VICTORIOUS (A Quantum Novel)(88)

“Are you mad that we lied?” Livvy asks in a small voice that tugs at my heart.

I hug her again because I can. “I’m thrilled that you lied and gave me the best surprise of my life. I was so sad that you couldn’t be here, but I didn’t want to admit it even to myself.”

“It was all Flynn’s idea,” Leah says. “He thought it would be fun to surprise you, and it was! You should’ve seen your face when we walked in here.”

“I thought I was seeing things.”

A yip from the hallway has me running to the door again, where I see Addie leading Fluff on a leash. I bend to scoop up my baby, who runs to me when she sees me. “What’s she doing here?” She’s wearing a special new red collar and a red bow on the top of her head. I can’t believe she allowed that.

“Flynn made sure the security guys brought her over. He knew you’d want her here.”

“After he told me she’d be happier at home. He’s too much. Thank you, Addie, for anything and everything you did to make this day so special for us.”

She hugs me. “My pleasure. Ladies, let’s get you downstairs.” Addie lines up the girls so Leah and Aileen go first, followed by my sisters.

Max extends his arm to me. “Shall we, my dear?”

“Yes, please.” I tuck my hand into his elbow, struck by how sad it is that my parents’ choices make it so they can’t be part of my life. Although, looking back on it all now, I wouldn’t change a thing because everything that happened in my past led me to Flynn.

Though nothing about this house is familiar to me, it already feels like home in a way. For the first time since I left my home so many years ago, I feel like I’m exactly where I belong. Who knew the home of my heart would be in Beverly Hills among superstars known the world over by their first names?

Accompanied by the sounds of a string quartet, Max escorts me down the winding stairs and out to the yard, where a gazebo and chairs have been set up for the ceremony.

We emerge from the house into warm, soft late-afternoon Southern California sunshine. The yard is full of people, but the only one I see is Flynn. He is standing with Hayden, Jasper, Kristian and Emmett, the brothers of his heart, by his side, and he is zeroed in on me as I come toward him on the arm of his father.

Max delivers me with a hug, a kiss and wishes for a long, happy life together.

Flynn receives a hug from his father and takes my hand, smiling widely at me. His joy is mine, his happiness essential to me. And I’ve never seen him look happier than he does right now.

I hand my flowers to Candace so I can hold both his hands while the judge, who is a close friend of Max’s, leads us through the recitation of our vows. It is no less emotional the second time I pledge my life and my love to this extraordinary man who has changed my life so profoundly.

“Flynn and Natalie have pledged their lives and their love to each other, and now they wish to share some personal thoughts. Natalie?”

Since Flynn and I agreed to do this, I’ve thought a lot about what I want to say to him, but now that the moment is upon me and people are watching, my brain is frozen until he squeezes my hands, smiles and gazes into my eyes in that intense way of his. I forget about everyone else and focus only on him.

“If someone had told me six weeks ago today that I’d be standing in this lovely yard in Beverly Hills, gazing into the eyes of Flynn Godfrey and pledging to love him forever, I’d have had that person committed. Things like this don’t happen to people like me. Or so I thought until I met you and found out that dreams really do come true, that true love exists, that fairy tales aren’t just for the movies. I never could’ve imagined being loved by anyone the way you love me, and I’ll be thankful for and protective of that love for the rest of our lives. I can’t wait for what’s ahead for us, and I look forward to every minute of our lives together. I love you so much. You’ll never know how much.”

His eyes brighten with unshed tears as he listens to me, and when I finish, he kisses me, sending a soft wave of laughter through the rows of guests looking on.

“I’ll never forget that life-changing moment in Bleecker Park,” he begins, gazing down at me as he speaks, “the first time I ever laid eyes on you and I knew, I just knew you were the one I never expected to find. I love that you couldn’t care less about my job or any of the baggage that comes with it. I love that you see me, just me, the way no one else ever has. I love that I can be fully myself with you and that you accept every part of me.”