Keep Me Never

by Meagan Brandy

“What you did,” I whisper, my voice barely a breath. “It wasn’t fair.” I gulp hard, shaking my head. “You hid things from me, big things that affect you, things that affect me and my life. My future. You lied. You let me walk around in the dark, left me out, and you had no right. You did all those things and more and I want to be so mad at you right now because you didn’t even give me a chance.” His brows crash, eyes moving between mine. “I want to be so mad but how the hell am I supposed to be?”

“I think I’m supposed to be but I just… I’m not, Chase. How can I be? Look what you did for me. What you sacrifice. You say you were never going to leave me, and I believe you. So while I want to be mad at you, I’m not. I’m mad at myself because it took me so long to come, to tell you that I’m sorry for ever doubting your love for me. You love me.”

“I didn’t understand before why you would never let me speak the words out loud, but I get it now. You don’t think you deserve it. Well, I’m here to tell you you’re wrong. You are so much more than you think you are, and I’m so in love with you that I kind of want to smack you right now because how could you ever even think you were unworthy of this feeling?”

“You…are everything I never knew existed and so much more than I thought I would ever have, and I don’t see how anyone could ever love someone more than I love you.”

“I’m so sorry,” he murmurs into my hair, his voice thick. “I never wanted you to worry. I wanted to handle everything before you got home and then you came early and everything got out of control before I could fix it.”

I’ll never have even a moment of doubt again and I hate that I ever did when I knew better.

“I love you,” I whisper without hesitation. “I love you, Chase. Truly. Deeply.”

“I do not deser...

“Yeah, you do, but we’ll work on that,” I rasp. “Because we have now, and five, and twenty-five years to look back at this and I will keep reminding you of all the reasons why y...

“I’m keeping you, Chase Harper. Now. Always. So if you could please kiss me now, because I’ve missed⁠—”

He cuts me off with a swift press of his lips. One of his hands sinks into my hair, his other tugging me impossibly closer, his fingertips trembling as his body sags in relief. I’m where he needs me most—in his arms, close to his heart.

This kiss is different. It’s old and new and us. It’s hard...

And as I look out across my friends, I can feel it. The weight I didn’t even know I was carrying lifting off me, the love of my friends settling over me.

This is exactly where I’m supposed to be.

I’m going to keep this feeling with me. And if anyone ever asks me if I feel like I’m missing, I know exactly wha...

Paige is the first person to come into view, and I watch, breathless. She’s glowing, absolutely stunning. There’s a softness in her eyes that makes my pulse jump.

I can’t help but think about how far we’ve come, from the secrets and the hurt, to standing here today, and then she looks over, big, blue eyes locking with mine and everything feels…right.

As I stand there waiting, I’m not just thinking about now. I’m thinking about our future. The ring I’ll put on her finger. My name at the end of hers. Tiny little hands I’ll get to hold and baby-blue eyes that match their mama’s.

The music fades, everyone stands, and then Ari appears in all her bridal glory, her dad at her side, his newborn grandson tucked safely in his arms.

My eyes move to Noah, witnessing his choppy inhale and the glossiness in his eyes as he stares down at the two most important people in his life, his bride-to-be and their baby boy.

Mase reaches out, gripping Noah’s shoulders, and Brady an...

The moment hits hard, and I’m honored to be a part of this gr...

Because that is what we a...

This isn’t the end of any of our stories. This? This is the beginning of something new. I, for one, cannot wait to see what comes next. It’s going to be the greatest, wildest ride, and we’re taking it together. Let the future begin…