Page 190 of Black Flag

To my frustration, myview of where Sway and Charlie would first appear was obscured when everyonestood, so it seemed to take much longer than it should for them to arrive.

Then...she was there.Mybride.

All that fear and panicmelted away when emotion welled up in my throat and I gave up trying to breathenormally. Momentarily shocked into complete immobility at the sight of her, shewas stunning.

Her long, dark hair hadbeen artfully, pinned up with a few odd curls hanging down. Her white straplesssilk gown was cut low enough to be sexy, but high enough to remain modest. Itfit snugly over her breasts and then spilling out into a wide skirt, with atrain down the back that followed along behind her on the floor. Although shewas eight months pregnant, you couldn’t tell by looking at her now.

It was perfect. It wasexactly the dress I envisioned her wearing.

Both Sway and Charlielooked nervous, both probably concentrating on putting one foot in front of theother. Charlie’s eyes were red and glossy—Sway looking at her feet.

Eventually she lookedup, her eyes darted back and forth uncertainly at first, searching, but after afew steps up the aisle, her gaze caught mine and our eyes locked on oneanother. When she broke into a beautiful, wide smile, I felt my whole bodyrelax.

I chuckled to myselfwhen Sway winked at me.

In another moment, shewas beside me, and Charlie took her right hand from his arm to place it inmine.

“Take care of her.” Hewhispered in words meant only for me.

I nodded to him beforehe took his seat. I wanted to tell him I would, but I couldn’t form the words.

Sway clutched my handtightly, eagerly, lacing her warm fingers through mine. She gave them a squeezeas if to reassure me that everything was right in the world, and I squeezedback. I well knew it—everything was perfect. I thought about when I asked herto marry me and how nervous I’d been. That didn’t even compare to this.

The ceremony itself wasa traditional one, but not lengthy.

Emma had pretty muchforced Sway and I to write our own vows, the problem was Aiden and I were drunkwhen I finished mine last night and now, as I looked down at my hand that Iwrote them on, none of it made any fucking sense, not to mention they were smearedfrom my sweating.

“Shit...” I muttered obtaining a few laughs fromAiden and Spencer who stood beside me.

Sway smiled letting outa soft giggle, she knew right then what I had done.

Wing it.I told myself and wentfor it.

I reached for her hand.“Sway Marie Reins...you are my flywheel.You are whatkeepsmy...camshaft rotating.” Another giggle from Sway, I smiled downat her. “You keep everything in my life, turning steadily. You connect themissing pieces of my life together. I promise to always be there for you, nomatter what happens. I promise that if you’re sad, I will make you laugh. Ipromise that you’ll never walk alone; I’ll stand by your side. Through thebrightest days and the darkest nights, I give you my heart and I give you mysoul.”

I exhaled the breathI’d been holding when I finished. I smiled to myself that I delivered theperfect vows she deserved with the right amount of aplomb for not havinganything to go by.

Sway of course wascrying by that point and it took every ounce of self-control I had not to breakdown in front of everyone as well.

She smiled through hertears as she began her vows. “Our lives are all about choices, it’s aboutmaking our own happy ending. With you, I’ve done that.” Sway looked down at hervows and then shot a glare toward Spencer who was laughing, crumpled up thepaper and threw it at him. She then turned toward me again. “Jameson AnthonyRiley, I’ve loved you for as long as I can remember. You’ve been by my sidesince I was eleven, always supportive and never judging. I promise to tell youwhen you’re being an ass. I promise to be your flywheel and make sure yourcamshaft turns steadily.” She giggled. “Together we will walk as one. Togetherour darkest nights will become our brightest days, I give you my heart and Igive you my soul.”

And then we exchangedrings.

I had never worn a ringbefore, but this one felt comfortable, like it belonged there and always would.For my ring, we chose a black titanium ring since it was sure to get a littlescuffed with my lifestyle.

In all the moments ofuncertainty, the earliest days of our friendship with benefits, convinced Icouldn’t have it both ways, and pushing her away. They all seemed so silly now.There was no way to doubt that we belonged together, forever. If these last fewmonths taught me anything, it was that together we were stronger.

I had this idea of whatmy life would be life but this wasn’t even close. I honestly believeexpectations sell us short.

The real test is whathappens when the unexpected happens because that’s what really molds who youare. It changes all those laid out plans you once had. But that change can alsobring something you never saw coming—the love of a lifetime.

My unexpected was this.The girl I thought would never be mine, agreed to mess around with me. The girlI never thought would understand how you felt, felt the same way. The girl Inever thought would loveme,told me she loved me too.And the girl I never thought would marryme,wasstanding before me in a white dress, promising me forever.

This was one time in mylife where the expected truly did pale in comparison to the unexpected turn mylife had taken.

Sway was the girl thatspoke her mind. The girl that kept me in line and made me laugh with herquirkiness and the adorable way her cute nose wrinkled when she laughed. Shewas my rock.My girl.My wife.

Flywheel – Sway

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