F I F T E E N (15) Y E A R S L A T E R . . .
Lexi's POV
"You have the flowers, right Ethan?" I asked, putting on a light cardigan. I stood in the mirror, not ready for this morning.
"Yeah." He nodded, appearing beside me in the mirror. I wrapped my arms around him, not ever wanting to let go.
"It's gonna be fine, we've done this for fifteen years now..." He told me, holding me tightly. I nodded as we let go of each other.
"Mom?" I heard behind me, turning to see Emma standing in the bedroom, as she'd just gotten here from her own house. I smiled, walking over to her as we hugged.
"Are you okay?" She asked quietly, looking at me. I looked into her hazel eyes.
"I will be." I said, sighing. "We all will be."
"What time are we meeting Auntie?" She asked, as Ethan turned off the bathroom light and walked over to us, giving his now twenty-one year old daughter a tight hug.
"In about half an hour, so we need to leave now. Your dad has flowers and the note from all of us." I explained as we all left Ethan and I's bedroom. I walked to Jordan's room and knocked on the door. A seventeen year old version of Ethan opened it seconds later.
"Ready to go?" I asked. He nodded, the four of us walking downstairs and out the front door to the car. I got in the passenger's seat and unlocked my phone, beginning to write a text.
To: Sammy
Me: Hi honey... we're on our way. It's a special one this year...
Moments later, I got a reply.
Sammy: Thank you for coming, as you guys always do. It really means the world Lexi.
I didn't reply, but put my phone in my purse and looked out at the cool, dewy, summer morning. Ethan reached over and squeezed my hand, holding it until he took a right turn and parked inside the gates of the local cemetery. I saw Sam and Grayson's car not far away, Koby standing next to them. We got out of the car and Emma carried the flowers, and I, greeting Sam with a hug, followed by Grayson and Koby. I looked down at the familiar gravestone in front of us...
"KYLE J. DOLAN
GONE FAR TOO SOON.
WE LOVE YOU BABY BOY,
WITH LOTS OF LOVE;
MOM, DAD, & KOBY."
Every year, Ethan, Jordan, Emma, and I come with Sam, Gray, and Koby to visit Kyle on his birthday. Emma set the flowers down on the grass over the grave, next to the bouquet of sunflowers that were already there. Ethan set the letter down with the flowers. Grayson sniffed, wiping at the tears that were sliding down his cheek, and almost immediately Ethan stepped over and wrapped his arms around his brother.
"His 18th birthday... your baby's all grown up." I said, looking over at Sam, breaking the silence. I felt tears fall from my eyes, as I watched my best friend, my children's aunt, trying to be so strong. But it's okay to break sometimes. I hugged her, as we cried silently together.
"We all miss you Kyle." I heard Jordan say, his voice cracking, as he bent down towards the ground. I let go of Sam, hugging my son.
"You two would've been best friends..." I teared up even more, as he held me tightly, telling me not to cry, that it's okay, that Kyle is safe now, protected by Sam's angel...
---A/N---
i don't even know what to say right now if I'm being honest. Sammy & i worked so hard on this book and we had so much fun writing it, while also having to deal with writers block and sad chapters that we cried writing. thank u guys for supporting us along the journey of Match Made on Stage & Match Made... it was a great run :')
lexi
