Page 113 of Never Not Friends

It’s serial-killer behavior.

I leap off the bed and grab the garbage can.

I throw away a movie stub from when we went and saw Insurgent together and ended up making out the entire time.

The mini teddy bear he gave me for Valentine’s Day.

A card I stole from Apples to Apples after Vinny and I somehow kept picking each other’s answers during game night two years ago.

I reach for the old tube of cherry Chapstick I wore for our first kiss. I saved it after Vinny told me I tasted good.

I stare at it for several seconds.

Instead of throwing it away, I drop it back into the box and take out the other items from the garbage can, gently placing them back in the pile of stuff.

Vinny Brooks has had my heart for the last twelve years.

He was my first love.

And although I know I don’t get a future with him, I can’t pretend our past didn’t matter. I’m allowed to keep the memories, even if I don’t get the man.

I close the box and put it back on the top shelf in my closet.

Then I grab my phone and text Shane.

VINNY

“I’m so happy that you arranged this little date tonight.” Juliet reaches across the table and squeezes my hand.

Under the soft glow of the restaurant’s lights, she looks beautiful.

And in this moment, I feel peace.

I was a mess last night.

Tossed and turned for hours.

But somewhere around two-thirty a.m., I made a decision.

I’m marrying Juliet.

I’m choosing her.

Not over Emma, because that’s not what this is about.

That’s not even on the table.

I’m just choosing Juliet.

Period.

So I made dinner reservations and asked the woman I’m about to marry in four days on an old-school date.

“I’m glad we did this too.” I smile back at her, tracing my thumb over the top of her hand. “You’ve been so stressed, worrying about the wedding and taking care of your mom. I just wanted to do something nice for you. Like a pre-wedding celebration, just the two of us, before we say I do.”

Her face lights up in the cutest way.

“What?” My smile widens.