"everything happens for a reason"

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"There, it's perfect," Jemma whispers as she finishes tying the back of my wedding dress.

I can't believe the day is finally here.

After months and months of planning every detail meticulously, I'm officially about to get married to the man of my dreams.

This morning has been perfect, despite the butterflies swarming my stomach constantly. I don't know why I'm so nervous, the idea of marrying Sterling makes me so happy I could cry. I think I'm just excited and jittery and my body doesn't like having to sit here and wait for the big moment.

I look in the mirror and will myself not to tear up, I just finished my makeup.

"You look beautiful, honey," my mom tells me.

I hear agreeing noises from the rest of my girls. Jemma is, of course, my maid of honour. The rest of my bridesmaids consist of Aspen, Beth, Harper, Daisy, and Charlotte. Who all look amazing in their light blue dresses. All of them, by the way, including mine, were made by Aspen who is an incredible fashion designer.

I love the way all of their dresses are the same colour yet a different style to match their personalities to a tee. For example, Jemma's dress is a sweetheart neckline that flows down to the floor effortlessly, while Harper's hugs her curves perfectly with a striking slit up her leg.

I look around at my best friends and I can only smile at how grateful I got. Every day I praise my past self for meeting these girls and securing them as such pillars in my life. I don't deserve them. I will never be able to thank them enough for everything they've done for me. Whether it was my countless panic attacks or my car accident, they've stuck by my side through the roughest patches of my life.

"Alright, I think it's showtime, we should leave you to it," Daisy checks the time and informs the group.

I nod my head in understanding and give them all one last hug.

"I'm so glad you're going to be my sister," Charlotte mumbles into my neck, and water wells in my eyes.

"This is your day, hun, soak it in, god knows you deserve it," Aspen tells me.

Jemma quickly wipes a tear running down her cheek. "Words will never express how happy I am for you."

"I thank the universe every day that my best friend was shitty at psych. I couldn't imagine my life without you and I couldn't imagine Sterling without you either." Daisy's words make me giggle a little.

Beth shoots me one of her reassuring smiles that tells me all that I need to know without even saying anything. Harper smacks a kiss onto my cheek and whispers something rather inappropriate about the wedding night to me. Then, she takes her wife in one hand and their daughter in the other and leaves the room with everyone else.

They ended up adopting Ellie a little under a year ago. Her home life was in rough shape and Beth, who's a social worker, took her in. Of course both she and Harper fell in love with Ellie and before they knew it, they had become a family. Now, their little girl is the flower girl at my wedding.

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Once it's just me alone in the room, I'm able to sit down and take a deep breath.

This is really happening.

Staring into the mirror in front of me, I actually feel really beautiful. In all my years with Sterling, that's one of the biggest changes I underwent; being able to see the beauty in myself. Finally feeling confident and desirable.

My hair flows down my back in loose waves with white petals placed skillfully, forming a sort of crown at the back of my head.

I look down at my engagement ring and flashbacks from the night he proposed flood my head. How he managed to get everything so perfect, I will never know. My ring looks almost identical to the promise ring he got me years ago. Only this one has a real diamond in the middle, a little larger than the other stone but not obnoxious either.

After maybe a minute or two of being alone and just reflecting on the last seven years with Sterling, my dad comes into the room to walk me down the aisle. I take my bouquet in my hand, filled with snowdrops and a handful of other white flowers— including lilies for Sterling's mom.

My dad and I leave the main building where everyone got ready, and make our way outside.

When I found out we could book this venue, I knew I needed to have my wedding here. Today is a beautiful spring afternoon. Slightly cool yet the sun does wonders for keeping me warm.

I love the way the light shines down on the ground, illuminating the snowdrop field I'm standing in.

This venue is literally acres of my favourite flower covering the floor with a beautiful glass greenhouse for the ceremony.

I watch as my bridal party walks down the aisle before me. First Theo and Aspen, then Jemma and Chase with our golden retriever Bentley, next is Daisy and Mason, Beth and Owen follow, while Luke and Harper finish the line. Next are the ring bearers, Daisy and Mason's twin sons, brought out by Charlotte. Finally, Ellie leads the way, throwing down white petals leading from the door to Sterling.

"All rise," Theo says from the podium beside Sterling. He's officiating our wedding today and I couldn't be happier with our choice. We didn't want a stranger to have that role, we thought the job was far too personal to have it done by someone we didn't know. So, we turned to the people in our life who were close to us, willing to do it, and would do it well.

Theo was the only one who came to mind. I will never know someone more eloquent and well-spoken than him. Plus, Sterling and I love him to death and he's been there from the very beginning of our relationship. I love the rest of the boys, truly, but none of them quite have the same connection as Theo and I.

I don't know if it was our bond over books or our similar hopeless romantic tendencies, but from the moment I met him, he's been one of my favourite people in this world.

The role he's played in Sterling's life is just as significant. He's always been the more serious and thoughtful one of the group. So, naturally, Sterling turned to him in times of need. Theo has helped him through countless personal dilemmas and been a steady shoulder for him to cry on.

That was why he was perfect to be the one speaking about me and Sterling, individually and as a couple. He loves us and we love him.

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I take a deep breath, tighten my hold on my dad's arm, and begin walking down.

My eyes stay glued on my fiancé looking handsome as ever at the end of the aisle. He's in a classic black suit, the jacket and pants fitting his body perfectly. I watch as he wipes a tear falling down his cheek and it's only then I realize I'm also crying.

I love that he still looks at me like I'm the most beautiful thing he's ever seen. His eyes shining with admiration and love.

My dad kisses me on the cheek before pulling Sterling in for a hug and muttering something inaudible into his ear. Then, he sits down beside my mom and the ceremony begins.

I take Sterling's hands into mine and he gives them a reassuring squeeze as I step onto the podium with him.

"Fuck, you look like a dream, but aren't you cold?" he whispers so only I can hear, raking his eyes down my body and the dress that covers it.

I'm in a custom wedding dress made by Aspen and it's more gorgeous than I ever could've imagined. It's made from a cream colour silk material that's thick enough to keep me relatively warm and look positively regal.

It's an off-the-shoulder design with the sleeves sitting perfectly draped down my arms. The bodice fits me like a freaking glove, enhancing my figure. And it's decorated with hand-stitched stones forming an intricate floral pattern— snowdrops, of course, to be specific. At my waist, it flows down and out, until it falls behind me into a modest train.

I shake my head no, "I'm too nervous to even feel my body."

He smiles down at me as he rubs my hands with his to try and generate some warmth. This man, always making sure I'm comfortable.

"Ladies and gentlemen, friends and family, we are gathered here to watch the union of Sterling Blake and Delaney Lawrence, some of the greatest people this world has to offer," Theo begins.

"I've had the incredible honour and intense pleasure to watch their relationship unfold from the very beginning, and I am so glad they're getting such a beautiful day to celebrate it."

Theo continues speaking, but my focus remains solely on my soon-to-be husband standing in front of me. You couldn't pay me to tear my eyes away from his even for a moment. Right now, standing here, with him, there's not a worry in my mind.

Before I know it, it's time for the vows. With shaky hands, I hold the piece of paper I stayed up all night writing, pouring my thoughts out onto the lines.

I clear my throat, look down at the words, and will myself to start. "My whole life, I longed for it; love. Being able to relate to love songs and books, having someone to hold and someone to hold me. Having someone I could go to for the good and the bad. Someone I could proudly show off to my friends, someone who could build me up and put me in my place. Someone who could make life a life worth living. And I found it."

My voice breaks and tears threaten to escape my eyes, but I keep going. "I found it in a nineteen year old boy. The most beautiful person inside and out. You started out as Charlotte's annoying brother. The hot hockey player I was forced to tutor, who just wouldn't listen when I explained the various psych terms I was trying to teach. But now, you're the love of my life, the man of my dreams, my comfort, my joy, my other half. And for that, I can only thank you."

Now, Sterling is crying and I can't help but join him. However, I didn't spend all night working not this to turn into a blubbering mess, so I take a deep breath and keep going.

"You showed me a life outside of school. A life where I didn't have to throw myself into work. Where I didn't have to prove myself with every paper, or every test. A life where I could actually enjoy every day, the little things. You reminded me it was okay to not be okay, and that you would be there for me, to wipe every tear and to pick me up off the floor every time."

"As I got to know you, as I got to realize how freaking lucky I was, doubt crept in. I didn't think I was the girl to get the guy. To have that fairytale everyone dreams about. I saw us as nothing but an unrealistic dream. Just a cliché."

He smiles down at me.

"But I know now, all of this is real. And I couldn't be more grateful. I love you, I love our life, and I can't wait to continue living it with you by my side."

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I can't believe I just finished the epilogue. Everything about writing this book feels completely surreal. I never would've imagined a random idea that popped into my head when I couldn't sleep at 2:00 AM would've turned into this.

I started writing this solely for myself. I was bored in quarantine and needed an outlet of sorts. I had a wild imagination and was on a hunt for the perfect romance book for me. So, I made my own. This book, of course, is in no way that. It's riddled with flaws and mistakes, but to me, it's everything I needed.

Thank you all for reading this book. For supporting me, commenting, voting, and sharing it with friends. I will never be able to wrap my head around this.

Question of the chapter: What was your favourite part of this book? (Any specific chapter, plot line, trope, character, relationship, scene?)

Please vote and comment!!

Stay safe and healthy and I will see you guys one more time <3

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Here's how I imagined their wedding: