Page 30 of The Final Temptation (Men of Honor 3.5)
“That certainly is true,” my mother replies, snapping me from my thoughts. “Okay, I’m going now. Want me to give Kayla a message from you?” I shake my head. The message I have for her is completely inappropriate for my mom to know. “All right.” She gives my father a kiss then waves one last time before walking out of the room.
My dad walks up to me now and claps me firmly on the back, like he did the others. “How are you doing? You nervous?”
I shake my head. “Nah, I’m ready.” That is a major understatement. I swear I was born ready for this moment.
My father nods. “Good. I promise not to get all mushy like your mom. Just know I’m proud of you too, kid.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
He pulls me in for a quick hug. “All right, let’s go. Pastor Williams is waiting.”
All of us head to the side door that leads to the outdoor garden where the ceremony is being held. Just as everyone walks out Jaxson holds me back. “Wait up a sec.”
I turn to him. He shifts nervously and I quickly realize shit’s about to get uncomfortable again. “Listen, I just want to say…uh…” He rubs the back of his neck. “Fuck, I suck at this shit!”
“You’re not going to kiss me, are you?” I joke with a smirk, trying to lift the awkwardness of the moment.
He grunts then takes a moment as he finds his words. “I just want to say thanks…for everything. I owe a lot to you and your parents. If it hadn’t been for you I probably wouldn’t have finished high school. You took care of Julia for me when I left, you beat the shit out of me when I needed it and you’ve stuck with me through some of the worst moments of my life. You’re the brother I never had, and, I guess, I just…I wanted to say thank you. For all of it and I’m glad I’m standing beside you today like you did me.”
I clap him on the shoulder. “You don’t need to thank me, you’ve done the same for me over the years. Although, you could have tried a little harder when my woman beat the fuck out of my truck that night, but hey…” I trail off with a shrug.
He grunts. “She threatened to bash my head in with that bat, and we both know she would have.”
I chuckle. Yeah, I have no doubt she would have; she was pissed. It’s something I can joke about now but at the time it wasn’t funny. Not the damage about my truck, I didn’t care about that, but the fact that she thought I would cheat on her… I shake myself from the memory—the thought still bothers me.
Jaxson gives me a punch on the arm. “Come on, let’s get out there before you’re late for your own wedding.”
We head outside to see over two hundred friends and family seated on white, fancy chairs that have big fucking pink bows tied to them. I smile and nod at a few people as we walk down the aisle informally and take our spots next to Pastor Williams and the groomsmen. I turn to Faith’s father and clasp his hand. “Pastor, thank you again for being here with Kayla and me. We really appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome. I’m honored you guys asked me to be a part of it.”
“Oh, Sheriff!” The old lady voice interrupts our greeting and I look over nervously to where Gladys is sitting with Grams, waving at me with a coy smile. I clear my throat awkwardly and give her a brief flick of my hand, which clearly is a mistake since she takes that as a sign to blow me a kiss.
“Damn, that lady is relentless,” I mumble.
Jaxson slings an arm around my shoulders. “I told you, man, you need to stop going over there every time she tells you her panties have been stolen. You’re leading the poor lady on.” He chuckles.
I’m just about to tell him I do no such thing but the music begins playing, signaling it’s time to start. I stand up straighter and watch both Kayla’s and my mom take their seats up front. Kayla’s mom waves and blows me a kiss then pulls some tissue out of her purse, taking one for herself then handing one to my mom.
Oh jesus, they are both going to be a blubbering mess the entire wedding. I know it.
Katelyn makes her way down the aisle first. I catch her make eye contact with my cousin who she will be walking back down with and I look over to see him wink at her. When he looks at me I give a subtle shake of my head, letting him know to back off. I warned him earlier to stay away from her. He’s the biggest whore I know, and that girl has gone through enough shit, she doesn’t need to deal with his, too.
Faith walks down next and blows a subtle kiss to Cade before taking her place beside Katelyn. Then it’s Grace. She smiles shyly at Sawyer. I don’t look over at his response, but whatever it is has her blushing furiously. Go figure.
Julia follows in next and I hear Jaxson exhale a breath. “I swear I’m the luckiest motherfucker alive.”
“Yeah, you are,” Sawyer adds, slightly above a whisper. “I still have no idea what she sees in you.”
All of us chuckle under our breath, including Jaxson. Before Julia walks past me she stops and kisses my cheek. “I can’t wait for you to see her. She’s perfect.”
“She always is.” I have no doubt that she looks incredible but I’ve already seen her at her best. Naked, with me on top of her, inside of her, connected to her… Oh fuck. I shift uncomfortably and pull myself from my thoughts before I get a boner in front of hundreds of people.
Julia steps back then turns to wait for Ruthie and Annabelle to make their way down. Ruthie holds Annabelle’s hand as she walks slowly and unsteadily down the aisle. Everyone gushes and snaps a million pictures. Once they reach the end, Julia bends down and sweeps Annabelle up in her arms and kisses her cheek. “You did so good, baby girl.” She walks Annabelle over to Jaxson so he can kiss her too, then she takes her over to Grams’ waiting arms.
