Page 48 of D.I.E.T. (Did I Eat That?)

“Wow, that was somewhat graphic and highly specific. Have you been thinking on that for a while?” he asked.

“No, actually. I just thought of it.” Then she looked between me and Sinjin. “Good, right?”

I loved my best friend hardcore.

We spent the remainder of the journey oohing and aahing over photos on her phone. She and Len traveled to locations I didn’t even know existed. Sinjin’s eyes brightened at one picture in particular. Rows of cherry blossoms with Mt. Fuji in the background.

Eventually, the ferry made land and we all disembarked. I let the others pile out first so as not to hinder anybody from going at the pace they needed to. At the same time, we all pushed in front of the few tourists who got off with us because they didn’t look the sort to have attended bootcamp before making this trip.

Standing at the base of the steps, I looked up and my heart sank. The image of my first day of bootcamp, puking all over the floor flooded my mind and I didn’t know how I was going to get through this. Until Sinjin walked up next to me, grabbed my hand, and leaned in, whispering in my ear, “You’ve got this, sunshine.” He said it so close, his breath sent little shivers down my neck. “This is what you’ve been training for. We’ll go as slow as you need to, but wecando this, okay?” I looked at him, his dark eyes searched mine. He really believed what he was saying, and if he believed in me that much, thenIhad to believe in me.

“Okay,” I said. Slowly but steadily we made our way up the steps. I counted off every set of ten ending with, “Too easy, Drill Sergeant.” I kept repeating it and repeating it until, with my heart pounding against my ribcage, we made it to the top of albatross monument.

With the wind whipping all around us, but the most beautiful ocean views imaginable spread out before us, I pulled off my boots and jacket handing them off to my date, while he set them in the line with the shoes and jackets from our party just off the wooden planks. The heels of my designer sling-backs brought me tall enough to put me at eye level with him for once. Then Kami situate the lineup with how she wanted us to walk.

Rob kicked off the procession, followed by Brandon and Meredith, walking the wooden plank trail to where the officiant—a very nondescript man, a sort of everyman—waited with Len. Dion and Henri went next, leaving Sinjin and me to go right before the bride. We glided down the planks and as we passed it, a black camera on an automated tripod caught my attention—the little red light blinked as the camera followed us, indicating the ceremony was being recorded.

Sinjin kissed my cheek and took his spot, tugging on my arm to get me to turn around so I wouldn’t miss one of the best people I’d ever know walk down the makeshift aisle to the love of her life.

Okay. So I cried. Big deal.

She was a vision in white—the skirt rippling behind her from the strong breeze. But it was her smile that got to me.

Len reached his hand out to her as she approached, snagging her close enough to circle his arm around her waist. As he nuzzled her neck, I heard him say, “You look beautiful, fearless.” And if I hadn’t been crying before, that would’ve done it.

The officiate, now able to see him better, aside from the dark hair and dark eyes, had a long, puckered scar running down the length of his face. Left side, from forehead to chin. Curious. He looked around at our small but mighty group. “It isn’t often that we get a group brave enough to scale the monument for a wedding—to see you all dressed so elegantly tells me exactly how loved Lennon and Kami are. And it further tells me how much love they have to give, for only two truly loving people would garner this much love in return. Knowing this, it is my great pleasure to officiate today.” He stopped to draw in a breath. “Lennon and Kami have opted to speak their own vows. Lennon, will you start?”

Smiling, Len turned to Kam, peering deeply into her eyes. “Kams, the first time I saw you, I never in my wildest dreams thought you’d be here with me, taking my ring and my name. I just knew with everything in me that I had to meet you.”

Instead of flowers, I held a photograph of Kami’s brother and Rob held a photo of Len’s. They’d have been here if it were possible. Len and Kami’s brothers were best friends, but Kami had never met Len. He’d lived in a different city going to school. Though, Len had seen pictures of Kam, whereas she had no clue about him. And worse, she’d had a screaming crush on Harrison, his brother.

When the brothers joined the air force, she’d thought it was to get away from her because she kissed Harrison and he hadn’t been down with that. When they died in a helicopter crash, she’d blamed herself. Lennon had blamed her too—it was a mess of epic proportions. He’d bullied her. Badly.

Kami moved away. Len sought out therapy to help with his anger. Then one day she’d shown up to his jump school, the very one owned by Rob. Love blossomed as he’d brought her out of her shell and then things went seriously bad when she’d found out who he was.

But love had a way of putting right past wrongs and here they were, exchanging vows.

“Kams,” he said, “you’re the love of my life and since you’re here, I’m guessing you agree. But just so you know, once you take me as your husband, you’re stuck with me because I’m never letting go. You’re it for me. Forever.”

The officiant turned to Kami and nodded. With tears shimmering in her eyes, she looked up into Len’s handsome face. “Boy, have we head a wild ride. I thought my life was over the day our brothers died. Things back then were so sad and confusing. I lost myself for a long time. Then you showed, bigger than anything—than the world itself—and helped me find my way back to me. I don’t want to go a day without you by my side. I love you in a way that I know I’ll always love you. So I’m really glad you want to be my husband because I absolutely want to be your wife. We’re in this together—forever.”

The officiant addressed our group. “Now they’ll exchange rings as a symbol of their binding lives. Rob pulled a gleaming gold band from his pocket, handing it over to Len. Len gently slid the ring over Kami’s left ring finger to rest next to the gorgeous rock otherwise known as the engagement ring he’d surprised her with on the summit of Mt. Everest.

“Repeat these words,” the officiant said to him. “With this ring, I thee wed.”

“With this ring, Kams, I thee wed.” Len smiled a huge cheese-eating grin.

“Please repeat after me,” the officiant then said to Kami. “With this ring, I thee wed.”

Rob handed Kami the ring for Len. She positioned it on his left ring finger and as he slid it into place, she looked lovingly at her new husband and repeated the words. “With this ring, Lennon McCartney, I thee wed.”

“As a representative of the state of Patagonia in the country of Chile, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Lennon, seal your union with a kiss.”

We hooted and hollered as they kissed. Mr. and Mrs. Lennon and Kami McCartney turned to us smiling and giving genuine loving hugs.

“Photos first,” Kami said. “Then who’s ready to party?”

The group of us cheered again.

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