Save Me (Best of Me Book 2)

Chapter Eight

And the final chapter! Congrats, here's the happy ending I promised! 

Enjoy!!!

"Thank you all for coming tonight," I say into the microphone. Our family and friends sit at the various tables at our rehearsal dinner. "It means a great deal to Quinn and I to see you all here. It's been a crazy couple years and to have a room full of people who have loved and supported us both through everything means the world." I look over to Quinn who's standing beside me with a wide smile. "Dessert should be coming out any moment, so please enjoy!" I set the microphone down and take a seat beside Quinn. She places a kiss on my cheek and turns back to her conversation with CoCo. Somewhere along the wedding planning, Quinn chose CoCo as her maid of honor with Izzy—who doubles as a flower girl—and Natasha as her other bridesmaids. Leaving me with my brothers and cousin Julia. But Christopher took up the title of man of honor—though he really didn't mind being called a maid of honor.Our bridal party sits with us at the head table, the rest of my family spread out across the tables.

Quinn and I make our rounds as dessert comes out. Greeting our guests, cracking jokes. I can't help but feel upset for Quinn. She doesn't have any family, none that she has talked to or kept close in over a decade. She extended invitations to them for the wedding, but she swore she didn't mind. She loved my family like her own, and hers has never truly been there for her. I just wish it didn't have to be this way.

"Stop," Quinn says to me as we slide back into our seats.

"What?"

"I'm happy, Theo." She grips my hand in her lap. "Your family...they're all I need."

"They're your family, too." I lean my head against hers, her eyes watery and happy. The clinking of glasses pulls our attention over to my dad. "Oh great."

"Hi, hello, I'm Clark, father of the bride," he says then pauses, "Theo, I'm Theo's dad. Fuck it, I'm Quinn's dad, too. I was only allowed to give this speech if I left my little guillotine at home. And no, that isn't a euphemism."

"Dad!" I shout, a blush creeping up my neck.

"Right! I have never been more proud of my daughter than I am today. As many of you know, several years ago she lost her first love, Mae. We didn't know if she would ever bounce back from that, ever put herself out there and fall in love again. And then we met Quinn—or should I say we first met Riley," he shakes his head. A chorus of laughter fills the room. "For those who don't know, Theo thought the best thing to do instead of telling us the truth was to pretend to have a girlfriend. Quinn appeared at our house one Christmas with Theo going by the name Riley. And, honestly, from the moment they walked through that door we were all convinced they were in love. They may have thought it was fake at first, but the love that blossomed between these two incredible and resilient women is beyond words."

My dad looks at me, a soft smile on his face.

"Theo, you have always been strong, but I am so proud of the woman you have grown to be. And, Quinn," he turns to her, "you have loved and supported my daughter from day one. You understand her better than anyone and I cannot thank you enough for everything you have done." Lastly, he looks up to the ceiling in thought, and back down again, a little teary eyed. "And Mae, wherever she is, I have no doubt she is full support of this couple. To Theo and Quinn." He raises his glass and everyone follows suit. I don't drink, neither does Quinn. We're both crying softly and smiling at my dad. He, too, is crying. Many of us are.

My fingers find the pendent resting on my collarbone and press into the gem.

Mae is here with me. With us. Quinn's hand comes up and rests over mine as she kisses my temple.