcloth under the stream of ice-cold water. Wringing out the excess water, I held it to the back of my neck. I breathed in through my nose and out through my mouth. Please, please, please, no vomiting on my wedding day.
A knock sounded on the door.
“Come in.”
The door opened slowly, and Everly stepped inside. Her gaze swept over me. “Are you okay? You’re looking a little pale.”
I tried to muscle up my best smile but knew it wavered around the edges. “My stomach is a little upset.”
“Nerves?”
I made a humming sound that wasn’t agreement or disagreement.
Everly’s eyes widened. “Are you pregnant?”
“Shhhh,” I hissed.
“No one knows?”
I bit my lip. “I took three tests last night. I haven’t exactly had a chance to tell Beckett.”
He had spent the night with Hayes, Calder, and his friend, Holt, at Hayes and Everly’s house, while Everly, Hadley, Shiloh, and Laiken had stayed here. We’d eaten a million snacks and watched Bridesmaids. But when I’d had to excuse myself to throw up in the bathroom for the third day in a row, I knew that something was up. I’d bought a couple of pregnancy tests earlier in the day but hadn’t had the guts to take them until last night.
A huge smile stretched across Everly’s face as tears filled her eyes. “You’re going to be the best mom.”
I twisted my fingers in front of me. “I’m not so sure about that. I had my mom for such a short time. And my dad…” I let my words fall off.
Ev moved in closer. “We know what not to be because of those hardships. We know what we didn’t have that we want to create for our children. You will make that little bun feel so incredibly safe and loved. There is no doubt in my mind.”
Tears filled my eyes now. It was exactly what I needed to hear. “Thank you, Ev.” I pulled my cousin into a hug. “I’m sorry I pushed you away so much. It was just hard for me to trust—”
“That I wouldn’t leave again,” Everly finished for me. “I know. I’m so sorry I hurt you when I went. It was the last thing I wanted to do.”
“I know that. I do. You had to take care of yourself.”
“I love you, Addie. So very much.”
“I love you, too.” I smiled into her hair. “You think you’d maybe want to be a godmother to this baby?”
Everly straightened, holding onto my shoulders. Then she started to laugh. “You haven’t even told Beckett he’s going to be a dad. Don’t you think he might want to have a say in who’ll be the godmother?”
I shrugged. “He can pick the godfather.”
Ev hugged me again. “I would be honored.”
My stomach pitched, and I pulled back. “Crud.”
“Nauseous?”