Page 189 of Black Flag

“There you go.” momsaid fussing over my tie, ensuring it laid the proper way under my collar andwaistcoat. I was more than capable of tying a tie myself, but it made her feelgood to fuss over me, so I let her continue. She took my jacket from where itwas lying over the back of a chair and held it for me to slip my arms into.

When I had it on, shereached for the boutonniere of white freesia blossoms and pinned it carefullyto my lapel. “Perfect,” she smiled, stepping back to admire her handiwork. “Youlook so handsome.”

“Positively dreamy,”Spencer said sarcastically from where he lounged on the leather sofa, his owntuxedo jacket tossed over a plump cushion. “I can hardly control myself.”

“Oh you behaveshitdick,” she said kicking him, and turned back to me,still beaming. “Are you ready?”

Spencer, Tommy, and Iall gawked at her wide-eyed for using that word.

“What?” her cheeksflushed as she began to fidget. “Sway said it to Aiden this morning. I thoughtit was catchy and decided to use it.”

“Mother,”Spencer scolded shaking his head at her as we all broke into laughter.

“Are you ready?” she finallyasked when she caught her breath, clutching her side.

“Absolutely,” Ireplied, without hesitation, still chuckling to myself that my sweet mothercalled my brother ashitdick.

I knew they were allexpecting me to exhibit some sign of nervousness, but to even my own surprise,I felt one hundred percent calm. Even when I had started to hear guestsarriving about fifteen minutes ago, it still hadn’t changed. I’ve waited a longtime to make this woman my wife.

I simply felt,innately, that this marriage was absolutely the right thing to do. I couldn’twait for the ceremony to begin.

We were in the smallroom, where we would wait until it was time for us to make our appearancebefore the guests. There was a short rap at the door, and I knew it was my dad withReverend Campbell and Lane. He had just arrived, and would be performing theceremony for us today.

“Hello, Jameson,” theReverend smiled at me as they stepped into the room, reaching to shake my hand.“How are you doing son?”

“Very well, thank you,”I replied. “Thank you so much once again for doing this for us.”

“Wouldn’thave missed it.Congrats on the championship.” he replied sincerely. “You ran a great season.”He turned his smile to mom and Spencer. “Doesn’t this family look wonderful?Mrs. Riley, your dress is stunning.” His eyes narrowed at Spencer, as I’m surehe was remembering the skinny dipping instance with his daughter when we werekids. “Spencer,” He said curtly.

Spencer just nodded inhis direction, avoiding eye contact with him.

“Thank you very much,Reverend Campbell,” mom said, still beaming like the proud mother. “This is avery special day for these two. Thank you for being part of it.”

“My pleasure,” Hesmiled. “When will we know when to go out to start?”

“Spencer will go checkwith Emma and Alley in a moment,” dad told him stepping inside the room withLane on his back.

“Fuck it, let’s gonow,” Spencer was on his feet in an instant, shrugging into his jacket. He letmom straighten his tie and his lapels, then came over to pat me on the backaffectionately while she turned her attention to Lane. “This is it, last chanceto make a run for it,” Spencer teased.

“I think I’ll stay,” Ireplied, still grinning. You couldn’t wipe the grin from my face today.

“Thought so...see you out there bro,”

Although I had seen itearlier, now, with the guests in place I was stunned by the extent to whichEmma had outdone herself again. The room was, draped tastefully in flowingbolts of white silk and organza, white ribbon and flowers everywhere, like afairytale. The whiteness outside made the roomseemlight and airy.

Dozens of smiling facesturned toward us as our waiting friends and family looked to see us proceed upthe aisle to the white bower at the front, under which we would stand for theceremony.

There were a fewseemingly long moments after I took my place at the front under the bower, andturned to face the congregation as I waited. Spencer, Aiden and Tommy, stillpale faced and Justin stood beside me.

Tyler, Bobby, Tate andother various team members were sitting a few rows back handing money back andforth, and I assumed placing bets on something I didn’t want to know.

Lane was the ringbearer and spent most of the time walking down the aisle trying to stay awayfrom the flower girl who tried to kiss him every five minutes. He was notamused by this.

Alley walked down theaisle first, followed by Emma, Andrea and Mallory taking their places.

In fear of my safety, Ichose Spencer as my best man. I wasn’t sure what he’d do to me if I hadn’tchosehim.

The music changed toWagner’s familiar march. The guests stood, and my breath caught in my throat. Ihad to remind myself to breath in and out. This is where the panic set it. Notin the way you’d think though, panic that she’d change her mind.

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