The Things I Love About You Part 2 (Completed)

C h a p t e r S i x t e e n

I sit on the edge of the bathtub while Scott runs a washcloth over my hand, which is propped on his knee.

"I'm sorry for overreacting." I say for the thousandth time.

"You don't need to apologize, okay? I get it. This whole situation is hard on you, and Anna not showing up is just adding to it." I nod, grateful that he, at least seemingly, understands that I'm not mad at him, or anyone in particular. "Alright, let me grab a bandage." He gets up and goes over to the cabinet under the sink and digs around for a few seconds.

"Since the majority of our wedding guests are here - I'm assuming they are, anyway - do you want to just tell them about our newfound wedding plans while they're here? That way they don't all fly back to Florida and have to come back in a few days."

"Sounds good to me." He stops halfway from sitting back down to kiss my forehead. I offer him my hand again and he wraps the bandage around it carefully.

"Is it rude of us to ask them to leave? Like, soon, not right away. I just want to spend some more time alone with you."

"I'm fine with that." I wince when he pulls the bandage a little too tight and he immediately loosens it. "Sorry."

"It's okay." I sigh, biting my lip. "Thank you for putting up with me." He stops and looks up from my hand.

"Nothing I ever do is 'putting up with you'. I live with you because I love you. I calm you down when you're upset because I love you. I spend time with you because I love you. Everything I do is because I love you. I've never had to just 'put up with you'. I swear on my life." We sit in a comfortable silence until he says, "Alright, let's go back down and give the masses a quick message. Then we can be alone again." We stand up together and he kisses me gently before we go back downstairs.

****

"We want to get married in a few days." Scott finishes, resting his hand on my knee. Kirstie grins.

"You're not mad about not being able to go to a big wedding, Kirst?" I ask, genuinely worried.

"Are you kidding? I'm just so happy for you guys, I don't care where you get married. I don't care if it's extravagant or tiny or rushed or anything. I'm just happy for you guys." I smile in relief.

"Good. I'm glad." Every few seconds, I keep glancing over my shoulder at the door, hoping that Anna will magically show up.

"Mitch, I don't think she's coming." Alex says. "Sorry about that."

"It's okay. I kind of guessed that would happen." On Kirstie's lap, I notice Peyton falling asleep.

"Hey, Peyt, do you wanna go to bed?" I ask, smiling a little as he nods lazily.

"I'll take him, Kit." I take the small boy from my friend's lap and carry him up to the room where my sisters used to sleep and stop at the doorway. I linger there for a few seconds before I hear, "What's wrong Uncle Mitchy?"

"Nothing. You don't mind sleeping in my sisters' room do you?"

"No, of course not! I love pink." he says, looking at the walls.

"Good. You'll be happy in here, then."

"I'm not allowed to make my room pink." he says quietly as I lay him down on Riley's bed. The one she will never be able to use again. I push thoughts of my sisters out, desperate to keep my composure until Peyton is not there. "I hate green. I don't want my room to be green." His face drops and I say, "Maybe I could talk to your mommy for you?"

"Would you really?" he asks excitedly.

"I'll see what I can do." I say, winking. "Goodnight." I kiss his forehead and start out of the room, wanting to get out as quickly as possible. All I can think about is my sisters, and the fact that I will never hear their voices again.

"Wait, Uncle Mitchy?" A thousand alarms are going off in my head at this point, but I turn back and say, "Yeah?"

"Can you tuck me in?"

"I...sure. Of course." He crawls under the covers, seemingly thrilled by the princess and dragon themed sheets around him, and I walk back over to tuck him in properly. "Is that alright?"

"Yes. Thank you. I love you."

"I love you more."

"I love you most." He turns on his side and shuts his eyes, and I take my opportunity to finally leave, hoping he doesn't notice the tears streaming down my cheeks as soon as the lights flip off.

****

When I don't come back downstairs for a while more, Scott comes looking for me. He finds me sitting outside the room where Peyton is now sleeping with my knees curled to my chest and my head resting on them, crying.

"You put him in your sisters' room?" he asks, making me jump.

"I didn't see you there." I take a shallow breath. "Yeah. I figured he would be fine in there. The beds are the right size and stuff."

"You could've asked me to do it. I know you probably don't want to go in there."

"Not at all. But the only way to come to terms with this whole horrible situation is to face it. Which means I can't be afraid to go into..." I hesitate. "Riley, Meghan, and Kara's room." Saying their names, I almost loose it again.

"Do you want to come back down?" Scott offers his hand to me and I take it, hauling myself to my feet and wiping my tears away with the back of my hand.

"Can you tell I was crying?"

"Yes, but they're our friends. It doesn't matter." I nod and follow him down the hallway to the staircase, where I stop him one more time before we go back to the living room.

"I love you."

"I love you, too, darling." He kisses my cheek. "I love you more than anything."

****