Chapter 7:

Ricky Bowen

The reception hall hums with excitement as guests chat amongst themselves, waiting for the wedding cake to be presented. Nini and I stand side by side, soaking in the energy of the moment. It should be perfect. But something feels off. E.J. walks in carrying a cake, balancing it with exaggerated care. He takes a few careful steps before—his foot catches. He stumbles forward, arms flailing, and the cake slips from his grip. It crashes to the floor with a resounding splat. Gasps ripple through the crowd, eyes wide with shock. For a second, the room is frozen. Then Gina—Gina, of all people—smiles. And suddenly, it's like a switch flips in my brain. Without a second thought, I grab a fork from the table, kneel across from E.J., and scoop up a piece of cake. I eat it.

One by one, the guests follow suit. Laughter erupts, filling the room with a sense of warmth and spontaneity. I glance at Nini, expecting her to roll her eyes, but instead, she's smiling—one of those genuine, radiant smiles that made me fall for her in the first place. Later, as the celebration continues, I catch a glimpse of Gina helping Nini touch up her makeup in the dressing room. I assume it's a nice, friendly moment—until Gina suddenly knocks over her drink, spilling it all over Nini's wedding dress. Only the two of them know about it.

Nini Salazar Roberts

I know the stain isn't coming out. I take a deep breath, grab a pair of scissors from the table, and without hesitation, cut the damp fabric away, leaving a small opening near the front. No one notices. This day isn't about perfection. I step out of the dressing room, forcing a deep breath as I prepare for what's next. The soft hum of conversation dies down as I walk toward the aisle. Every step feels surreal, but I keep going until I reach the altar where Ricky, E.J., Gina, and the officiant are already waiting. The officiant speaks. "If anyone is opposed to this couple's marriage, speak now or forever hold your peace." Silence. But I know what I have to say. "I object." The room collectively gasps, and Ricky's face falls. I turn to him, my heart pounding."I'm so sorry, Ricky. I'm not actually pregnant. That test was fake."

E.J. steps forward shoving Ricky out of the way. "Nini, I've been waiting for this moment. I love you. Marry me." Gina doesn't hesitate either. She rushes to Ricky's side. "And Ricky, I love you. Marry me." Both E.J. and Gina move in for a kiss—E.J. toward me, Gina toward Ricky. Ricky leans back, pushing Gina away. "Stop!" She stumbles against the table, knocking over glasses as she falls to the floor. E.J. turns to see what happened, and in that moment of distraction, Ricky shoves him away, causing him to face plant into another cake—not the wedding cake, just a dessert from the table. Then Ricky turns back to me, his eyes burning with emotion. He wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me close. "I don't care if you're pregnant or not. I still love you." And then he kisses me. The guests erupt into cheers and applause, except for Gina and E.J., who remain frozen in shock. As the celebration continues, Kourtney hands me the bouquet. It's time for the toss. I turn around and throw it, aiming with intention. The bouquet lands directly in Gina's hands. She stares at it in disbelief, shaking her head. Before she can react, E.J. sweeps an arm around her waist and kisses her.

Ricky and I can't help but laugh. The music swells. The entire cast gathers for one final performance of We're All in This Together. The energy is infectious, the harmonies perfect. It's the kind of moment that makes all the chaos worth it. Backstage, as the others head out, Ricky takes a deep breath and turns to me. "Nini, I love you." His voice is steady, raw, full of everything we've been through. "I love you for who you are, not for what anyone expects you to be. I love you whether we're onstage or offstage, whether we're together or figuring things out. And I know now that love isn't about holding on too tight. It's about trusting each other, no matter what." I feel my heart swell. "Ricky…" He steps closer. "I don't want to waste another second wondering what could be. Because I know. It's you. It's always been you." He pauses, gathering his thoughts, his eyes locked on mine. "I spent so much time scared—scared of change, of losing what we had. But love isn't about fear. It's about believing in something bigger than yourself. And I believe in us."

A tear slips down my cheek, and before I can even respond, he pulls me into another kiss. And in that moment, I know, too. The lights fade, the echoes of our final performance still lingering in the air. Whatever happens next, one thing is clear—this isn't just a role we're playing. This is real. This is us.

Gina Porter

As the wedding chaos settles, I step outside for a breath of fresh air, bouquet still in my hands. I stare down at it, lost in thought. E.J. joins me, shoving his hands into his pockets. "You caught it." I exhale a short laugh. "Yeah. Didn't think that would happen." E.J. hesitates. "Gina… I meant what I said before. I'm committed to this—to us. But with me going to college soon… I don't know how long-distance works." Gina looks up at him, eyes searching. "Do you want it to work?" "Of course I do." "Then we make it work." From a few feet away, Ashlyn, Carlos, and Seb watch us, exchanging glances. Ashlyn steps forward. "E.J., relationships are hard work. Big Red and I figured it out because we were both willing to fight for it. The real question is—are you?" E.J. glances at me, the answer already in his heart. "Yeah. I am." Carlos grins. "Then it's settled." Seb nudges Carlos. "Not quite." E.J. and I turn to each other. The air between us is electric, full of everything left unsaid. And then— At the same time, we both say, "I love you." Our eyes widen slightly in surprise before I laugh. E.J. shakes his head, grinning. And then, without hesitation, he leans in and kisses me. The moment lingers, the promise unspoken but understood. We would figure it out—together.