I Never Let You Go (I Never 3)

“Were you not paying attention? She just said that wasn’t the one,” Kelsey responds.

“No, not that one,” she says, pointing to the dress I’m currently wearing. “That one.” She points to the mannequin over in the corner, and everyone turns to look.

“Excuse me,” my mom calls out to the salesperson who has been helping us. “My daughter would like to try this dress on.”

She nods and goes to retrieve the dress before meeting me back in the dressing room. After helping me out of the “no go” dress, she helps me into this formfitting “hopefully the one” dress and excuses herself from the room, giving me a moment.

Once the straps are situated, I spin to face the mirror.

This is it. This is the dress. It even fits perfectly. That has to be a sign, right?

I finally experience the moment every bride dreams about when they finally put on “the dress.” I run my hands down my waist over the delicate lace and close my eyes, imagining walking down the aisle directly to Finn.

As I walk out of the fitting room, the crowd goes silent, like I can hear crickets beginning to chirp outside quiet. Well, that can’t be good. From the mirror, I browse everyone’s face.

“You look so beautiful,” my mom says, covering her nose and mouth in awe. Her eyes are filling up with tears.

“Simple yet elegan

t, just like you,” Dani manages to get out while accepting a tissue from my mom to wipe her eyes. “I’d blame the hormones, but I think it’s the dress.” She laughs between tears.

My sister still hasn’t said anything, and I stare at her in the mirror. She steps up beside me, careful not to step on the train of the dress, and places her hands on my arms.

“Is this the dress you’ve envisioned your whole life?”

I nod, entirely at a loss for words.

“Good because I think so too. And if you didn’t buy it, I would have, and I don’t even have a man.” I laugh. “Now come on, I’ll help you out of this.”

“I can’t believe you knew about all of this and didn’t say anything. Some maid of honor you are,” I joke, rolling my eyes. Kate pauses, her eyes wide in shock. “Oh please, like you didn’t know you’d be my maid of honor. As you said, I’ve been planning this day for my entire life, and there is no one I can think of that I want next to me when I say I do to forever.”

“Well, fuck,” she chokes out, wiping under her eyes. “I think some of Dani’s hormones stuck to me because I’m never this emotional. I mean, I knew it, but hearing you say this makes this all real. First, Kyler got married, and now you.” She exhales and composes herself with a smile on her face. “Now, what do you say we go get you hitched? I worked hard decorating last night, and I don’t mean to toot my own horn, but fucking beep beep. It looks amazing. I can’t wait for you to see it. I may or may not have gotten a hold of your wedding Pinterest board when Finn came to me with this plan, and Kelsey and I have made your dreams a reality.”

“Thank you” are the only words I can seem to find at this moment. Thank you is obviously not enough though. I am not even sure how to thank her for all that she has done, and not just all of this scheming, but forcing me to confront my feelings for Finn; otherwise, I may not have gotten here.

Kate helps me out of my dress and hangs it on the hanger while I change back into my clothes.

“I was right, you know,” she says over her shoulder.

“No surprise.” I playfully roll my eyes as I slip my shoes on. “About what?”

“Finn is your lobster.”

I chuckle and nod. “Yeah, I think he is too.”

The lantern lights dangling from the pergolas in the backyard and pool area twinkle in the dusk sky. I had left Kate and Kelsey in charge of decorations, and it’s more than I ever imagined. I was in awe when I stepped out back this afternoon when the girls all left to go shopping, but seeing it now as I wait here at the makeshift altar for my bride, it is truly something out of a fairy tale.

Paper lanterns light Lauren’s path. I can’t wait to see her face when she sees all this. She had been whisked away so fast earlier when we arrived, and the room that she has been getting ready in all evening faces the front of the house.

I turn to Chase, who is standing next to me as my best man. “Thanks for standing up here with me today as my best man.”

“Of course, I’m always here for you. Kelsey and I are here for you and Lauren always, man.” I nod. “I’m sorry Jax couldn’t make it. But I’ll take the job even if I got it just by default.”

Soft music begins to play, and that’s when I see her standing at the top of the stairs, just moments away from being mine forever.

With her mom and sister on each side, she begins her walk down to the altar. Her dress is simple, with lace going all the way to the floor and dragging behind her. Her hair is down in soft curls, pinned back from her face with her shoulders on full display. She is the most beautiful thing I have ever laid eyes on. She has been ever since our first meeting.

I love watching her face as she takes in the scene around her. Her brown eyes are glistening with tears, happy tears, of course. This moment is a dream come true.