Page 107 of Jessica's Hero
Everything else fades except for her. I dimly feel Oliver’s hand clap my shoulder and hear a loud sniffle that I’d bet is from my mom.
Out of the blue, my hands get damp.
A wave of lightheadedness sweeps over me, and I now I can understand how Oliver’s friend must have felt.
This moment… it’s indescribable.
As Jess continues towards me, I swear it looks like she’s glowing. Not just from her smile and the love in her eyes, but just thisessenceof her.
Time does this funny thing where it feels like it’s running on fast forward and reverse at the same time.
With every step closer, my heart pounds faster.
And then, finally, she’s standing in front of me.Finally.
Nora takes Jess’s bouquet—blue orchids, this time—and gives her a quick hug. Then Jess turns to me and gives me a smile I’ll remember for the rest of my life.
“Hi,” she whispers. “I missed you.”
“Jess.” I catch her hands in mine. “I missed you, too.”
It’s been less than twenty-four hours since I last saw Jess, since we decided to lean more on the traditional side and spend last night apart. She stayed here, at Ari and Cash’s place, along with Thea, Scarlett, Nora, Hazel, Shea, and Rose. And I hung out back at home with Oliver and Ian, watching TV and trying not to think about how much I missed Jess already.
But now she’s here. And we won’t ever have to be apart again.
“Are you ready?” Bill Davis, my old mentor and current wedding officiant, asks.
Jess meets my gaze and gives a little nod. “I’m ready.”
“More than ready,” I agree. “I can’t wait to make Jess my wife.”
Amid the low laughter from the guests, Bill grins at me. “Well said. If you’re in a hurry to marry your beautiful fiancée, that’s a very good thing.”
From there, everything seems to move by in a blur. I hear the words he’s saying, about staying true to your partner through thick and thin, in sickness and health, and I agree with all of them. But all I can really think is,Jess is about to be my wife.
When we finally get to the hand-written vows part, that’s when time slows down again.
When Jess squeezes my hand and holds my gaze as she says, “I know we said we wanted to make this quick because no one likes drawn out ceremonies. And I will. But there are a few things I want to say. When I first met you, Kane, even though I thought you were the most handsome man I’d ever seen, I never imagined I’d have a chance with you.”
“Jess.”
“I thought I’d end up with twenty cats—not that there’s anything wrong with that,” she adds, and the crowd chuckles. “But the idea of finding my one true love? My missing piece? I couldn’t comprehend it. And…” She swallows hard. “I didn’t think it was possible for someone like me.”
“That’s not true,” I whisper. “You know that.”
“I was wrong,” Jess continues. “And it took meeting you to realize that. You pushed me just enough to leave my comfort zone. And you showed me that I was so much more than I thought.”
Drawing in a breath, she lets it out before adding quietly, “You made me feel beautiful, Kane. You gave me hope. And you gave me strength before I found it for myself. I’m so, so thankful I met you. That you found me in my car that day. And I am so thrilled and honored to be able to call you my husband.”
Then she releases my hand and touches my cheek. “Don’t cry,” she whispers.
“Happy tears,” I assure her. “All happy ones.”
Then I take a deep breath and bare my heart to her.
“I still remember that day at the Halloween Fest; when you captured my attention. I didn’t think I had a chance withyou, but I wished I did. And when you finally gave me a chance… I couldn’t believe it. I felt so lucky. I still do.”
Threading my fingers between hers, I take a moment to compose myself. “You’re the first person I ever fell in love with. And once you let me in, I knew there couldn’t be anyone else. You’re it, Jess. The one. For now and always.”
