Page 151 of Snowed In
He hesitates. “With me, right?”
“Yes.”
“Just checking.”
He kisses me once more before reluctantly breaking away. “I’d better get back down there.”
“I think the five minutes are up, anyway,” I admit, checking his watch for the time. As soon as I do, I hear footsteps, and I peek around the corner to see Molly striding down the hallway with a determined look on her face.
“Okay,” she announces. “I’m ready. Let’s get this over with.”
“Ah, true love,” Christian sighs and we join the party for the elevators. It takes two trips to get everyone down and another five minutes to assemble before the ballroom doors. Christian leaves us with a wink at Molly, who barely notices him. She just keeps muttering her vows, her eyes trained on the ornate doors leading to the rest of her life. She still looks nervous. And while I don’t know exactly what she’s experiencing right now, seeing as I never made it this far, I can take a guess, so as Zoe brusquely schools the flower girls into order, I sidle up to her, clearing my throat.
“If you want to make a run for it, I know a shortcut.”
Her eyes flash to mine, startled for one brief second before she laughs. “I’m good,” she assures me. “But I appreciate it.”
“Just keep your eyes on him. Only him and no one else. Because right now, the rest of us are just decoration.”
Her dad approaches her then, offering her his arm, and she gives me a warm smile as I join Hannah at the front.
“How’s my blush?” she asks.
“Impeccable.”
“So is yours,” she says and stares straight ahead, full of poise and purpose as the doors creak open. Hannah takes an audible breath, and I clutch my small bouquet to my chest as a lone cello starts to play something beautiful and lifting and perfect.
The flower girls go first, some of them visibly shaking with excitement as they start the long walk up the aisle. Hannah and I go next, and I concentrate on keeping my posture straight and my pace steady.
Dozens of faces smile back at me, before looking over my shoulder to see if they can glimpse the bride. All except one person, who can’t seem to take his eyes off me.
Christian stands next to his brother with the biggest smile on his face, all his attention on me.
Hi,he mouths as I reach the front, and I find myself grinning back at him.
An excited murmur ripples through the guests, and the music changes, but I can’t look away from the man opposite me. I don’t want to.
I am, as I seem to be more and more lately, right where I want to be. Right where I need to.
And someday, I might be here again, and it will be me walking up that aisle. Me in that dress. And on that day, I’ll have no doubts, no worries. I’ll have nothing but hope and excitement for the future.
A future with the man who I love more than I thought was possible. Who’ll stand beside me come what may.
Always and forever.
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