Page 95 of Delay of Game

“That’s the day he asked me to marry him,” I say, smiling as I think back on that Christmas Day. After everyone left, Jordan gave me a tour of the rest of the house. The finished basement where we ended up building a custom gaming table and housed hundreds of board games; the four-season den that ended up being my office; the bookshelves he custom-ordered; and the two bedrooms, one of which was fully furnished. After he spent hours touching me, telling me how much he loved me, how he couldn’t wait to start a family, he asked me to marry him. He asked me to go down to City Hall with him so we could elope.

But I had one request before we gave in and started on forever. I begged him to reconsider getting a hip replacement. We weighed all the pros and cons together and he eventually agreed that it would be the best thing for his health in the long run. Even though the recovery was tough and he had to take a leave of absence, we got through it together. And now, a year later, he’s back to coaching the Manticores and spending some of his free time with Robbie’s organization.

“Did he?” my dad asks, his mostly gray mustache twitching.

“I wanted to make sure he was happy with his health and progress before we took that step,” I say.

“Smart cookie.”

“And you’re good to go,” the emcee says, waving us down. I take a deep breath, and my dad leads me as we turn the corner and face the crowd of people standing and smiling at us. I smile back as we walk down the aisle, but my eyes never stray awayfrom my almost-husband. He looks stunning in his maroon suit—a color that turns his eyes a pretty shade of amber.

My heart races as we approach, and Jordan reaches out for me. My left hand grazes his right palm and he squeezes my fingers, bringing them up to his lips and pressing a kiss to my knuckles. His thumb rubs over the princess cut engagement ring he put there the day after his surgery.

The ceremony moves quickly, and soon the minister asks us to say our vows. Olivia hands me my notebook and I blow out a breath, trying to steady all my overwhelming feelings. I don’t mind being the center of attention, having done a few author events by now and advertising my books. But this is different—it’s personal. All our loved ones are here, witnessing the promise Jordan and I are making to each other.

“J, from the moment I face-planted into your arms twelve years ago, I always hoped we’d make it here,” I say, the laughter from the crowd steadying me. “It’s no shock that I’ve written your name next to mine in every notebook, and every scrap of paper, wishing I could manifest our love. What was an unrequited, one-sided crush turned into stolen glances and late-night conversations. And when life tore us apart,” I say, blinking back tears and looking up at Jordan, “I thought I’d never have that kind of connection again. I’m so glad that I was wrong,” I say with a wet laugh. Jordan wipes a tear away and reaches out a hand that I gladly take before continuing.

“I always knew what we had was special, that you’d be in my life one way or another. And I promise to always have your back. I promise to love you, to cherish you, to let you be the passenger princess, to always let you win at games?—”

Jordan laughs, his bottom lip wobbling. “Sore loser,” he whispers thickly, but it’s loud enough for our wedding party to hear and crack up.

“I promise to be yours until death do us part. I love you so much,” I say, letting a tear drop and handing the notebook back to Olivia. She takes it and dabs at my wet cheek with her sleeve as more chuckles rise up from the crowd of guests.

“Jordan, you may read your vows now,” the minister says, and Jordan gives me a big smile. His fingers tighten around mine again as he grounds himself to me. He doesn’t reach for a piece of paper, but rather speaks from the heart. My heart melts at the significance of it, knowing that he still deals with anxiety most days, and that speaking in front of all these people can’t be easy.

“I’m not great with words, as you well know. I often bask in the silence around me, content to just be around you. I love watching you grow and want you to know that I’m so incredibly proud of everything you have accomplished. You inspire me every day to be the best version of myself.

“You’ve been my rock these past few years and I can’t imagine my life without you. I may not be perfect, but I’ll try my damn hardest to never let you down, to never make you feel small. You light up my whole world and if death were to part us, I promise I will find you in the next life, so you can be my beacon once more,” he says through tears, eyes never straying from mine.

“I love you, Alice.”

“I love you too, J.”

My heart might burst out of my chest if I can’t kiss him soon. I look at the minister, antsy to get this going.

“Repeat after me,” he says, walking us through the rest of the ceremony. Jordan and I grin at each other, our hands swaying together in front of us. Mine shake as I place the rose gold band on his finger, but his hands are steady in contrast.

“You may now kiss the bride.”

Jordan

“Thank god,”I say, cupping my wife’s face and capturing her lips in a bruising kiss. I don’t care that we have an audience, I need to feel her against me. I need to know she’s mine.Forever.

Alice lets out the smallest moan against me and I smile into the kiss. I can’t wait to get her out of this dress and into my lap. In one quick movement, I swing us around and dip her, our mouths still fused together. Everyone cheers and hollers as we come up for air and rush up the aisle.

“You have no idea how much I want you out of this fucking dress,” I growl in her ear as we get inside the venue at one of our favorite wineries here in Traverse City.

“I think I have some idea,” she says as she runs a hand over the bulge in my pants. I grunt and she leans into me, peppering kisses to my clean-shaven jaw and scraping her teeth down the side of my neck. I shudder and keep her at arm’s length right as more people start walking into the venue.

“You are a menace,” I whisper, twirling her, admiring the way her dress billows with the movement. “A gorgeous little menace.”

“I’ll be so good to you later,” she promises, a smirk playing on her lips.

Weddings have never beensomething I looked forward to. I’ve always found it draining, especially things like this—talking to so many people, one after the other with seemingly no break. But the look of pure happiness on Alice’s face makes all of it worth it.

After our first dance, we eat the first course of our meal and sit through some thoughtful and hilarious speeches from our families and friends as Olivia and Ash take the stage with loving messages and hilarious memories.

By the time everyone leaves, our feet hurt from dancing, our cheeks hurt from smiling, and our hearts are full.

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