Page 55 of Conflagration
“Say it,” Knox tells Cohen. “Or risk the wrath of Amelia Wellington.”
“Fine. I love you fucking pricks. Both of you.”
Mom gasps again. “Cohen! That is no way to speak to your brother, especially in a church!”
I walk over to Mom and place an arm around her, giving her a kiss on the cheek. “Sorry, Mom. It’s my fault. Things got a little sappy and out of hand. In order to keep our manhood, a little rough housing was necessary. But we’re all good. Right, guys?”
Cohen grumbles, but I see his underlying smile.
Knox comes forward and gives Mom a kiss on the cheek. “We’ve never been better, Mom.”
She eyes us warily. Then she beams even as she shakes her head. “It’s a wonder the three of you found such patient women,” she quips.
Knox and I exchange glances then burst out laughing.
It’s a fucking wonder indeed, and I know what he’s thinking. We wouldn’t change it for the world.
AS WE line up at the altar, waiting for the wedding to start, I can’t help but turn towards the front pew, where the groom’s family is seated, but I only have eyes for her. Ariana is sandwiched between Mom and Andi, and when she catches me staring, her face breaks out into the most beautiful smile, causing a weird flutter in my heart. She looks gorgeous, and the memory of when she first walked out of the bedroom this afternoon causes my dick to stir to life. I can’t see it now, but I can still picture the open back on her sexy, lacy dress. The neckline of her dress is scooped, showing off only the slightest hint of cleavage. I imagine myself taking it off her at the end of the night and have to force myself to look up before I end up in an embarrassing situation in at the front of the church.
She must notice it because she gives me a saucy wink, and I return her smile, not taking my eyes off her until the music begins. As the bridesmaids walk down the aisle, I barely register any of them, too busy watching Knox’s fingers drum on his leg as he impatiently waits for his bride to arrive. The music changes as Chris, a friend of theirs, begins to play John Legend’s “All of Me” on the piano. When the doors open, Knox’s eyes are transfixed on the sight of Charlie and her father, Wade, standing there. A huge smile is on her face, and Knox stills. As she makes her way down the aisle to him, I see him swallow hard, and even though his jaw his set tight, I see the glimmer in his eyes.
I flick my gaze to Ari, who has tears in her eyes, and for a split second, I wonder what it would be like if I were in Knox’s place and she were the one walking towards me, wearing white, on her way to pledge her love and life to me.
This wedding shit is completely fucking with my brain.
It continues to do so as the minister performs the wedding ceremony, because with each step, I’m wishing this were me. I want to be the one saying I do. I want to be sliding a ring on to Ariana’s finger, declaring it a symbol of my undying love and faith. I want to say my vows, speaking directly from my fucking heart to tell her just how much she means to me.
And when the minister declares them Mr. and Mrs. Wellington, giving Knox permission to kiss his bride? That is what I want more than anything. And instead of scaring the fucking shit out of me like it should, it does the opposite. It gives me the confidence I need to admit the truth to myself.
When I glance over and see Ariana’s soft expression focused on me and not the happy couple, realization hits me like a giant bolt of lightning. I know this thing between us is the real deal, and I can’t deny it any longer.
I am completely and irrevocably in love with her. Heart-crushing, all-consuming, can’t-live-without-her in love. All this time, I’ve thought I owned her when the opposite is true. She owns me. And she always will.
Temporary is no longer enough. It will never be enough. I was fooling myself thinking it would be.
No, Ariana Covington is my forever, and I want forever to start as soon as possible.
I CAN’T stop the anxiousness from rising as I take my place on the front pew between Amelia and Andi. My leg bounces up and down, and as I look around at all the unfamiliar faces of friends and family, I feel somewhat out of place. Yet, at the same time, I’ve never felt like I’ve belonged more. My eyes are fixated on Branson as he stands next to Knox at the altar, and butterflies form in my stomach every time he looks my way—which, unnervingly, is about every other minute, almost as if there’s a gravitational pull between us, not allowing either us of to break contact for long. He keeps sneaking peeks at me and we share small smiles. A blush creeps up on my neck as he adjusts his tie and gives me a knowing, wicked grin.
Andi leans over to whisper in my ear. “Now I get why Branson was so quick to drag you away from the rehearsal dinner last night.”
Tearing my eyes away from him, I turn to her just in time to see her eyes light up, and a slow, grin spreads over my face, giving me away. She snickers and I blush even harder, just shaking my head.
I’m lost in the memories of the night before when the music begins and the room turns collectively to watch as the bridesmaids enter. A hush falls over the room when the pianist changes the music and the vision of Charlie and her father fills the doorway. She looks radiant, absolutely astonishing—the very vision of a woman in love. Everyone’s eyes are locked in on her, but I shift my gaze forward to Knox.
There’s something about watching a groom as he stands at the altar, watching the woman of his dreams walk towards him. Knox’s gaze is fierce, his jaw tense, and his eyes give him away. They’re full of love, awe, and anticipation.
I take a moment to look at Branson and catch him staring at me intently. For a split second, I allow myself to believe that his expression mirrors his brother’s, and I wonder if that’s how he’d look if I were the one in the dress walking towards him. He gives me a wink then shifts his attention to the minister, who begins to perform the ceremony.
It passes in a blur, and before I know it, it’s time for the vows. Knox swallows hard and clears his throat. He looks down at Charlie, whose eyes are already glistening, and leans forward.
“Couldn’t we have just done Vegas?”
She laughs, shaking her head.
“I know I tried to get you to go to Vegas, and that was only because, the moment you agreed to be my wife, I didn’t want to wait another second to be where I am right now—standing here, pledging my love for you. And then your dad said he’d kick my ass, so I waited eight long, tortuous months for this day. But now that we’re here, I couldn’t imagine a better way to start our lives as one than with all of our family and friends watching us.
“Charlie, for the longest time, there was darkness surrounding me—until you showed up on my doorstep, shining light into my life. Before you, I was afraid to love, but you broke down my barriers and you gave me the strength to overcome all my fears. Your beauty, your love, your heart—every single thing about you inspires me to be the best man I can be.”
