Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
A couple of hours had passed, and my mind was still spinning from what had happened with Emmett. I couldn't help but wonder if he would ever return. We had moved inside, and I had changed out of my wedding gown into something more comfortable. I didn't want to ruin the dress or tarnish the precious memory it held. While the others remained in their wedding attire, they had simply shed a few pieces—ties and shoes mostly.
I curled up next to my Grams on the couch, feeling the comfort of her hand as she gently rubbed my arm, trying to ease my worries. Carlisle suggested we give Emmett the space he needed, allowing him to work through his emotions without any interruptions, so he could come to terms with what was about to happen.
"Do you think he'll come back?" I mumbled softly, just loud enough for my Grams to hear, as she continued to comfort me.
"He loves you, Charlotte. He'll do anything for you," she replied, but I didn't lift my gaze to meet hers. Grams gave my arm a gentle squeeze, as if trying to reassure me without saying anymore words. I could feel her steady presence beside me, a comfort in the midst of all the chaos swirling in my mind.
The silence between us was comfortable, but heavy with the unspoken thoughts of what was to come. I didn't want to be the cause of any more pain, especially not for Emmett, but there was no turning back now.
I glanced over at the others still gathered around, each one lost in their own thoughts, but they all seemed to be waiting, watching. I knew that they understood the weight of what was about to happen—what I was about to do—and they were standing by me, ready to support me.
Suddenly, I heard the sound of heavy footsteps, and I quickly rose from the couch, turning my gaze toward the entrance to the living room. Emmett strode in, his presence filling the room as he approached. All eyes turned to him, yet no one spoke. He kept his gaze lowered, not meeting mine.
I took in his appearance—his tux was dishevelled, the jacket gone, along with the waistcoat, as if he'd torn them off in frustration. His tie was missing, likely cast aside somewhere in his anger, and the top buttons of his shirt were undone, exposing the bare skin beneath. Dirt clung to his once-polished shoes, streaks of it smudged along the fabric of his pants, as though he'd been pacing outside, lost in his thoughts and fury. His tousled hair and the faint hint of tension in his jaw told me everything before he even spoke.
"I'm sorry," he said, his gaze lifting from the floor to meet mine. His eyes softened as he took in my appearance, the weight of his emotions clear in his expression. "I shouldn't have reacted like that," he admitted, clearly ashamed of how he'd handled it.
Without saying a word, I closed the gap between us, wrapping my arms around him in a tight hug. All that mattered to me was that he was here, and he was ok. I rested my head against his chest, feeling his arms close around me, holding me close.
"I don't want to spend another minute worrying about it," I said, lifting my head from his chest to look up into his eyes, though my arms stayed wrapped around him. "I just want to start our forever." A soft smile curved my lips, and he leaned down, pressing his lips to mine. I kissed him back with everything I had, pouring all my love into that moment.
