“This dress…” I let out a whistle. “You look fucking gorgeous. Irresistible.”
Callie’s cheeks flush pink.
I lean in and whisper, “I’m going to enjoy peeling you out of this dress tonight.” I plant a swift kiss on her glossy lips. The taste of her sweetness has me tempted to deepen our kiss until Jace chimes in.
“Knock it off. There are children present,” Cameron jokes. Our family and friends laugh at his teasing, making Callie blush harder.
I smirk at her. “Never.” That’s the damn truth. I will always remind her how I love her with my kisses.
Jace clears his throat. “Are you two ready?”
I incline my head. “Proceed.”
Our closest family and friends chuckle again as Jace begins the ceremony without further interruption. We vow to love and cherish each other. In sickness and in health. For richer or for poorer. For as long as we both shall live. Then I slip another gold band on Callie’s finger as I say, “I do.”
Callie repeats after Jace, and when she says “I do”, she slips her father’s ring off her thumb and slides it down my ring finger.
“It fits.”
I look up at her, shocked.
Callie gives me a watery grin. “I took the spacers that were underneath out.”
I know how much this ring means to her. She’s worn it every day since she lost her dad. Now she’s parting with it for me.
“Cal?” My voice cracks as a tear slides down her cheek. “Are you sure?”
She grabs my hand in both of hers, running her thumb over the cool metal. “I am so sure. I talked to Mom about it, and we agreed. There is no one more worthy than you to wear it. I love you, Elijiah.”
“I love you, Calliope.” Her love and confidence in me have tears clouding my eyes and spilling over. I wipe my eyes.
As Jace pronounces us Mr. and Mrs. Miller, I grab Callie around the waist and tug her flush to my chest. “Ready for the next part, wife?”
My wife. Never going to get old saying that.
Callie weaves her arms around my shoulder and smiles. “So ready, husband.”
Together, we lean in and meet in the middle for our first kiss as a married couple. The room explodes into a round of cheers and clapping as I lose myself in Callie’s sweet lips and the way her body melts into mine.
Life can’t get better than this.
twenty-six
Callie
Elislowlypeelsthewrapper off a cupcake and holds it out for me to take a bite. “Open up.”
I eye my husband suspiciously. He’s up to something, and I have a feeling it ends with me covered in frosting. “Don’t you dare.”
“Dare what? Come on, take a bite. It’s bad luck for the groom not to feed the bride.”
Our family laughs at Eli’s teasing.
I lift a cupcake off the stand, ready for whatever he has in mind. Eli’s eyes sparkle with amusement as I match his stance. “Same time?”
“Same time,” he agrees. I don’t believe him for a second.
“Alright, on the count of three,” Rylann shouts. “One, two, three!”