Page 134 of Confessions of the Funny Fat Friend

Her lips trembled as she shook her head and said, “May I?”

“Of course,” I breathed. I knelt next to her, resting my hand on the arm of her chair. Her fingers were featherlight as she pressed the clip at the back of my hair, above the intricate bun Liv had done for me.

“Perfect,” she said, removing her hands.

I hugged her tight, then turned to look in the mirror. My mouth fell open as I saw myself, really saw myself. I may not have been small in any way. I may not have the perfect smile or a high-level corporate job.

But I looked every bit worthy of the woman to be Tyler’s wife. And I was so glad he agreed.

The door to the conference room opened, and Mara, Birdie, and Liv came back in from taking bridesmaids photos. Mom followed them in with the photographer we hired. She posed me in front of the window and snapped photos of me with my wildflower bouquet picked directly from the pasture behind the Griffens’ family home.

When the photographer lowered her camera, Mom smiled at me, tears in her eyes. “It’s time.”

I’d never been more ready for anything in my life.

84

Tyler

Mom stood in the doorway of my childhood bedroom. “It’s time.”

All of the groomsmen had changed up here, then gone outside to help with last minute details or directing guests to the best places to park and sit. It was just me up here now, and I still couldn’t get this handmade boutonniere Liv made to rest straight on my lapel.

“Let me,” Mom said, replacing my hands with hers and easily maneuvering the pin into place. “There you go.”

I gave her a grateful smile. “Thanks.”

She put her arm around me, looking in the mirror above my dresser. “You look very handsome. I’m glad you decided to go with suits.”

“I think Hen’s family would have been horrified if I walked down the aisle in jeans.” I chuckled. But the truth was, I wanted to look my best for her. When she saw me today, I wanted her to see a man who loved her, who cared for her, and who would always put his best foot forward.

Mom looped her arm through mine. “Let’s get down there.”

We walked together down the stairs, and my brothers waited for us in the living room. I could already hear the guitar playing outside. My best friend from high school had a way with the guitar, and it sounded beautiful even from in here.

I walked Mom down the burlap aisle to her chair, giving her a kiss on the cheek as she sat next to Dad. I stood at the front of the aisle next to the pastor. Matthew Cole had gone to school with me, and now he preached at the cowboy church outside of Fort Worth.

I looked over the guests in folding chairs. There were about fifty people, half friends, half family, all here to witness me tie my life to Hen’s forevermore.

And then the music on the guitar changed.

Laila nudged Kenner out the door, and he sprinted down the aisle to me, the ring pillow waving in one hand. A gasp went throughout the crowd, and then a chuckle when he reached me.

“Hey, buddy,” I said to my nephew-to-be.

“I can run really fast in these shoes. Did you see?”

I chuckled. “Yeah. I saw. Are the rings still there?” I really hoped they’d tied them good, because I didn’t want to be searching for gold bands in the grass.

Seeming to remember his job, Kenner held the pillow up to his face. “Yep.” He handed the pillow to me, and I double-checked, just in case.

Still there.

“Great job, Kenner. Mission accomplished.” I stuck my fist out for him, and he tapped his little knuckles to mine, blowing it up afterward. As he sprinted back to his mom, the guests chuckled too.

Mara and Rhett walked out of the house next, her hand on his arm. The deep blue dress flowed around her as she stepped down the aisle holding a small bouquet of wildflowers. Birdie and Gage stepped out after, both smiling as they followed along.

And then everyone stood. The back door to the house opened, and my heart stopped.

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