Page 75 of Beautifully Broken

“Wait, for real?” he says. “You swear?”

“I swear.” I hold out my pinky and he smiles, wrapping his in mine, both of us spitting right on the kitchen floor.

“Ew, you guys are disgusting!” Chloe squeals, the two of us laughing hysterically at each other. “Claire, you’re so lucky your maid of honor will be there to save you from these clowns.”

Ronan raises his eyebrows toward me then throws a wink in Chloe’s direction who tries her best, but fails, to hide her blushing cheeks. After a year, I still have no idea what is going on there. And neither do they.

“Now it’s a party!” Mikey yells from the living room as Sean tinkers with the speaker we have sitting on the coffee table. I look at Claire, who is holding her hand out to her mom, smiling from ear to ear.

When I used to think about my life, I thought of abuse and neglect, pain and suffering. I was sad and depressed and so incredibly broken. Now, looking around this house,ourhouse, Iseemy life, and it is nothing short of perfect. There’s love and meaning, peace and happiness. I have my friends, my brother, my new family, and Claire — everything I could ever need.

Jackson intercepts me on my way to Claire and hugs me like a brother does. “I’m proud of you,” he says and I feel it light up all of the darkest parts of me.

“Thanks, man,” I say, choking back feelings.

He steps to the side and says, “Now, go get your fiancé.”