Meet at the courthouse at 12:30PM. Bring your camera. Dress nice, not like a bag lady.

That was the text I’d received from Jasmine that morning. No explanation, just those few words. With anyone else I would have been annoyed, but it was so totally Jazzy that all I could do was smile, and laugh at the bag lady comment.

Jazzy knew I didn’t leave my house without my hair and makeup done, and dressed to impress. It was just how I was, how I’d always been. In order to feel my best, I had to look my best, and who wanted to walk around looking and feeling frumpy?

Not me.

I saved frumpy for when I was home at night, eating junk in front of the TV as I binged on my favorite shows, or for when I was in the studio.

At twelve twenty, I parked my car on Main Street, pulled out my camera bag, and headed for the courthouse. I wasn’t surprised that Jasmine wasn’t out front waiting for me, she was perpetually late, whereas I liked to be early. I was, however, surprised to see Gabe, Zoey, Reardon, and Chris standing out front, all dressed up in their Sunday best.

“Hey,” I called as I neared them. “What’s going on?”

Gabe shrugged as Zoey bounded over to me.

“Hey, Rena,” she said as she pulled me in for a quick hug. “We don’t know, Jazzy sent us each a cryptic text this morning, telling us to meet here and to not look shabby.”

“Hmmm, weird,” I said, looking up and down the street for signs of my cousin. “Is Dillon here, too?”

Before anyone could answer, the courthouse door opened and the cousin in question stepped out onto the steps, along with Laurel, his fiancé, and Jasmine. They were all dressed beautifully and grinning from ear to ear.

“What’s happening?” Gabe asked, while we all looked expectantly at the trio.

“We’re getting married,” Dillon replied happily, throwing his arm around Laurel, who hugged him close and looked up at him, her face full of love.

Laurel had been best friends with Jasmine since we were kids, and had been in love with Dillon forever, while he’d just thought of her as his twin’s pesky friend. Now, they were in love and about to get married.

It was enough to make even my black heart shudder as I sighed happily.

“What about the family?” Reardon asked; he too was engaged, but since Chloe was about to have their baby any second, they’d agreed to wait to have the wedding until she was fully recovered and had time to actually plan it.

Apparently, Dillon and Laurel were not prepared to wait.

“My mom and dad are inside, as for everyone else, we figured we’ll have a big reception next month and that should appease them.”

“Uh, you’ve met my mom, right?” Gabe asked with a chuckle, then walked up the steps to give Laurel a hug and clap Dillon on the back. “Congrats, you guys, thanks for inviting us to come … and, Dillon, I was just kidding, my mom will get over it. She’ll just be happy you guys are married, having a big party, and hopefully getting busy having kids.”

Aunt Annabeth was always bugging us about having babies. Even though Gabe and Chloe had Chris, long story, don’t ask, Gabe and Zoey had little Evie, and Rear and Chloe were about to have their baby, it still wasn’t enough for Aunt Annabeth. She’d already started in on Dillon and Laurel and mentioned it to Jazzy and me every time she saw us, regardless of the fact that we were both single.

“Actually,” Dillon began, looking down at Laurel with a conspiratorial smile, “that’s another reason we didn’t want to wait … Not just because we’re already living together, and I see no reason to have a long engagement when we’re ready to live our lives now, but because we wanted to do it before Laurel was too far along.”

“What?” we all cried excitedly.

“You’re pregnant?” I asked Laurel, who was tearing up a little bit.

She nodded as Jasmine clapped her hands together and jumped up and down.

“Isn’t it great, I’m going to be an auntie!”

I rolled my eyes at Jasmine, because, of course she’d make this about her, then walked up the stairs to give my cousin and Laurel each a hug.

“Congratulations, I’m so happy for you guys,” I said, then squeezed Dillon extra hard and added, “I can’t believe you’re going to be a daddy.”

“Me neither,” he said with a chuckle, then kissed me on the cheek and pulled back, saying, “We’d better get inside. It’s almost time for us, and Ma and Dad are waiting.”

Our group piled into the courthouse, then followed Dillon and Laurel down to the room where the judge would officiate their ceremony.

Laurel was glowing and pretty as a picture in her knee-length white dress that showed no evidence of a baby bump, and Dillon had never looked happier in his navy-blue suit, his auburn hair perfectly coiffed and his face free of stubble.

The ceremony was short, but everyone watched with tears in their eyes as two of the people we’d known and loved for what seemed like forever vowed to love each other until death.

Before they said I do, Laurel ran her fingers over Dillon’s knuckles and said softly, “Dillon, I’ve loved you since you had a cowlick and you screamed like a girl when I put that frog in your sleeping bag.”

We all chuckled, but I saw Jasmine discreetly wipe her cheek and felt my own get wet.

“Laurel,” Dillon said, his tone rough with emotion. “I will love you until I take my last breath, and even after that … forever.”

I heard Dillon’s mom let out a deep sob, then turn to my uncle for comfort as she watched her son marry the girl who’d always been like a daughter to her.

When the judge ended with, “I now pronounce you husband and wife,” then added, “Why don’t you kiss her?” we all laughed and cheered as Dillon dipped Laurel deeply and covered her mouth with his.

“Get a room!” Gabe yelled good-naturally, his own voice suspiciously gruff, then we all rushed the bride and groom and smothered them with hugs and kisses.