Page 90 of Yours, Now and Always
“Oh.” She blinks. “Right. You saw that.”
She exhales, slowly. She’s nervous.
I lean in close, bringing my mouth to her ear so only she can hear me. “You with me?”
A spark lights in her eyes. The kind that says she remembers the last time I said those words to her. When we stood in front of a stranger and exchanged vows that the world doesn’t know about.
She nods, breath shaky.
I let the corner of my mouth lift. “Good. Because if you cry again, Tim’s gonna murder me for ruining his masterpiece twice.”
A loud laugh escapes her, which causes our families to laugh too. She claps a hand over her mouth, eyes wide, and whispers through her fingers, “Oh my god, I just laughed at my own wedding. That’s not normal bride behavior.”
“You’re not a normal bride.”And thank fuck.
“That’s fair.”
The officiant starts speaking, but I barely hear him. Something about love, about forever. About promises that mean something. But my forever’s right here. In front of me. Eyes locked on mine. And she’s all I can focus on.
When it’s time to speak, my voice doesn’t want to work. I get the words out anyway. I promise Amelia forever and mean every word of it.
She says “I do” like it’s the easiest thing she’s ever said. Then, she adds, “Like, so much. You have no idea. I would do it three times. Four times even.”
There’s a ripple of laughter from our families.
Her eyes flare wide and she looks at the officiant. “Sorry. Was that too much? I’m—” she glances at me, then back at him “—very emotional today.”
“You’re perfect,” I murmur.
Then it’s time for the rings.
I slide hers on slowly, deliberately, because I want her to feel what it means.
That she’s mine. That she chose me.
That now the whole fucking world gets to see it.
She stares at the ring on her finger and whispers, “It’s so shiny. Like, is it supposed to glow like that?”
“It’s just the light, Princess.”
“Oh.” She looks up at me with adoring eyes. “You’re so smart. And pretty. Has anyone told you you’re pretty today?”
I hear Ethan snort-laugh.
She takes my ring next, and with slightly shaky fingers, concentrates way too hard on getting it past my knuckle. When it’s on, she exhales as if she just accomplished something monumental. “I did it,” she whispers proudly. Then looks at the officiant. “I put it on the right hand, didn’t I? This is the ring hand?”
“Yes,” he confirms, visibly amused.
For one heartbeat, she looks up at me with so much love that I’m gone.
I lean in, mouth brushing her ear. “You finally marked me, Princess.” My voice drops to gravel. “And I swear on everything—this mark’s permanent.”
“Forever and ever,” she breathes. “Even when I’m being weird on the carpet. Even when the chair and I are in a relationship.”
My lips pull up. “Especially then.”
After that, the world narrows to five words:You may kiss the bride.
