Oahu, Hawaii One year ago Finley grunts as she pulls the bathroom stall door closed. "Why did you have to buy the world's princessiest dress?"

"So that you'd have to accompany me every time I needed to pee." I work the back of the skirt up, careful to avoid the toilet water. "You got it?"

"I'm going to laugh if you end up p.i.s.sing on this thing."

"Best maid of honor ever."

"I got a free trip to Hawaii out of the deal."

"Exactly, so shut up and hand me some toilet paper."

I expected to be a little nervous today, seeing ruby and mustard, but I'm not. I'm happy, excited, and ready for this new beginning. Today is shamrock and b.u.mblebee for me, because today I'm marrying my best friend.

Maverick. The man who brought me back, showed me love and pa.s.sion in the purest ways.

Finley and I exit the bathroom and walk to the hotel foyer. My sister is my only other bridesmaid, and she's there waiting. My mom is there too, ready to walk me down the aisle and give me away. They smile at me, my sister bouncing on the b.a.l.l.s of her bare feet. Mom isn't as giddy, but she's happy for me too. She just shows it in a more calm and collected way. Like constantly asking if I've eaten, gotten enough rest, and if I remembered my grandmother's blue handkerchief.

"Got it," I say, showing her that I've wrapped it around the stem of my bouquet.

Maverick and I wanted a wedding that reminded us of Cancun. His mother suggested Hawaii, and his father pulled some strings to make it happen fast. The idea to have the ceremony at twilight belonged to Maverick.

At the cue from the wedding planner, Mom and I exit the hotel for the beach. I'm barefoot, the only way to be on sand. The sun is hanging low in the sky, and the shades of yellow, pink, and blue create a backdrop of happiness, love, and new beginnings.

I take a deep breath. I still have no nerves. The breath is to calm myself from the thought of running down the aisle. My mom insisted on wearing heels, and anything faster than a steady stride, she might roll an ankle. I almost think she planned this.

"Wait for the music to change," she says as I step forward.

We're around a corner, so I can't see Maverick yet, but I know when I do, the scene will be red.

Finally the music changes and Mom nods at me. We turn the corner. Maverick's smile is the first thing I see. It's bright and big and canary yellow.

"Slow down," Mom whispers beside me. "These shoes weren't made for sand."

"I tried to tell you that when you bought them."

It takes too long to reach the front. Once there I can't fling myself into his arms. I can't stand being this close and having to contain my joy.

He doesn't take his eyes off of me. I don't even hear my mother say her line, but I feel her take my hand and place it in Maverick's.

"Thank you, Mom," I say.

She nods and wipes a happy-tear from her cheek before sitting down in the front row.

"I love you," Maverick mouths.

"I love you," I mouth back.

For vows, we decided to wing it. In real life this idea would drive us both into a panic attack. However, I tried to write them out a thousand times, but I couldn't put into words what Maverick means to me.

"Then let's not think about it," Maverick suggested. "When the time comes, just say what's in your heart."

I didn't tell him, but I couldn't do that either.

So when it's my turn, Finley hands me a piece of unfolded paper. Maverick's brows lower in confusion.

"Words fail me, but drawing never does. I see the world in pictures and colors," I begin, turning the painting I created around for him to see. "I once drew a portrait of you, how I saw you back then. This is how I see you now. You're azure, because you're loyal and lapis because you're trustworthy. You've cast out so many of my fears. You're rose, because you're compa.s.sionate. The scarlet is for love, and it's the brightest of reds. Apricot stands for our friends.h.i.+p. You're my lover, my best friend. The one I want to spend every day of my life with. You've made me happier than I ever thought I could be. That's why there's so many shades of yellow. The juniper is because you filled a hole in my heart. Then, of course, there's the black and white. White is because today, we're starting a new life together. A new beginning, a new family. And the black is for my promise to you: I promise to be all of these things for you as you have been for me." I twist the page slightly, so the new angle presents itself. Maverick's face goes slack. The painting isn't just of him anymore. It's of me too. "Today, we become one. All the colors mix, the good and the bad. I want to experience it all with you, for the rest of my life."

It's Maverick's turn, but he doesn't speak. He just looks at me like I've given him the most precious gift in the world. Then, when he steps forward and kisses me, I understand that I have.

The officiate clears his throat after several seconds. "We're not to that part yet," he whispers.

Maverick ends the kiss, but he doesn't let go of the hold he has on me. "Alieya, the moment I saw you, I knew I liked you. By the end of the week, I loved you. You inspire me, and I want to see the world the way you see it. I want you to show me. I want a house with a picket fence. I want kids. No matter what happens I promise you this: I'll be by your side. There will never be just you or just me again. There will only always be us."

I want him to kiss me again, but this time Maverick waits for the announcement before he seals our forever. Our friends and family cheer, and all I see is my husband. The man I love.

We dismiss the guests to the reception area, and the photographer takes us down by the water for more photos.

"I have a surprise for you," Maverick whispers into my ear after we take the last picture.

"Yeah? I'm intrigued."

He swoops me up and carries me over the sand. "You're going to love it."

"Now I'm worried. Are you trying to convince me?"

"Do you need convincing?"

"Depends on the surprise."

He only smiles.

We stop outside the reception room, but I can't see inside with the strands of iridescent streamers in the doorway. Streamers I don't remember asking for.

"Did you change rooms?"

"Are you ready?" he asks, not answering my question.

I'm confused. "The surprise is in there?"

"Yes. I took the liberty of making a few changes to the design we originally picked out."

"Oh no." I shake my head. "Maverick, what did you do?"

"It was too formal, totally not us, and this is Hawaii. We wanted to get married here, because it reminded us of how we met, so..."

The announcer calls out, "Please welcome Mr. and Mrs. Maverick Tavare!"

Maverick pushes forward through the streamers, and I get my first look at the dining area I didn't approve. My eyes roam over the room, taking in the new decorations-amethyst, turquoise, pearl.

Then I start to laugh.

"Do you like it, Jellysnack?" Maverick asks, smirking like the goofball he is.

"You a.s.s!" I smack his arm.

The room resembles the Jellyfish Kingdom, with glittery violet jellyfish hanging from the ceilings and light-up toy jellyfish in gla.s.s bowls as centerpieces. There's even a tubal aquarium in the corner with live jellyfish under a black light.

"Please don't tell me you changed the menu too?"

"I tried, but since you didn't like the jellyfish in Cancun, I didn't think you'd like it here either. Different ocean, same jellyfish."

Maverick puts me down as Finley approaches. "I told him you'd hate it," she says.

"No you didn't."

"No, I didn't," she admits, smiling big. "I helped."

I hug her. "You're an a.s.s too."

She curtsies. "You're welcome. Now go have your first dance, Mr. and Mrs. Tavare, and then, smash cake in each other's faces."

Chapter 29.

Present Day 8:11 a.m.

Finley groans and stretches her arms into the air. "What time is it?"

"After eight," I reply.

"That was more than one sleep cycle. I'm sorry, Ali."

"It's fine."

"Did you get any sleep?"

"A little," I lie.

She doesn't call me out. "I'll go get us some coffee."

After she leaves, a nurse I don't recognize enters. "Hi, I'm Laney, and I'll be taking care of you now that J.J.'s s.h.i.+ft has ended. If you need anything, please let me know."

"They drew Maverick's blood again a little bit ago. Was it okay?"

"Let me look." She goes to the computer and clicks on the keyboard. "Still a slight elevation. We'll continue taking his blood pressure every thirty minutes, though, just to keep an eye on it."

I motion to one of the screens. "Isn't it continually monitored?"

"Yes, but it's not always accurate."

"Thank you," I say, and she nods.

"I'll be back in a few minutes."

I clasp Maverick's hand. "Hold on, okay? It'll be all right."

Finley comes back before Laney. "You still like that hazelnut garbage in your coffee, right? 'Cause I dumped six packets in there."

"Oh, yummy."

She sits and hands me an apple. "I figured you'd be hungry too."

"A little." I put the apple onto the table beside me. "Thanks."

"You should shower or something. I can stay here and watch over Maverick."

I stare at her until what she said finally sinks in. "Are you saying what I think you're saying?"

"Yes."

I sniff my s.h.i.+rt, trying to remember if I put it on yesterday morning or afternoon. Then I s.h.i.+ft my attention back to Maverick. Other than a flinch or two, he hasn't shown signs of waking. I trail my fingertips over his arm. He used to think it tickled. Laughing, he'd pull away from me only to come back for more seconds later.

He was always so good at laughing.

"Maybe later."

Finley pa.s.ses her apple between her hands, back and forth.

I flick my wrist. "Just say it."

She does a couple more pa.s.ses before gripping the apple with both hands. "Have you called Maverick's parents yet?"

I bite my lip, then shake my head.

"They're thirty minutes from here. They probably want to know what's going on, Ali."

"I feel like calling them would mean I have to include them, and I don't want to. I can't tell them what happened and ask them not to come. Is that selfish?"

"You included me."