Page 402 of Faking the Goal

"Nothing is wrong, Taylor," she says softly. "You're just happy. Really, really happy. And maybe you're still learning how to trust that."

Fuck. My lower lip starts trembling, and I press it between my teeth, trying desperately to get myself under control before the tears actually fall.

"Oh, no," Sam says from across the room. "We're entering dangerous mascara territory again."

"Shut up." I laugh wetly and wipe carefully beneath my eyes.

Sam comes over and crouches in front of me, resting her hands over my knees. "Also, for the record, if the universe does try anything today, it has to get through all of us first."

Miho nods solemnly. "And my brother."

Caroline snorts. "Mostly Kentaro."

"Definitely Kentaro," Miho agrees. "Have you met him? The man has been preparing to marry you for approximately five years. I genuinely fear for anything stupid enough to interfere today."

A laugh breaks through the knot in my throat, and some of the pressure sitting heavily inside my chest finally begins to ease.

"Seriously," Miho continues. "I saw him downstairs twenty minutes ago. He looks like he's about to either get married or fight someone for delaying the getting-married part."

"He does not."

All three of them turn to look at me with identical expressions of disbelief, and I hold out for approximately two seconds before conceding defeat.

I sigh. "Okay. He probably does."

"Taylor." Caroline squeezes my hand again, bringing my attention back to her. "You don't have to convince yourself that nothing bad will ever happen again. None of us can promise that."

Her expression softens, and whatever amusement had been there a moment ago disappears.

"You just have to stop letting what might happen take away what's happening right now."

I swallow hard and let those words settle somewhere beneath all the noise that has been rattling around inside my head since I woke up this morning.

Right now, I'm sitting in a hotel suite wearing my wedding dress with my three best friends surrounding me. Somewhere downstairs, Kentaro is waiting for me, probably scowling at a clock and definitely terrorizing whoever is responsible for keeping the ceremony on schedule. And in less than an hour, I'm going to walk down that aisle and marry him.

Nothing bad is happening. Nothing is being taken away. I'm here, he's here, and we're okay.

More than okay.

We're fucking happy.

I draw another slow breath like Miho showed me, letting my lungs fill completely before releasing it again. This time, the air comes easier, and the tightness that had been wrapped around my ribs all morning finally begins to loosen.

"Better?" Miho asks.

I nod.

"Good. Because if you pass out walking down that aisle, my brother will absolutely abandon the altar, vault over the chairs, and catch you before you hit the floor."

I smile despite myself. "He probably would."

"Probably?" Miho scoffs. "Taylor, that man took a bullet for you. A wedding aisle is nothing."

Something warm swells so suddenly inside me that I have to press my lips together to keep myself from getting emotional all over again. Because she's right. Of course Kentaro would come running. He always has.

"Okay." I press both palms against my cheeks and breathe out. "No more freaking out."

Caroline raises an eyebrow. "Should we get that in writing?"