Page 9 of After the End
Rory returned Lou’s hug, patting her back only a little awkwardly. When Lou wouldn’t let go, Rory rolled her eyes toward Ian in a way that made him chuckle.
Finally stepping back, Lou asked, “Isn’t this perfect? Ian could tell you were hating every wedding-planning second, so he arranged all this.” She swept an arm wide, indicating the church, all its occupants, the minister, and the flowers.
“Yes.” Rory smiled at Ian—a slow, gorgeous smile that warmed him from the inside. “I don’t have to pick out a dress. This is perfect.”
About to explode from happiness, Ian offered her his arm. “Ready to get married?”
Yanking off her gloves, she stuffed them in her coat pocket and then hooked her bare hand into the crook of his elbow. “Ready. Let’s get this over with.”
He laughed and kissed her cheek before walking his bride down the aisle.
The ceremony was quick, and Ian couldn’t look away from Rory’s face almost the whole time. When it came time for the rings, Soup started digging in his pockets.
“You let Soup hold the rings?” she muttered under her breath.
Watching Soup pat down his coat was making him doubt that decision, but then he produced the rings with a flourish. Ian raised his eyebrows at Rory, and she rolled her eyes right back at him. Happiness bubbled inside of him as he slid the wedding ring on her finger. The sight of that band made everything real. Rory Sorenson, the woman he’d loved for years, was now his wife. Unable to stop himself, he kissed her hand before releasing it.
When he straightened, he noticed her cheeks were red, but she was smiling. He shifted forward, needing toreallykiss her, but the pastor elbowed him, muttering, “Not quite to that part yet.”
It was painful, but Ian managed to hold off until all the words were said, and they were officially, finally, husband and wife. Wrapping his arms around her, he snatched up Rory, bunker gear and all, and kissed her thoroughly. The cheers and applause faded until all he could see and feel and hear was his new wife.
Hiswife.
Soup slapped him on the shoulder, jostling them and bringing Ian back to reality. “Don’t make me get the hose, you two.”
Ian broke the kiss, shifting away slightly. He couldn’t tear his gaze off of Rory’s face, not even to glare at Soup, who was cracking up at his own joke. “Love you, Rory,” he murmured.
“I love you, too, Ian.”
“Good. Let’s eat!” Soup started herding them toward the door, and the guests swarmed into the aisle behind them.
“Eat?” Rory repeated. “Is there cake?” She looked so hopeful that Ian laughed.
“Of course there’s cake.” He kissed her soot-streaked cheek. “That was the only thing about this wedding you were actually excited about. Did you think I would forget it?”
“No.” She squeezed his hand. “You always remember the cake.”
He grinned at her, knowing that she was thinking about the birthday cupcake he’d gotten her when they were kids. It had been the moment he’d fallen head-over-heels for Rory, and he’d been crazy about her ever since. “I do. It’s my special talent.”
Ellie grabbed Rory’s arm from behind, spinning her around and hugging her, hard. “That was so beautiful! At first, I was a little disappointed I didn’t get to vicariously plan your wedding, especially after George and I eloped, but that was perfect for you.”
George gave Rory an awkward pat on the arm, and Ian held back a snort. For George, that was the equivalent of an effusive hug.
“Yeah.” Rory gave Ian a sideways glance, her mouth curving up again. “Ian saved me from wedding planning. I think I’ll keep him.”
He had to kiss her. Ian surged forward, but Daisy and Chris were there, hugging Rory and drawing her even farther away from him, and then Lou charged in to give Rory yet another hug. Ian grumbled.
Soup laughed, throwing an arm over his shoulders. “C’mon, Beauty,” he said. “We’ll take the rescue truck back to the station and get cleaned up before we head to Levi’s for the reception. You’ll have your new wife all to yourself for a little bit. Well, I’ll be there, but that doesn’t really count, since I’m like Rory’s honorary alternate husband.”
Ignoring everything that Soup had said after the part about having Rory to himself, he shouldered his way through the crowd in the church entry. He accepted the pats on the back and hugs and congratulations, but he kept his eye on the prize. When he finally managed to get close to her, he swooped in and picked her up. Her bulky bunker gear made it awkward to hold her bride-style, so he tossed her over one shoulder.
The crowd laughed and catcalled as he jogged toward the truck, Rory folded over his shoulder.
“Ow,” she said, breathless with laughter and bouncing.
“Sorry.” He slowed to a walk, heading toward the passenger door.
“You’re forgiven.” She gave his butt a pat. “After all, you saved me from all that hugging. I could’ve asphyxiated.”
