Page 30 of Before You Can Blink
“Don’t see any point in waiting, do you?”
She took a step back, sputtering, “B-but there’s so much to do. The planning alone will take longer than that.”
A chuckle vibrated through my chest, and I shook my head. “Not down here, honey. We tell the right few ladies we wanna get hitched, and they can have it set up in a week.”
“A week!” I winced at the high pitch of her screeched words. “I can’t get married in a week! I want my dad to walk me down the aisle, and he’ll need to put in for leave.”
Closing the distance between us, I pulled her close, pressing my lips to the top of her head. “Deep breaths, Daze. I said itcouldbe done in a week, not that I expect us to be at the altar this time next Saturday.”
She clung tight to me, her face buried in my chest. “Okay.”
With our bodies pressed flush, I felt the shiver that rolled through her as the winter wind whipped around us.
“Come on, let’s get you warmed up.” I rubbed her biceps as I walked her backward enough to latch the door behind us.
Her dainty hand gripped mine, leading me up the stairs to her tiny apartment. When she peeked over her shoulder at me with a smile, I thanked my lucky stars that I would get to keep her forever.
February
“You doing all right, man?” Wade’s hand clamped down on my shoulder as we waited at the front of the church.
With my stomach twisted in knots, I swallowed roughly before offering a grunt in response.
“You know, it’s not too late to back out.”
My head whipped around and under my breath, I hissed, “The fuck?”
Wade put both hands up. “Wouldn’t be doing my duty as your best man if I didn’t at least check to make sure you weren’t having second thoughts. Especially with how fast this came together.” His eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Unless there’s something you’re not telling me about why you’re rushing to get hitched.” When I merely glared at him, he elaborated, “You know, like a bun in the oven . . .”
I scrubbed a hand over my face. “Starting to think I should’ve asked Murph to stand up here beside me instead of you.”
My best friend’s face filled with mock outrage as he placed a hand to his chest. “That hurt, Jett.” He quirked an eyebrow. “So, is that a no to the little Sullivan bundle of joy?”
I swear to God, if looks could kill, Wade would be six feet under in the graveyard out back.
“I’m marrying Daisy because I love her and want to spend every minute of the rest of my life with her.”
He gave me a salute. “Got it.” Casting a curious glance my way, he asked, “Then why are you sweating bullets?”
“Her dad hates me,” I admitted. “Doesn’t think I’m good enough for his baby girl.”
Wade grimaced. “Sucks, but can you really blame him?”
No. I couldn’t. As far as Commander Ed Morrison was concerned, I was no better than a bum. He didn’t respect my job and respected me even less because his daughter would be the primary breadwinner in our household. The way he saw it, she was taking care of me, not the other way around. But nothing lit a fire under my ass like working to prove folks who didn’t believe in me wrong, and that’s what I planned to do.
Music filled the church, and my back went ramrod straight.
This was it. The moment I made Daisy mine for all time.
The double doors at the end of the aisle were pulled open, and my knees nearly buckled when my beautiful girl came into view. I didn’t even register the dress; my eyes were firmly fixed on her face as she beamed back at me during her trek down the aisle.
Then, suddenly, she was standing before me, and my lungs filled with air. Being in her presence literally breathed life into me.
I reached for Daisy while nodding to her father in acknowledgement. “Commander.”
A low rumble that could have easily passed for a growl sounded from his chest, but he let her go, giving her away and entrusting her into my care from this point forward. It was a gift, one I wasn’t sure I deserved, but I accepted it anyway because my selfishness reached new heights when it came to this girl.
The service passed by in a blur. The only thing I could focus on was Daisy.
