I take some deep breaths as the doors are opened, and I immediately lock eyes with Sawyer. The short walk down this aisle seems like the longest I've ever done, but I have my bestboy by my side, and he calms my nerves. I may not have a father to give me away, but I have Jed. It may not be conventional, but Sawyer and I aren't conventional either. Alice and Carter are standing near the altar with Sawyer.
Carter gives Sawyer a firm clap on the back as he chokes down the lump in his throat.
"You've got this bro. Look at her. She's amazing."
"Hi, hubby," I squeak out as I reach my soon-to-be husband. Carter takes Jed from me, and Jed sits like the very best boy that he is in between Carter and Alice.
"Hi, Mrs. Green." Sawyer beams back at me.
"I love you so much, baby. Thank you for making me happy again. When I told you that you were it for me, I meant it. You are everything. You are all I'll ever need."
"I love you, too. Now, let's get married! We've got some partying to do!"
Epilogue II
Alice
The buffet tables! My favourite place to be at a wedding.
The bride and groom are in full swing mingling with wedding guests, and the music is thumping. Everyone is either drunk or on the way to being drunk. I’m trying to soak up the champagne swirling in my stomach; otherwise, I will have the mother of all hangovers in the morning.
I prop myself up against the wall and look around the room. I see Sawyer's brother looking back at me. He's taken his tie off, rolled up his sleeves, and undone a couple of the buttons on his shirt. He looks as ready for bed as I feel.
I give Carter a little wave. Well, less of a wave and more of a tip of my champagne glass. I hold up the plate in my other hand to show that I've admitted defeat. I then turn my attention back to the selection of food in front of me.
I have been trying to avoid the attention of Sawyer's family friend for the whole wedding day. He's old enough to be my dad. Not that I mind a silver fox, in fact, I like an older man, but he'sless silver fox and more weasel. He's so fucking annoying, and this is my best friend's wedding day. Men are the last thing on my mind right now. Unfortunately for me, my love of food has led to me being in one place for too long.
"Hey there! I've been trying to talk to you all day!" a cocky voice cuts through my periphery as his body presses against my side. Well, shit, I knew that my love of pastry would be my downfall one day.
"Oh, hey." I take a sidestep, removing him from my personal space and mumbling through a mouthful of salmon puffs. I swallow, so I sound less like a hungry piglet and more like a functioning member of society.
"Sorry, bad timing. You caught me eating!"
"That's okay. I like a woman with her mouth full," he replies with a smirk.
Give me fucking strength.
"Well, that's a real shame, Matt. Considering any woman in your presence would likely never get to experience a mouthful!" I look at his crotch and back at his face. He reddens at my reply.
"Oh, Matt! Are you trying to crack onto my girlfriend? Leave the poor woman alone, and stop being creepy." I am suddenly aware of Carter's presence at the buffet table. He's standing next to Matt, and he dwarfs him.
"Y-y-your girlfriend? My bad. I didn't know you were together."
I didn't know we were together either, Matt. Don't worry.
"Clearly you didn't! But even if we weren't together, you really need to learn how to communicate with the opposite sex. Maybe that's why you're still single at fifty-six years old." he shoots back. Why is there always one creep at a wedding?
"Hey, bunny. You look so beautiful today. I couldn't keep my eyes off you. I've finally got my girl back! Damn bridesmaidduties!" He says as he snakes his arm around my waist and presses a kiss to my cheek.
Bunny? Ha! What in the alternate dimension is happening?
I narrow my eyes at Carter, and he returns my look with a wink.
"Just play along," he whispers in my ear.
I run my hand up the front of his shirt and lean into him.Holy shit. He is ripped.
"Missed you today, big guy." and I flutter my eyelashes at him.