Meet Me at Midnight

Two Years Later…

Juniper

This is the day I’ve dreamed about since I was thirteen years old.

Not just in theory but in vivid detail, down to the color and arrangement of my flowers and the way I’d wear my hair. I imagined the cake and the tux for my groom, and I imagined all of it with Beau Banks.

And today, it’s happening.

I smooth on another layer of lip gloss over the Chanel lipstick shade called Adrienne, my lips curving naturally into a smile. I don’t feel nervous or unsure or preoccupied with what could go wrong. I’m ready to get married.

And I’m ready to do it with my soul mate.

Avery rushes into her childhood bedroom where we’re getting ready for the most magical night of my life.

The Banks house has always been my shelter and my happiness, and the symbolism of marrying Beau here was always something I carried in my mind.

“Oh my God, June,” she cries, sitting down on the settee beside me and twinkling her fingers together excitedly. “You’re never going to believe the next-level, out-of-this-world, holy-shit-I’m-dying tea that’s been spilling downstairs for the last half hour while we’ve been up here getting you ready for eternal happiness and all that stupid shit.”

I shake my head on a laugh. “What happened?”

“Evidently, Seth and Bethany got into this big fight while they were taking their seats. Something about how he’s fed up with how distant she’s been, and he accused her of still being in love with Beau!”

My heart drops, but Avery waves her hands to keep me on track.

“Now, don’t get too excited, but it went even crazier than you’d imagine after that. Not only is she not in love with Beau, but she told Seth in front of everyone—we’re talking all of your guests and all the people we know from work—that she’s been having an affair with his father for the last three years.”

“Shut up.”

Avery nods excitedly. She also keeps spilling. “Bethany and Chris have been doing it like bunnies since she broke it off with Beau! Literally, the entire duration of her relationship with Seth, she’s been banging his daddy too!”

“No way!” I have to take a step back to wrap my mind around the news. “Nooooo!”

“Yes! I missed most of it, but Chris and Seth were shouting at each other, and Mrs. McKenzie slapped Bethany in the face before Chris said he wanted a divorce!”

“Holy shit!” I exclaim. “And then what happened?”

“Pretty much nothing. Mom kicked them all out and told them to take their bullshit somewhere else today because it’s about you and Beau. And Henry, Mav, and Ronnie made sure they complied.”

“Wow. Go Diane.”

“I know,” Avery agrees. “Also, go Henry. The man just about turned into the Hulk and ripped off his tux to kick out Seth and his dad.” A little pout forms at the corners of her lips. “Not gonna lie, I was kind of hoping Henry and Seth would’ve had a good old-fashioned brawl in the front yard. Henry’s shirt off, of course.”

“You were kind of hoping?” I question, staring at her with a knowing look.

“Okay, fine.” She shrugs. “I might’ve started yelling ‘Fight!’ and ‘Take your shirt off!’, but I can’t be sure. It was all happening so fast.”

I cackle. “I bet Beau just loved hearing you scream that.”

“Beau has no room to talk.” She rolls her eyes. “He’s marrying my best friend.”

“That’s true.” I nod, and a snort escapes my nose. “Boy, that’d be the ultimate revenge. You marrying Henry, your brother’s best friend.”

“Get real, Juni.” It’s Avery’s turn to cackle. “Henry is the last man on earth I’d marry. He’s as clichéd as you can get when it comes to the bad-boy player type. Like, c’mon, you know? We get it, you’re hot. You’re charming. You’re smooth. But how about you stop trying to ram your cock through the whole female dating pool?”

“You’re still pissed that he said you’re not his style,” I tease, but also, say what I know to be true out loud. For years, Beau’s friend Henry has caught Avery’s eye. And for years, it’s always seemed like she’s attempted to flirt him into bed. But somehow, from what I know, nothing has happened besides one single kiss when they were at a Miami club together years ago. Back when Beau and I were engaging in our secret affair.

She glares at me. “Juniper, are you trying to start shit with your maid of honor on her big day?”

“Pretty sure you mean my big day.”

“It’s not always about you, June.” She scoffs. “Anyway, back to the important shit—aka Bethany banging Seth’s dad.” She laughs, but then her eyes turn very serious. “I don’t know if you can come up with something wild to do in the next five minutes so your whole thing isn’t boringgg in comparison, but we’re going to have start brainstorming now if we want to figure it out before you walk down that aisle.”

“We’re good, Ave.” I grin. “Truth be told, I think coming to terms with the fact that I’m actually marrying your brother is wild enough.”

Avery nods, her eyes narrowing. “Are you sure you wanna go through with it? He’s so…Beau. I can totally call for a getaway car and have us out of here in no time.”

I grab her hand in mine, smiling. “I’m sure. In fact, him being ‘so Beau’ is my favorite part.”

She wrinkles up her nose and shoots to standing. “Suit yourself.”

Her black dress fits her body perfectly, and she looks as beautiful as ever as she hands me my bouquet before picking up her own.

“Avery.”

“Yeah?”

“I’m also really excited that you’re going to be my sister.”

She winks. “Yeah, obviously. That’s the best part. Now, let’s do it before another brawl breaks out.”

I nod, and she grabs the back of my train to help me down the stairs. Neil waits at the bottom, ready to escort me, even though my dad is here in the crowd with Lola, and my mother is also sitting somewhere with her latest boy toy she apparently met in Antigua. I’m glad they made the effort, my dad arriving earlier on the beach in his helicopter and my mother showing up via her guy driving them in a neon-green Lambo, but Neil Banks is the man who should walk me down the aisle. I’m certain of it.

“Oh, Junebug,” Neil says softly at the sight of me. “You look so beautiful.”

Avery clears her throat, and Neil smiles. “You look beautiful too, Avery, of course. I was just complimenting the bride specifically.”

Avery snorts. “Like there’s some law that you can only compliment the one in white? Get real, Neil.”

“I love you guys so much,” I cut in to say. As weird as it sounds, this is exactly how I pictured this part too. Avery and Neil and Diane and Beau—they’re my family. After today, that’ll be official.

Avery hugs me quick before sniping, “You bitch. You made me cry.”

I smile. “It’s worth it this time.”

Avery shoos me away with her hand. “Okay. Shut up. Time for me to do my thing down the aisle so you can follow.” She turns to Neil and points a finger in his face. “She’d better not fall, Daddy. It’s your job to make sure of it.”

He gives her a thumbs-up. “You got it, honey.”

“And don’t do that,” Avery says, nodding toward Neil’s offending thumb. “Ever again.” She turns on her heels and steps up to the back patio door as soft violin music starts to play.

She walks on her cue, and I wait inside, my arm clutched in Neil’s and my breath shaking. I can’t see Beau yet, not with the way the back is set up. We put plexiglass over the pool and a white runner and flowers down the aisle, and all the guests sit on each side in white-bow-festooned chairs.

The altar is at the front, with the beach in the back, and even though I can’t see him, Beau is waiting up there too. For me.

He’s waiting for me.

Neil pats at my hand. “Love you, Juni. I’m a proud man today and a proud man every day. Thank you for blessing us with your gifts. Beau couldn’t have picked anyone better.”

A tear pricks my eye, and my nose stings with the fight to stave it off. I can’t believe in just a few short minutes, Banks is going to be my last name.

The music shifts to the “Wedding March,” and Neil goes through the door first, holding a hand back for me to take next. I step through and arrange my dress, and after one more deep breath, we walk to the edge of the patio and out into the sun, where everyone can see us.

The guests are on their feet, and Beau stands at the altar, his friends beside him in a row. Avery stands on the other side, waiting for me, her face a natural smile of pure happiness at the sight of me.

She may joke like it’s otherwise, but Avery is quite possibly the biggest believer in love of all of us.

Beau’s smile is wide, his happiness undeniable as he takes me in. Neil starts to walk, holding tightly to my arm, and I tread carefully down the professionally constructed aisle.

When we get to the front, the minister is waiting, and Beau steps forward to take me from his dad. He must be a little too excited, though, because he doesn’t wait to be asked to do it, instead grabbing me and pulling to him.

Everyone laughs as the minister puts a hand to his chest and tsks.

“Whoa there, cowboy. I know you’re ready, but we’re not quite there yet.”

Beau laughs, and his friend Henry drags him back to his spot.

The minister pretends to double-check over his shoulder for movement a few times before continuing, and everyone laughs again.

“All right, then,” the minister says. “Who gives this woman to be married?”

Neil’s voice is rougher than normal as he answers, “I do.”

“Perfect,” the minister remarks, turning back to Beau then. “Okay, dude, you can come get your bride now.”

Beau steps forward and shakes his dad’s hand before taking mine and helping me step carefully up onto the altar that’s raised slightly above the rest of everything.

Avery straightens the small train of my dress and takes my bouquet, and when I turn back around, my favorite warm brown eyes are waiting.

I smile and take Beau’s hands in mine, squeezing tightly with the need to be his forever already.

“Welcome, everyone,” the minister addresses the crowd. “We’re here today to join Juniper and Beau in a legal union of love. We want to thank you for being here to join in their moment of happiness, but mostly, we want to thank Juniper and Beau for falling in love.”

Beau smiles at me, his whole body vibrating with excitement.

“Juniper, do you take Beau to be your lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and in health, in wealth and in poverty, in good times and in bad?”

I nod. “Yes. I do.”

Beau’s smile is the one he always gives me right before kissing me, and I know with my whole heart he’s wishing he could get to that part already.

“Great. Now, Beau. Do you take Juniper to be your lawfully wedded wife, in sickness and in health, in wealth and in poverty, in good times and in bad?”

“I take June in every circumstance. Yes. I do.”

“Love the enthusiasm.” The minister chuckles. “That seems to be a theme, and let me tell you, folks, that’s a good thing during a wedding.”

More laughter comes from the crowd, and I fall deeper into Beau’s smile as it grows even more.

“Now, for the rings.”

Beau turns back to Henry for my ring, and I turn to Avery for his. When we turn back around, I hold out my left hand, ready to seal our commitment to each other with my finger.

“Beau, you’ve made these promises today in front of your family, friends, God,” the minister states, looking at Beau. “Repeat after me. With this ring, I thee wed.”

Beau obeys immediately. “With this ring, I thee wed.”

“Perfect. And now you, Juniper.” The minister’s attention is on me now. “With this ring, I thee wed.”

I repeat the vow and slide Beau’s ring onto his finger just like he did with mine. His hand looks even sexier, and trust me, after the things I’ve felt them do, I didn’t think that was possible.

“Congratulations. I now pronounce you husband and wife, and you may kiss the bride!”

Beau leans in and plants one on me, and I give it back as good as I get it. It may not be demure or appropriate for mixed company, but it is love. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

We’re officially married!

Beau

June and I dance close, our faces pressed together in the center of the pool dance floor. Everything from the ceremony has been cleared out of the way, and an intimate, candlelit dinner setup replaces it. We have a sweetheart table at the front of it all, but by and large, we’ve spent our time like this, plastered together and swaying to the music.

Stars dance in the sky above us, and a full moon hangs low on the horizon. The sound of ocean waves isn’t audible with the music, but memory tells me it’s there in sharp detail.

I desperately want a moment alone with my new wife, and an idea hits me as if by kismet.

“Come on,” I whisper, taking her hand and dragging her off the floor slowly. Her eyebrows draw together as she looks back at all the other guests, including Avery and our parents, but I put a finger to my lips as a cue and whisper, “Shh.”

Smiling, she nods, and we trot off together, bound for the beach. When we get to the end of my parents’ bush-lined path, we pause briefly so she can take off her heels, and I help her lift the train of her dress so we can run through the sand together. It’s dark back here, with only the moonlight to light our way, and we don’t stop, her giggles echoing around us, until we make it to the spot.

Our spot.

The place we always came together as kids.

I pull her close and kiss her deeply, tasting her tongue and mine together a million little times. Her hands pull at my hips under my jacket, and I sink mine into the pretty red hair at the sides of her head.

We breathe each other in, the lapping ocean telling its story behind us.

“I love you, Beau.”

“I love you, Juni. At midnight and ten a.m. and every other minute of the day until the end of time.”

“You know, it’s getting close to midnight right now, actually,” she whispers, and I tilt my head to the side.

“Is it?”

“Mm-hmm,” she says with a nod, her forehead moving against mine as I refuse to back up more than an inch.

I kiss her again, lingering this time and nipping at the flesh of her bottom lip with my teeth.

“And what are you going to do with this midnight that you haven’t done with the others? You’ve landed me, enthralled me, married me… What exactly are you going to do now, Mrs. Banks?”

She smiles, just a hint of excitement I can’t place behind her eyes, and then kisses me again. When I feel her rustling something out of the top of her dress, I pull back to find her holding a photo between us. She lifts it up to show me, and instantly, I realize what it is—a sonogram picture.

“Is that… Are you…? You can’t be serious.” My eyes bounce back and forth between June’s beautiful face, her belly, and the picture. “June…are you going to have my baby?”

“We’re having a baby, Beau.” Tears kiss her eyes as she nods, and I scream my excitement into the silence of the night, lifting her off her feet and swinging her around. She laughs, but me…I cry.

The two of us, we’re getting everything we’ve ever dreamed of.

June…June is getting the thing she always wanted most in the whole entire world. A family.

And I get to be a part of it.

“I love you so much, Juniper.”

“Not as much as I love you.”

“Maybe when you were thirteen that was sort of true…” I pause to kiss her again. “But not now, baby. I love you just as much as you love me. I love you more than anything.”

Three Years Later…

Juniper

Avery lifts the teacup to her lips, sipping on the imaginary tea her niece made for her. I look on from my spot in Neil and Diane’s kitchen, and Beau, Neil, and Diane work on hanging the final stocking on the mantel.

Christmas is coming up, and just like always, we’re celebrating at the Bankses’ house. Beau and I live in the house he built while we were falling in love, and our two-year-old daughter Addy is already a little beach bug. We take her paddleboarding on the weekends when she isn’t having tea parties with Aunt Avery, and by and large, all of my dreams have just about come true.

My parents still aren’t around often, but after a conversation with Beau last year, my dad is making more of an effort. For me and for Addy. We know what it’s like to have a loving support system, and we want the same for her—as many people as we can get. My mom is still too preoccupied with her search for…something, but she did visit for Addy’s birth and her first and second birthdays. She even called me on my last birthday. Not a text message, but an actual phone call that lasted for over an hour and included her taking genuine interest in my life. It’s still not a lot, but it’s more than she’s ever given me in years.

“How’s that look, Addy?” Beau asks, pointing to the stocking they’ve just hung for her soon-to-be-announced little brother.

Everyone else thinks they’re hanging it for Addy’s imaginary friend, but the truth is, in five months, he won’t be so imaginary.

I smile to myself as Beau waves me over, and I wipe my hands on the towel beside the sink to dry them before heading toward him.

Addy gives the thumbs-up while everyone chatters, and I take my spot under Beau’s strong arm as he clears his throat.

Diane and Neil look in his direction first and then Avery, and I don’t even bother to hide my smile as Beau starts to talk. “Well, now that we’ve got the stocking hung, we’ve got a little bit to be thankful for today. For family and love and midnights.”

“Oh yeah.” I nod. “Have to be thankful for midnights, especially now that we’re looking at even more midnight feedings.”

Avery narrows her eyes. “More midnight feedings? What are you guys talking about?”

“Well,” Beau says. “We know we told you this stocking is for an imaginary member of the Banks family, but next year, he’ll be pretty real.”

“What?” Diane whispers, tears hitting her eyes. “You’re… Junebug, you’re going to have another baby? And he’ll…? It’s a boy?”

Instantly, I’m crying too. “Yep. Due in May.”

“Congratulations! I can’t believe I’m going to be a grandpa again!” Neil exclaims, damn near jumping up and down on his feet.

“Ahh!” Avery shrieks, jumping up from her spot at the coffee table and wrapping me in the tightest hug. “Yay! Oh my God, a little surfer boy. I can see it now.”

“Someone else to fall in love with.” I smile through my tears, and Beau presses a kiss to my forehead.

“Another piece of you and me, here forever.”

“I’m so happy for you!” Diane yells, racing over to wrap me in a hug. I squeeze her tightly and soak it all in.

This is the dream. This is the fantasy.

Who’d have thought? It all started with a single crush on Beau Banks by a young girl with stars in her eyes.

Maybe Cinderella had it right after all. There’s magic at midnight.

“Am I interrupting?” The deep male voice comes from behind us, and when everyone turns around to find Henry standing in the Bankses’ living room, his face morphs into concern. “Wait…what’d I miss? Is everything okay?”

“Beau knocked June up again,” Avery answers. “But why in the hell are you here?”

“Relax, Ave. I invited him,” Beau responds through a soft laugh as he heads over to Henry to give him a man-bro-hug thing. You know, the one where they hug but, like, keep their muscles flexed at the same time, while simultaneously clapping each other hard on the back.

Yeah, that.

“But why is he here?” Avery questions, Beau’s answer clearly not enough of an explanation.

“None of your business,” Beau responds, but Henry just shrugs.

“Beau here, took pity on me and invited me to attend your Christmas festivities in the name of making sure I don’t end up with my head face first in a bottle of whiskey.” He looks over at Diane and Neil. “I hope you don’t mind.”

“Of course not,” Diane responds and walks over to him to give him a hug. “It’s so good to see you, Henry. Everything going okay with you?”

“I’m okay,” Henry says, a little sadder smile in place than normal. “Things are just a little different this year.” Henry’s dad passed away after a battle with cancer a few months ago, and I can only imagine the change is startling. His father raised him alone, and for all intents and purposes, he was the only family Henry had. Because of the cancer’s progression, they’ve both had a year to prepare for this inevitable moment, but that doesn’t make being without your loved one any easier.

Thankfully, as I know better than anyone, the Bankses are about as good as a substitute gets.

“Well son,” Neil says, shaking Henry’s hand. “It’s always good to see you. And you know I always love to hear some updates about the adrenaline-junkie business.”

Henry smiles. “And you know I always enjoy giving them to you.”

“Dada!” Addy exclaims as she barrels over to Beau and wraps her arms around his legs. When she looks up and sees Henry standing there, her eyes light up with excitement. “Henny!” she squeals and switches legs altogether. And from Beau to Henry she goes.

He doesn’t hesitate to pick her up and swing her around. “Hi, Addy.”

“Hi, Henny.” Addy smiles at him and places her two chubby hands on his face. “Play tea party with me now.”

“Addy,” I say on a sigh. “You need to ask nicely, not bossy.”

“Play tea party with me now?” she asks, basically using the same tone with the same words and just lifting her voice a little at the end in question.

“I’d love to,” Henry says through a chuckle and sets Addy back on her feet. She takes his hand, clearly giving him no other option, and drags him over to the table she was playing with her aunt Avery earlier.

I head into the kitchen to help Diane set out drinks, but as I’m standing behind the kitchen island, I don’t miss the fact that Avery has migrated over to the tea party.

I also don’t miss the way she puts her hand on Henry’s shoulder and whispers something in his ear. He looks up at her, from the tiny kiddie chair his over-six-foot frame is currently sitting in, and his face flashes with a tenderness I rarely see from Henry. “Thanks. That means a lot.”

Avery turns on her heels, but just before she makes the full one-eighty, she spins back around to face him again. “Oh, and just so you know, I have a boyfriend.”

My head jerks back. Avery has a boyfriend? Unless it’s some kind of secret boyfriend she hasn’t told me about and that she never spends any time with, I call bullshit.

Henry laughs. “Got it.”

“So, no flirty stuff, yeah?”

“Heard you loud and clear, Avery.”

“Good.”

“Good,” Henry responds. “Glad we got that settled.”

Avery walks—more like, sashays—away, and I don’t miss the way Henry’s eyes follow her the whole way. I also don’t miss the fact that when she comes to help Diane and me in the kitchen, her eyes find their way back into the living room where Addy is bossily telling Henry, “Drink yous tea, Henny. Alls of it.”

Is it just me or does it feel like there’s way more to this story?

I look out toward the patio, where Beau stands talking to his dad, and when he glances over his shoulder to meet my eyes, I smile and blow him a little kiss.

He pretends to snag it from the air, and when Avery catches on to the whole cheesy scene, she pretends to gag.

“Gross.”

“You know, Ave, one day, when you’re blowing kisses to your future husband, I’m going to remind you of this moment.”

She just rolls her eyes, but I swear, as they make the circuit from the ceiling and back to the floor, they stop on Henry for a hot second.

Is my best friend secretly in love with her brother’s best friend?

Boy, wouldn’t that be something.