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Day Seven
Night

Cole stood there for what felt like years.

Cole couldn't take his eyes off where Alli was standing.

What just happened?

He knew the wedding inside had moved on from the first dance. More upbeat music was blasting in the air, but the sound was washed out.

His mind was a whirlwind of emotions and a flood of memories. He replayed every argument, every bitter exchange, and every moment he failed to be the person she needed. How did it come to this? To him watching her walk away?

As the reality of her departure sank in, Cole's knees weakened, and he found himself sinking onto a nearby bench. His head fell into his hands, his fingers gripping his hair in frustration. He knew things had been strained between them, but he never thought she would leave like this, without a backward glance. The weight of his mistakes felt crushing.

He didn't understand how they got here. How they unraveled this much. Cole always thought they would be one of those couples that never wavered. That stuck together through it all. He thought he would tell their kids their story. He thought he would be able to inspire their kids with how much they loved each other.

It made Cole think back to one of his last conversations with his Dad.

They were watching football. It was one of the beginning games in the season. The trees had just started to turn colors, the twins had started their sophomore year of high school, Scar was starting her senior year of college. Cole had just graduated the year before. He had been living with Alli for a few months now in that apartment on Lantern Ave. He met up with his Dad a couple Sundays a month to watch football games together.

The two were on the couch, relaxing while the game played in front of them. The item sitting in Cole's pocket felt heavy as time ticked by. He had been wanting to get his Dad's opinion about something, but he wasn't sure how to just bring it up. Some time during the third quarter, Cole finally cleared his throat to get Reece's attention.

"Dad, can I ask you a question?" Cole had asked him, fiddling around with the beer in his hand.

"What's up?" Reece quipped, sitting back into the couch.

Cole didn't know how to start. His heart was pounding in his chest, and he wasn't even actually proposing to Alli. He had no idea how he was gonna build up the courage to do this if he couldn't even bring it up to his Dad. Instead of diving right into it, he decided to turn the conversation to his Dad.

"How did you know you wanted to marry Mom?" Cole asked quietly, his gaze turning to the floor.

"Your mother's always been the best part of my day," Reece said easily with a shrug. "She just... she's always made the world brighter. From the second I met her, I knew I wanted to be with her."

"How did you guys meet?" Cole asked softly. He had asked before, but he didn't know much of the specifics.

Reece smiled wistfully, leaning back. "Met her in a college class and spent the better half of a year trying to figure out how to convince her to go out with me. She didn't make it easy, she wanted me to earn it."

"How'd you do that?"

"Nothing like some grand gesture. I picked up on her coffee order and started bringing it to class. I brought an extra granola bar with me cause her stomach would start growling towards the end of the lecture," Reece rattled off, eyes narrowing like he was trying to remember everything. "One day I added my number to the coffee cup, and she actually texted me. Took her to dinner and we've been together since."

Cole smiled at the story, nodding his head. "Damn, Dad, you put in the work."

"She's worth every second of it," Reece said easily with a grin.

Cole nodded slowly. He felt the same way about Alli. She was the person he wanted to wake up next to every day. She was everything to him. But he didn't know if they were ready to take the next step. What if she didn't want to? What if she thought it wasn't the right time?

"I think I'm gonna propose to Alli," Cole admitted. It was the first time he had said it out loud. He hadn't told anyone else yet.

His Dad beamed at him. "I think that's a great idea."

"Yeah?" Cole asked, a smile starting on his face.

"Oh yeah, I knew from the second you met her that you'd marry her one day," Reece gushed, placing a hand on his son's shoulder. "You get a ring yet?"

"Yeah," Cole confirmed, reaching for his pocket. Pulling it out, he held it out to show his Dad.

Reece whistled, flashing him a grin. "Damn, you went all out."

"Took me hours in that damn shop," Cole chuckled out, rubbing his hands together. "Had to take a vacation day."

"Well, it was worth it," he assured him, handing the ring back to his son.

Cole nodded in agreement, taking the ring back and staring at the diamond thoughtfully. "I just... I can't tell if she thinks we're ready."

"Well, ask her."

"Like propose?"

"Well, eventually," Reece started slowly. "But you can also just bring up marriage to see what she thinks. You don't need to propose by going in blind. Actually, it's probably a better idea to feel out where she's at."

Cole hummed in thought. He hadn't considered that option. "Can't believe I'm doing this. God, this feels... crazy. Good crazy, but crazy."

"I can't wait to see you marry her," Reece told him softly. Cole's face broke out into a smile as his Dad clapped a hand on his shoulder.

"I can't wait either."

Cole closed his eyes at the memory.

If only he made his move a bit earlier, Reece would've seen at least one of his kids down the aisle.

His Dad knew he and Alli were right for each other.

And Cole messed it all up.

He went over every situation in his head, thinking about what he should've done differently. It was eating at him to feel like it was all just gone. He didn't even know what else he could do at this point. He didn't want to make Alli keep hearing him out if she didn't want to.

But he just wanted to get things back like how they used to be. What was killing him the most was that they were so close. He and Alli were so close to getting on the right path. And god, he wanted to raise this baby with her. He wanted to take this next step with her. This didn't feel like a weight crushing his chest. It felt like a chance for them to come back to each other. He knew they do this. He knew that child would have a good life because he'd have two parents who fought for everything they had.

Cole's phone buzzed. He fished it from his pocket, swiping it open to check the notification.

As soon as he saw it, he was bolting to the front of the hotel.

Alli could hear him out one more time.

Maybe he could catch a taxi.

He could make it in time.

He had to make it in time.

He had to get Alli back.

Part of him thought he should tell his family where he was going, but he didn't want to distract from Scarlett. He could just fill them in later. Maybe he could even be back before they noticed he was missing.

Cole sprinted through the grass, trying to even remember where on the property they just were. He recognized one of the buildings, making a break towards it. He threw open the doors and saw the hotel entrance. His feet pounded on the floor, weaving through various people. He apologized frantically as he bumped into strangers, but made no move to stop.

He ran like his life depended on it. And honestly, it did. He had to make it to her in time. He couldn't let her leave like this. Cole pushed through the revolving door, panting and wheezing as he tried to catch his breath long enough to get his question out.

"Hey, could you help me get a taxi?" Cole asked the bellhop breathlessly.

The man looked startled for a moment and Cole almost apologized for how frantic he must seem, but he didn't have it in him. The bellhop opened his mouth, but before he could even answer, a loud noise startled the two of them.

A car squealed up to the front of the hotel on two wheels, the driver's seat window down.

Cole gaped when he saw who it was.

"Need a ride?" Sam asked cheekily, hand resting on top of the wheel.

Lila leaned forward from the passenger seat. Cole jumped slightly, startled. "Can't imagine Sam is your first choice for chauffeur, but I lost the coin flip."

"God, a guy totals one car."

"What are you two doing?" Cole asked instantly, eyes bulging from his head.

Lila grinned sweetly. "Helping you win back Alli so you stop sulking."

"You... Sam, can you even drive that thing?" he asked his brother, referring to the fact that the wheel was on the opposite side of the car they were used to.

"I just did some practice laps," Sam assured him in a carefree voice. "Think I wasn't too bad. It's actually not that hard. Kinda like a video game if I don't think too much about it."

"This feels incredibly illegal."

Lila beamed at him. "It is! We bribed some guy who rented it."

"I- and you guys can't just leave the wedding either," Cole told them firmly, shaking his head as he gathered his bearings. "Scar's gonna wonder where we all are, we can't just go."

The window rolled down in the back seat. There sat his sister, her wedding dress sprawled around her. Scarlett gave a sheepish smile. "Yeah, about that."

Cole gaped at her. "Dude, this is your wedding."

"And not everyone in our family is here," Scarlett reminded him instantly with a smile. "Nate's gonna hold down the fort while we're gone. He caved and said he'd sing to distract everyone."

"We told Charlie and Ashton to keep asking for an encore," Lila added with a laugh.

"No, you can't—"

Scarlett cut him off, her voice leaving no room for discussion as she insisted, "You gave up part of your wedding to help me, let me do the same."

Cole shook his head. "Well, what about Mom—"

Lorena leaned forward into view next to Scarlett. "Hi, honey."

Sam grinned at the look of shock on Cole's face. "Where we off to?"

Cole opened his mouth to tell them this was crazy. Too crazy. To tell them that he could do this by himself. But then he saw the look on his mother's face and recalled their conversation. Cole always thought he had to keep everything in. Reece was always the one to take care of everyone. When he passed, Cole had no issue with taking up that role. He wanted to help everyone.

But recently, Cole's realized that they wanted to help him too. They wouldn't all be here if they didn't want to be. They wanted to help him. Alli was their family too. He wasn't the only one who was losing her. Maybe he could use some help with carrying it all. And if he was being honest, he really needed them right now. So, Cole let them bear the burden.

"This is insane, even for us," Cole pointed out, a smile breaking out on his face.

His brother shrugged. "Yeah, well, sanity's overrated."

"Where are we going?" Lila asked firmly, her voice leaving no more room for debate.

"I got an email about a flight confirmation, so I think the airport," Cole explained hastily as he headed towards the door of the car.

Scarlett nodded. "That's not too far from here, we shouldn't even be gone long."

"Won't lie, my driving has only gotten worse with time. And that's saying something, so hold on tight," Sam warned everyone as he bounced in the seat eagerly.

"I'll check the flight to see if there's still seats," Lila said as she pulled out her phone. "You might need to buy a ticket to get through security."

"Put my card down," his mother ordered, turning to pull her wallet from her bag.

Cole laughed wryly.

He fucking loved his family.

Then he realized something.

"Is there even space for me in the car?"