Page 99 of Protecting his Heart

“Welcome, friends and family. We are here today to join these two people in marriage.” The officiant paused. “Owen, can you repeat after me?”

“I, Owen Morris, take Evan Montgomery to be my husband. To trust and to care for. To honour and to cherish. To love andto support. As I stand before these witnesses, I vow to you, Evan, that I will be wholly yours.”

“I, Evan Montgomery, take Owen Morris to be my husband. To trust and to care for. To honour and to cherish. To love and to support. As I stand before these witnesses, I vow to you, Owen, that I will be wholly yours.”

The officiant took over again. “With the witnesses present, I ask you for your final answer. Owen, do you take Evan to be your husband?”

Owen smiled, reached for the ring and slid it on Evan’s finger. “I do.”

“Evan, do you take Owen to be your husband?”

“I finally do,” Evan said, reaching for a ring and slipping it onto Owen’s finger as their guests chuckled.

“With those vows, I now pronounce you husbands. Congratulations. You may kiss.”

Owen cradled Evan’s face and kissed him. Chastely and properly, but with a hint of heat to remind them of what was to come that night. Cheers sounded, and they pulled away.

Evan slid his arm around Owen’s shoulders and faced their guests. Sally had tears in her eyes, as did Randall. Dominic, not so much, but his smile was so wide. Matteo fist-bumped the air and hooted. Dominic’s parents, Tom and Chance, and his sister, May, were also present, having been a huge part of their childhood. The two men he hadn’t expected to come were Brett and Felix, who Owen had become a lot closer to over the years. Marie, who they’d finally managed to have a proper get to know them chat instead of the three hospital visits Owen had done, had been overwhelmed at her invitation. And their final guests had been something of a last-minute addition when he and Owen realised they’d become a lot closer to them since their ordeal the previous year: Edward and Anika.

Anika reminded them so much of Amy, and they had still kept in contact since everything that had happened. Owen and Anika were as thick as thieves—and often got into as much trouble.

They greeted, hugged and kissed their friends and family, receiving congratulations until Evan thought his cheeks might never move again. They ached that much. When someone had asked Evan what to buy them for a wedding gift, Evan had brought an idea to Owen, who had made it known exactly how much he appreciated the idea. Any guest who wanted to, instead of providing a gift for them, would donate to the LGBT+ homeless youth charity that Freddie and Damon were supporting.

“I think it’s time for photos,” Sally said, pointing to the photographer who stood quietly by the flower arch.

The pictures took about half an hour, and then everyone dispersed. Their night of debauchery was getting started. Despite having to travel back home after their amazing wedding, they wanted to get back for the party Nick had organised. Originally, Nick had said he would do it for a few nights later to let them have the chance as newlyweds before their night out, but both had agreed that they wanted their wedding night to be full of friends and family, and if that meant heading home so they could visit the karaoke bar again, they would.

As they settled into the back of the car they’d hired to drive them home, Evan pulled Owen against him, holding him tightly.

“Is it everything you thought it’d be so far?” Owen asked, snuggling up to his chest.

“Everything and more,” Evan said. “Evan Morris. I love it.”

Owen gripped his suit, crinkling paper, and paused. “What’s that?”

Evan’s heart skipped. “Oh, I forgot for a second.” He pulled the envelope from his pocket. “My mother turned up before the wedding.”

Owen sat up so fast, he nearly clocked Evan’s chin. “She what?”

Evan waved him down. “I sent her away, but she was doing Jessica’s bidding.” He held up the envelope. “Apparently, she’d tasked her mother with bringing this to me on my wedding day.”

“What does it say?”

Evan shrugged. “I waited for you so I could open it.”

Owen leaned against him. “Open it, then. Let’s see what little sis has to say.”

Evan’s throat closed, but he tore open the envelope and unfolded the thick paper.

Dear Evan,

This is going to sound really bad, but I hope Owen, and no one else, is reading this next to you. If, for whatever reason, you’ve ended up marrying someone else, they better be worthy of you.

Anyway, I know you weren’t expecting to hear from a dead girl, but surprise!

(Bet you thought you’d got rid of my sarcasm, eh?)

Evan, I love you. I know we didn’t get as much time together as we deserved, but I’m so glad I got to know you. You are an amazing man. You deserve all the happiness in the world, so I have one last gift for you.

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