Meet Me at Midnight

Epilogue

Two Years Later…

Juniper

This is the day I’ve dreamed about since I was thirteen years old.

Not just in theory but in vivid detail, down to the color and arrangement of my flowers and the way I’d wear my hair. I imagined the cake and the tux for my groom, and I imagined all of it with Beau Banks.

And today, it’s happening.

I smooth on another layer of lip gloss over the Chanel lipstick shade called Adrienne, my lips curving naturally into a smile. I don’t feel nervous or unsure or preoccupied with what could go wrong. I’m ready to get married.

And I’m ready to do it with my soul mate.

Avery rushes into her childhood bedroom where we’re getting ready for the most magical night of my life.

The Banks house has always been my shelter and my happiness, and the symbolism of marrying Beau here was always something I carried in my mind.

“Oh my God, June,” she cries, sitting down on the settee beside me and twinkling her fingers together excitedly. “You’re never going to believe the next-level, out-of-this-world, holy-shit-I’m-dying tea that’s been spilling downstairs for the last half hour while we’ve been up here getting you ready for eternal happiness and all that stupid shit.”

I shake my head on a laugh. “What happened?”

“Evidently, Seth and Bethany got into this big fight while they were taking their seats. Something about how he’s fed up with how distant she’s been, and he accused her of still being in love with Beau!”

My heart drops, but Avery waves her hands to keep me on track.

“Now, don’t get too excited, but it went even crazier than you’d imagine after that. Not only is she not in love with Beau, but she told Seth in front of everyone—we’re talking all of your guests and all the people we know from work—that she’s been having an affair with his father for the last three years.”

“Shut up.”

Avery nods excitedly. She also keeps spilling. “Bethany and Chris have been doing it like bunnies since she broke it off with Beau! Literally, the entire duration of her relationship with Seth, she’s been banging his daddy too!”

“No way!” I have to take a step back to wrap my mind around the news. “Nooooo!”

“Yes! I missed most of it, but Chris and Seth were shouting at each other, and Mrs. McKenzie slapped Bethany in the face before Chris said he wanted a divorce!”

“Holy shit!” I exclaim. “And then what happened?”

“Pretty much nothing. Mom kicked them all out and told them to take their bullshit somewhere else today because it’s about you and Beau. And Henry, Mav, and Ronnie made sure they complied.”

“Wow. Go Diane.”

“I know,” Avery agrees. “Also, go Henry. The man just about turned into the Hulk and ripped off his tux to kick out Seth and his dad.” A little pout forms at the corners of her lips. “Not gonna lie, I was kind of hoping Henry and Seth would’ve had a good old-fashioned brawl in the front yard. Henry’s shirt off, of course.”

“You were kind of hoping?” I question, staring at her with a knowing look.

“Okay, fine.” She shrugs. “I might’ve started yelling ‘Fight!’ and ‘Take your shirt off!’, but I can’t be sure. It was all happening so fast.”

I cackle. “I bet Beau just loved hearing you scream that.”

“Beau has no room to talk.” She rolls her eyes. “He’s marrying my best friend.”

“That’s true.” I nod, and a snort escapes my nose. “Boy, that’d be the ultimate revenge. You marrying Henry, your brother’s best friend.”

“Get real, Juni.” It’s Avery’s turn to cackle. “Henry is the last man on earth I’d marry. He’s as clichéd as you can get when it comes to the bad-boy player type. Like, c’mon, you know? We get it, you’re hot. You’re charming. You’re smooth. But how about you stop trying to ram your cock through the whole female dating pool?”

“You’re still pissed that he said you’re not his style,” I tease, but also, say what I know to be true out loud. For years, Beau’s friend Henry has caught Avery’s eye. And for years, it’s always seemed like she’s attempted to flirt him into bed. But somehow, from what I know, nothing has happened besides one single kiss when they were at a Miami club together years ago. Back when Beau and I were engaging in our secret affair.

She glares at me. “Juniper, are you trying to start shit with your maid of honor on her big day?”

“Pretty sure you mean my big day.”

“It’s not always about you, June.” She scoffs. “Anyway, back to the important shit—aka Bethany banging Seth’s dad.” She laughs, but then her eyes turn very serious. “I don’t know if you can come up with something wild to do in the next five minutes so your whole thing isn’t boringgg in comparison, but we’re going to have start brainstorming now if we want to figure it out before you walk down that aisle.”

“We’re good, Ave.” I grin. “Truth be told, I think coming to terms with the fact that I’m actually marrying your brother is wild enough.”

Avery nods, her eyes narrowing. “Are you sure you wanna go through with it? He’s so…Beau. I can totally call for a getaway car and have us out of here in no time.”

I grab her hand in mine, smiling. “I’m sure. In fact, him being ‘so Beau’ is my favorite part.”

She wrinkles up her nose and shoots to standing. “Suit yourself.”

Her black dress fits her body perfectly, and she looks as beautiful as ever as she hands me my bouquet before picking up her own.

“Avery.”

“Yeah?”

“I’m also really excited that you’re going to be my sister.”

She winks. “Yeah, obviously. That’s the best part. Now, let’s do it before another brawl breaks out.”

I nod, and she grabs the back of my train to help me down the stairs. Neil waits at the bottom, ready to escort me, even though my dad is here in the crowd with Lola, and my mother is also sitting somewhere with her latest boy toy she apparently met in Antigua. I’m glad they made the effort, my dad arriving earlier on the beach in his helicopter and my mother showing up via her guy driving them in a neon-green Lambo, but Neil Banks is the man who should walk me down the aisle. I’m certain of it.

“Oh, Junebug,” Neil says softly at the sight of me. “You look so beautiful.”

Avery clears her throat, and Neil smiles. “You look beautiful too, Avery, of course. I was just complimenting the bride specifically.”

Avery snorts. “Like there’s some law that you can only compliment the one in white? Get real, Neil.”

“I love you guys so much,” I cut in to say. As weird as it sounds, this is exactly how I pictured this part too. Avery and Neil and Diane and Beau—they’re my family. After today, that’ll be official.

Avery hugs me quick before sniping, “You bitch. You made me cry.”

I smile. “It’s worth it this time.”

Avery shoos me away with her hand. “Okay. Shut up. Time for me to do my thing down the aisle so you can follow.” She turns to Neil and points a finger in his face. “She’d better not fall, Daddy. It’s your job to make sure of it.”

He gives her a thumbs-up. “You got it, honey.”

“And don’t do that,” Avery says, nodding toward Neil’s offending thumb. “Ever again.” She turns on her heels and steps up to the back patio door as soft violin music starts to play.

She walks on her cue, and I wait inside, my arm clutched in Neil’s and my breath shaking. I can’t see Beau yet, not with the way the back is set up. We put plexiglass over the pool and a white runner and flowers down the aisle, and all the guests sit on each side in white-bow-festooned chairs.

The altar is at the front, with the beach in the back, and even though I can’t see him, Beau is waiting up there too. For me.

He’s waiting for me.

Neil pats at my hand. “Love you, Juni. I’m a proud man today and a proud man every day. Thank you for blessing us with your gifts. Beau couldn’t have picked anyone better.”

A tear pricks my eye, and my nose stings with the fight to stave it off. I can’t believe in just a few short minutes, Banks is going to be my last name.

The music shifts to the “Wedding March,” and Neil goes through the door first, holding a hand back for me to take next. I step through and arrange my dress, and after one more deep breath, we walk to the edge of the patio and out into the sun, where everyone can see us.

The guests are on their feet, and Beau stands at the altar, his friends beside him in a row. Avery stands on the other side, waiting for me, her face a natural smile of pure happiness at the sight of me.

She may joke like it’s otherwise, but Avery is quite possibly the biggest believer in love of all of us.

Beau’s smile is wide, his happiness undeniable as he takes me in. Neil starts to walk, holding tightly to my arm, and I tread carefully down the professionally constructed aisle.

When we get to the front, the minister is waiting, and Beau steps forward to take me from his dad. He must be a little too excited, though, because he doesn’t wait to be asked to do it, instead grabbing me and pulling to him.

Everyone laughs as the minister puts a hand to his chest and tsks.

“Whoa there, cowboy. I know you’re ready, but we’re not quite there yet.”

Beau laughs, and his friend Henry drags him back to his spot.

The minister pretends to double-check over his shoulder for movement a few times before continuing, and everyone laughs again.

“All right, then,” the minister says. “Who gives this woman to be married?”

Neil’s voice is rougher than normal as he answers, “I do.”

“Perfect,” the minister remarks, turning back to Beau then. “Okay, dude, you can come get your bride now.”

Beau steps forward and shakes his dad’s hand before taking mine and helping me step carefully up onto the altar that’s raised slightly above the rest of everything.

Avery straightens the small train of my dress and takes my bouquet, and when I turn back around, my favorite warm brown eyes are waiting.

I smile and take Beau’s hands in mine, squeezing tightly with the need to be his forever already.

“Welcome, everyone,” the minister addresses the crowd. “We’re here today to join Juniper and Beau in a legal union of love. We want to thank you for being here to join in their moment of happiness, but mostly, we want to thank Juniper and Beau for falling in love.”

Beau smiles at me, his whole body vibrating with excitement.

“Juniper, do you take Beau to be your lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and in health, in wealth and in poverty, in good times and in bad?”

I nod. “Yes. I do.”

Beau’s smile is the one he always gives me right before kissing me, and I know with my whole heart he’s wishing he could get to that part already.

“Great. Now, Beau. Do you take Juniper to be your lawfully wedded wife, in sickness and in health, in wealth and in poverty, in good times and in bad?”

“I take June in every circumstance. Yes. I do.”

“Love the enthusiasm.” The minister chuckles. “That seems to be a theme, and let me tell you, folks, that’s a good thing during a wedding.”

More laughter comes from the crowd, and I fall deeper into Beau’s smile as it grows even more.

“Now, for the rings.”

Beau turns back to Henry for my ring, and I turn to Avery for his. When we turn back around, I hold out my left hand, ready to seal our commitment to each other with my finger.

“Beau, you’ve made these promises today in front of your family, friends, God,” the minister states, looking at Beau. “Repeat after me. With this ring, I thee wed.”

Beau obeys immediately. “With this ring, I thee wed.”

“Perfect. And now you, Juniper.” The minister’s attention is on me now. “With this ring, I thee wed.”

I repeat the vow and slide Beau’s ring onto his finger just like he did with mine. His hand looks even sexier, and trust me, after the things I’ve felt them do, I didn’t think that was possible.

“Congratulations. I now pronounce you husband and wife, and you may kiss the bride!”

Beau leans in and plants one on me, and I give it back as good as I get it. It may not be demure or appropriate for mixed company, but it is love. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

We’re officially married!