Page 75 of Side Out

I huff a faint laugh. “I was just reading my vows and got emotional… it’s nothing, really.” She wraps me up in her arms, and the tears pour out of me again. The dam’s burst open, cracked down the middle, and there’s no use in fighting it. “I-I don’t know what I did to deserve Jax, Mom.”

She wipes a hand down the back of my head, as a soft shushing sound falls from her lips. Just like she did when I was little and I would fall and scrape my knee. “You even saying that out loud shows that you do deserve him. I may not know him well, but I do know you. And I see it when you look at him. I see how irrevocably in love you are. He deserves a love like that. And so do you, my boy.”

“I was so awful to him, Mom.”

“That’s in the past now, Theo. You can either drown in your regrets or use them to help you swim toward a better future. If he’s forgiven you, then why can’t you forgive yourself?” I stare at her as the tears begin to slow. “Jackson helped save you from what would have been a loveless marriage. Everything happens for a reason, even if it feels bad at the moment. You have come such a long way, and I am sosoproud of you.” Mom wipes the tears from my cheeks, before taking a deep breath, silently instructing me to follow her lead. So I do.

“Thank you, Mom,” I whisper.

“I willalwaysbe here for you, Theodore. I willalwaysbe here to support what makes you happy.” Leaning over, I kiss her softly on the cheek. She smiles softly. “Now, are you ready to go get yourself married? Again?”

* * *

My dad is on one side and my mom is on the other as we step up to the end of the aisle for what was supposed to be a small ceremony.

I can attest it is anything but small.

All of Billings must be here… but Catherine didn’t stop there.

No, most of the familiar faces from Palm University seem to be here, too, including Austin, Emma, and Lizzie. The entire Campos family is even here… and Coach Taylor.

Jax was right, Catherine really does know everyone.

I fidget nervously as I hear everyone mingling on the other side of the barn doors. And when I say barn I use that termveryloosely. It’s more like a fabulously rustic event hall that just happens to look like a barn on the outside. I don’t know what they usually use this space for, but it sure as hell isn’t for cows.

?*The acoustic version of “Sun to Me” sung by MGK begins to play in the barn, and despite the fact that we’re already married, I can feel myself break out in a sweat. I just want to see him. And even though I know he’s standing just in the hallway to my right, I feel as if we’re miles apart. My parents thread their arms through mine, and when my mom softly strokes my forearm with her thumb, I can finally feel my heart rate slow.

“Ready, son?” I look over to my dad who has the proudest smile on his face, and I can say, without a shadow of a doubt, I now feel more ready for my new life than I could have ever hoped.

The doors open and the three of us slowly make our way to the end of the aisle. Mom places a kiss on my cheek, then Dad wraps his other arm around me in a hug that’s going to have me sobbing yet again. They find their seats and place their eyes on the entrance as we all wait for Jax.

I see Jax turn the corner and start walking down the aisle towards me, and my breath stills in my chest.

Time stands still.

The world I thought I knew ceases to exist.

And the only thing I can seem to think of is, there is no one else I’d rather have walking down that aisle toward me than Jackson Baker.

Sun to me - mgk

CHAPTER47

THE MOON & STARS

JACKSON

“Alright, alright. All of you hush,” Dad grumbles as we all raise our shot glass. Me, Clay, Rocky, Emerson, Bryson, Grayson, Dad, and Mr. Campos are gathered in the kitchen. We’re all dressed and ready to go. All that’s left to do now is… well, get married—again. The twins continue to giggle like a couple of school girls, and Dad pins them with a glare. “Boys, this is your one and only drink for the day so I suggest you listen up.”

In unison, the twins thin their lips and grab their glasses.

?*Dad continues, “I know I usually make some sort of funny toast but today, I wanted to say something a little more from the heart.”Oh shit. He’s going to make me cry. What a dick.“Jackson, my boy, there are no words to describe how proud I am of the man that you are. The last few years have tested who you are as a person in more ways than one, but not once did you let it keep you down.”Here it comes.“To be loved by you is an honor. I know because I am one of the lucky ones.” He looks around the room. “We all are. And my only hope in life, for you, and for your brothers, is to experience a love like that. I’ve found it in you, in Emerson, in the twins, and… in your mother. And now, I can see that you’ve found it in Theo.”Well, fuck.I can feel a small tear trailing down my cheek, and Dad just winks, while Clay claps me on the shoulder. “So don’t squander it. Live every single day, every single moment, with him as if that kind of love is the most precious gift on Earth. Because it is.” Dad’s voice cracks at the end, and every single man in the room suddenly has a sheen to their eyes. Clearing his throat he raises his glass a little higher. “So, here’s to Jackson and Theo. May your love be modern enough to survive the times, but classic enough to last forever.”

“Cheers,” we all say in unison before clinking our glasses together and downing our shots. Well, most of us down them, the twins just sound like they’re going to barf.

Dad sets down his glass and wraps me up in a hug. It’s the kind of hug that only a dad can give. You know the ones where you feel like nothing can touch you… yeah, that kind. And with my face buried in his neck I let a few more tears fall. The two of us pull apart and clap one another on the shoulders. He starts fidgeting with the lapels of my suit jacket while he sniffles. “You best go see your momma out on the deck. She has your tie.”

I’m wearing a dark, navy-blue suit, with a white shirt, brown shoes, and matching belt. I have to admit… I look dapper as fuck. But both of our moms picked out our ties, and she wanted to personally give it to me after I got ready. I nod at Dad. “Alright. Thanks, Dad. See you out there?”

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