Page 88 of Rebound

The minister clears his throat, and I look away.

“Welcome to your wedding,” Chastain says.

“My what?”

“Welcome to the simp life, my friend. We’re happy to have you,” Coach says. "Keep bringing that big simp energy."

Chapter 55

Seth

Everything happens at once. Music starts to play and Jasmine and Jeannie walk down the aisle together. They’re wearing identical dresses in Layla’s favorite color, but my wife looks better in burgundy than anyone on earth. The dresses are long with a loose skirt.

Vickie comes next, holding the hands of both her sons. They’re in black suits and burgundy ties. Vickie is in the same dress as Jeannie and Jasmine.

My heart stops when I see what comes next. It’s Layla, in a long dress that hugs her body just right. The dress is simple but has a long train. Her hair is brushed to the side, and it reminds me of the hairstyle she had when she crashed Jasmine’s baptism.

She’s between both parents and for once, they appear to have put their differences aside for the sake of their daughter. Stella gestures for Donna to come, and they hold hands. The wedding march starts, and the three of them walk Layla down the aisle.

I don’t look away from her for a second. Even when Jasmine takes my hand and pulls on it, I don’t look away from my wife. She smiles shyly at me, and I smile back. For a split second, my world turns upside down, but I clear my head so I can continueto watch her.

The trip down the aisle is much too short, and in no time, she’s in front of me. I take her hand in mine, and I kiss the back of it. She giggles and her nose scrunches.

Our vows are a blur. We keep it traditional, but the entire time, I never break our stare, and I don’t ever remember seeing anyone as beautiful as the woman standing in front of me today.

Once we say our vows, and I’m told to kiss my bride, I pull her into my arms and cup her perfect face. She smiles shyly at me, and I stroke her soft skin. I want to live in this moment as much as I want to kiss her soft lips. In the end, kissing wins, and I finally get to taste my bride. I start slow and just enjoy the feel of her. Then I realize that I’ve missed her in the short time she was upstairs, and I deepen the kiss. She opens her mouth for me, and I forget we’re in a room full of people until I hear the loud cheers.

I still don’t stop. I keep the kiss going, never intending to stop, until I feel a firm yanking of both my pant legs. She finally breaks the kiss, and I look down at Jasmine and Johnny. They both raise their hands up to me, and I pick them up. Johnny leans over and kisses Layla’s cheek, and the room goes wild.

Chapter 56

Layla

Seth hasn’t stopped touching me since the ceremony. Even now as we’re sipping champagne and mingling with guests, he has my hand in his.

“Did you know about this?” he whispers in my ear.

“No! I asked Jeannie when she had the time because she just gave birth weeks ago. She told me not to worry about it and to enjoy myself.” My eyes fill with tears, and if I had a free hand, I’d fan my face with it.

“You look so beautiful,” my mom says.

Donna nods but she’s too busy crying to say a word.

“You really do,” my dad says.

“Shut up, Leon. No one asked you,” my mom says, but her words lack their usual bite. “And I haven’t had to cut your dick off yet, Seth, so you’re doing a good job.”

“Mom!” I look around the room, and sure enough, Reverend Okoye is watching. He stares at us in disbelief.

“Do you do exorcisms?” my dad asks. “Or is that only the Catholics? Whatever you can do to cast the devil out of them,” he says while pointing at my mom and Donna.

“I’ll pray for you all,” the reverend says before walking away.

June Bug cackles, but instead of saying something smart, he offers Seth his hand. After they shake, he pulls me into a hugthat turns into him putting me in a headlock like he did when I was little. He rubs his knuckles over my hair until Seth pulls me away. He puts his arm across my shoulders.

It takes another hour for everyone to come out and congratulate us, including the owner of the team, Wayne Valen, and his grandson, Ryder.

“She’s a beautiful bride, Seth,” he says after kissing the back of my hand. I find myself blushing at the compliment. “Remember what I told you. Keep your willy in your pants, and I better not hear about any more shenanigans.”

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