Page 107 of Forever Fickle

“Hey, I warned you literally before you ever agreed to that first date,” he replied, fighting back a laugh. “Scoot, Tink… I bet this stuff is terrible when it’s warm.”

Moments later, Karen was smiling in the bathroom as she realized he’d packed her flannel pajamas for her… to put her at ease. He was still standing there, looking at his cell phone, and she heard their video playing in the distance.

The sweet guy was watching their wedding?

She melted.

This was going to be okay,she realized.

He was doing everything he could to put her at ease, show her he loved her, and bring the two of them together… and she couldn’t be happier.

“I’ll take that glass now,” she said nervously, standing before him barefoot and in those pink striped pajamas.

“You look enchanting…” he smiled, filling a glass for her, and she noticed a velvet box on the table beside where the carafe to keep the alcohol cool was located.

“Our rings?”

“Yep,” he replied, reaching for her hand and plucking off the loose cheap keyring that was leaving a greenish mark on her finger already from where she’d washed her hands.

“Karen,” he swallowed, drawing in a deep shaky breath. “I love you so much and I hope you always know it. This is a symbol of my promise to you. I promise to be there, no matter where the journey takes us.”

His voice was achingly tender as she realized he was repeating their vows from earlier. She nodded as he slipped the wedding band on her finger, placing it against her engagement ring.

She withdrew the matching band and took his hand in hers, plucking off the offending ring with a flourish, before tossing it over her shoulder playfully, like he’d done.

Taking a deep breath, she looked into his beautiful eyes.

“This is a symbol of my promise to you, Jace. I love you so much and promise to be there, no matter where the journey takes us,” she breathed.

Jace nodded, picking up her flute and handing it to her.

“To the newlyweds…” he uttered softly. “May they always laugh together as the best of friends and love like the soulmates they are.”

“Oh, I love that,” she whispered, feeling her eyes sting with emotion. “I love laughing with you, the way you make me smile, and how you look at me with so much love in your eyes.”

“Because I feel ithere, my beautiful bride,” he admitted, placing her free hand on his chest, just over one of the gingerbread buttons.

“Those jammies, Jace…” she chuckled, taking a sip of the pungent champagne, enchanted by his smile.

“Yeah?”

“They’re awful,” she admitted, unable to stop smiling with the amount of joy coursing through her veins. “I seriously love you with everything I am.”

He took a step towards her, leaning down to kiss her… and waiting. His hand lay atop hers where it was over his heart.

“Be patient with me,” he breathed, sounding suddenly scared. “I’m going to mess up things, annoy you, or make you upset… but never forget that you are the only woman in the world for me.”

“I could never forget that…” she whispered tenderly, falling under his spell. “You are everything to me.”

“Say you’ll remember me,” he urged softly. “I’m so scared to say goodbye, because I know it will be months again…”

“I’ll be waiting…”

“I love you, Karen…”

Jace pressed his lips to hers finally, drawing in his breath, before deepening the kiss between them. He laced her fingers with his, cradling her close, as he slowly walked backward towards the bed.

“It’s the sexy jammies… isn’t it?” he said softly, chuckling.

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