Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87015 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87015 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
“You’re leaving me hanging here,” he said with a grin.
“I just…I didn’t think I could feel this way. I didn’t understand all the fuss about love until you. I’m crazy in love with you, beautiful, and fuck yes, I’ll marry you again.”
I tugged Parker to his feet, pulled him into my arms, and took possession of his mouth. Everyone around us was clapping and cheering, but it felt like it was just the two of us, this moment forever ours.
“That was incredible. I can’t believe you did this for me.” I nuzzled his neck, speaking softer. “Look at you, my perfect boy, making me the happiest man in the world. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life loving you.”
“Oh God…don’t get me hard. Why do I feel like I’m always saying that to you?”
I laughed. “Because you are.”
“Elliott…this is better than I could have ever imagined—you are better than I could have ever imagined. Now stay still so I can put another ring on it!”
I laughed, our audience still cheering for us. Parker’s hands were shaking as he pulled off our cheap Vegas ring and slid the new one on.
“I can’t believe you’re really mine.” I held his face in my hands before kissing him again.
“Always.”
“I can’t hold back anymore!” Corbin yelled, running at us. “Beach Bum Hug!”
“Huh? What’s that?” I asked, but then Corbin had his arms around Parker, followed by Declan, then Marcus. Just as Sebastian stepped up to my side, Parker reached for me and took my hand. He tugged me close, fingers tangled with mine, Sebastian and I both joining in on their hug orgy.
It was perfect.
Vaughn was there when we parted. Mom, Dad, and Parker’s dad too. People congratulated us as they walked by.
“Everyone want to hang out at our place to celebrate?” Dad asked.
The group agreed, but it was Parker’s dad I was looking at. “We’d love for you to come too. I hope you will.”
He nodded, before saying to Parker, “I’m so happy for you, son.”
“Thank you, Dad. I love you so much.”
He turned to me. “Thank you for loving my boy the way he deserves.”
I got choked up, my throat full. “I’ll always love him.”
“We have a wedding to plan!” Mom cut in, and oh fuck, I was getting married. Dizziness swept over me. Forget that I already was married; this was…this was something else entirely.
“Oh my God! I know! I can’t wait!” Parker replied, and once the panic eased, I realized how much I couldn’t wait either.
We all went to my parents’ place after that. When we first arrived, Parker asked to speak with me, Mom, and Dad in private. He apologized to them for our lies and to my mom for what she’d heard. “I’m so sorry. You welcomed me into your home and your family and…”
“Shh.” Mom pulled him close. “It’s in the past and we’ll let it stay there.”
Parker wiped his tears, clearly grateful before we met up in the living room with everyone else. We stayed for hours, eating, talking, and yes, already wedding-planning. I found a time to talk with Parker’s dad to make my apologies for our lies too.
It was late by the time we got home, and now we were naked in bed after we’d made love. We talked more, about why both of us had been so quiet after Big Bear, about what I’d walked in and heard him say, and about the things he and his dad had spoken about.
“El?”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you for loving me.”
“Beautiful, you don’t have to thank me for doing that. I don’t know for sure, or if it really matters to me, but I’ve been wondering if I might be demiromantic.”
He pushed up onto his elbows, looking at me. “Really? How do you feel about that?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. I just know I love you. This…how I feel…I don’t know that I had it in me before you. This connection we have, it’s deeper. You give me something no one else ever could. It’s always been you I was waiting for.”
“God, I love you, El. Thank you for never giving up on me.”
I couldn’t wait to begin my happily ever after with Parker, The Romantic, by my side.
EPILOGUE
Parker
Three Months Later
“Hello, beautiful people. Welcome to The Vers, where four best friends who rarely agree on anything give their versatile opinions about everything. I’m Corbin Erickson, The Charmer.”
“I’m Parker Hansley-Weaver, The Romantic, and happily married man planning his second wedding to my current and only husband.” I loved reminding people that Elliott was mine, but also, I was planning a wedding! It was such a dream come true, and I wanted to talk about it all the time.
“And I’m Marcus Alston, The Realist—in case everyone forgot since last week.”
“Oooh, Marcus is grumpy today.” Corbin nudged him.
“Is there a reason you interrupt before I introduce myself practically every time?” Declan questioned. Sometimes I didn’t know how we actually got through the show each week. We were always nitpicking at each other.