Here's to Us(What If It's Us #2)(102)

I laugh, wiping my eyes.

“Arthur, I love you and I’m so excited to write this next chapter with you,” he says. “And every chapter.”

“Seussical, holy moly,” Dylan says, shaking his head. “What are you gonna say to that?”

“Yeah . . . remind me why we let the published author go first?”

Ben grins, and I grin back.

“You’re lucky I’m not easily intimidated,” I say, and then I pause. “Or that I’m so easily intimidated that I’m used to being intimidated, which is kind of like not being intimidated, I guess?”

A few people chuckle, and I unfold my paper, feeling strangely removed from my body.

Deep breath.

“Dear Boy from the Post Office.”

I sneak a glance up at Ben, who’s already wiping his eyes at the corners.

“Eight years ago, we talked for a few minutes at the post office on Lexington. I was the guy with the hot dog tie. You were the guy mailing stuff back to your ex-boyfriend. And now I’m marrying you.”

There’s a collective awwww, but it must be a million miles away, because right now it’s just us. Me and Ben.

“Much like a narwhal,” I say, glancing back down at my paper, “I can hardly believe this moment is real.”

Ben laughs, and it makes my throat go thick.

“I’m so in love with you. I always have been. You know that. And I know I’m supposed to be vowing stuff, but I don’t really know where to start.” I breathe in. “I just want to make you happy,” I say. “But I’ll be there when you’re not happy, too. If you’re sad, I’ll sit inside it with you. I know I’m going to mess up sometimes, too, but I promise to say sorry a lot, because that’s what people do when they want something to work.”

Ben nods, blinking really quickly.



“Ben, I want to fall asleep next to you and start every day with you. I want infinite do-overs. I want to make you laugh and know everything about you. I want to see what you look like when you’re old, and I’m not even talking about, like, dad old. I mean old old.” Ben laughs again and wipes another tear. “I want your whole entire story. And the bonus footage. And the blooper reel. I just—I love you more than I thought was even possible. Like, it’s honestly kind of ridiculous. And I just keep thinking about that first summer in New York, and how I was actually homesick.” My voice breaks. “But now I know you’re my home.”

I fold my paper up. Exhale. Ben and I look at each other.

Dylan dabs at his eyes with the cuff of his sleeve. “Folks, I don’t know what to tell you. They’re not straight, but they came straight for our hearts.” He clutches his chest for a moment. “Yeah, I better seal this deal, stat. Whip it out, guys!”

“The rings,” Samantha cuts in from the front row. “He means the rings.”

Ben’s hands are shaking, I notice. And then I realize mine are, too.

The next part is a blur. With this ring. As a symbol. From this moment forward. Without reservation.

I do.

I do.

“Then with the power vested in me by the internet, by God, and by the state of Connecticut, I now pronounce you husband and husband!” Dylan declares, blowing a kiss in our direction. “Do the thing.”

And all I can think is: sometimes what-ifs come true.





Acknowledgments





As Ben Alejo once said, this story hasn’t been easy. Deadlines, virtual elementary school, misaligned schedules, and our own messy brains made this a very different process than What If It’s Us. But amid all the fog and chaos, one thing’s always been crystal clear: we’ve got the world’s greatest people backing us up, and there isn’t a universe where we could have done it without them.

In particular:

Donna Bray, who walked us through many rounds of do-overs with the most brilliant editorial guidance. Thanks for bearing with all our ups and downs (and the occasional wedding-themed PowerPoint presentation). Your patience and sense of humor are unparalleled—which just might come in handy now that you’re Dylan’s mother-in-law. (Lo siento for all the spitting, Donna!)

Andrew Eliopulos, forever one of the biggest stars in Arthur and Ben’s universe.

Our agents, Jodi Reamer and Holly Root, who (as Dylan would say) LOCKED THIS BOOK DOWN. We can’t thank you enough for your endless support and advocacy throughout this entire process. Infinite gratitude as well to our teams at Writers House and Root Literary (with special shout-outs to Alyssa Moore, Heather Baror-Shapiro, Cecilia de la Campa, and Rey Lalaoui)

Alexandra Cooper, Alessandra Balzer, and the rest of our incredible team at HarperCollins, including: Shona McCarthy, Mark Rifkin, Erin Fitzsimmons, Alison Donalty, Allison Brown, Sabrina Abballe, Michael D’Angelo, Audrey Diestelkamp, Patty Rosati, Mimi Rankin, Katie Dutton, Jackie Burke, Mitch Thorpe, Tiara Kittrell, and Allison Weintraub.

Kaitlin López and Matthew Eppard, who run the show (and should probably run the universe).

Our team at UTA, who make what ifs come true: Jason Richman, Mary Pender-Coplan, Daniela Jaimes, Orly Greenberg, and Nia Nation.

Dana Goldberg, Bill Bost, Blair Bigelow, Stacy Traub, and Ryan Litman for the do-over of our dreams.

Our amazing international publishing teams, who have brought so many readers into this universe (with special shout-outs to S&S UK, Leonel Teti, Christian Bach, and Kaya Hoff.)