“Elliot, place the ring on Leo’s finger and repeat after me…”
I stare into Leo’s eyes as I slip the ring onto his left ring finger and repeat the words she tells me to say.
Again, I give thanks for this being filmed because I know I’ll never remember the details later.
Then Leo puts the ring on my finger.
“By the power vested in me by a bunch of different people and entities,” Shae says, “I now pronounce you married. Congratulations, Mr. and Mr. Cruz-Woodley.” She grins. “You guys know what to do next.”
Leo smiles and as everyone applauds and cheers, he pulls me in and kisses me. For a brief moment the world fades away around us.
This is a day I never dreamed possible.
This is a dream come true.
There is no going back—only forward.
Maybe Leo isn’t the only one who looks happier today than he’s ever been in his life.
Maybe that’s me, too.
As we embrace I open my eyes and Jordan’s right there, a pleased smile on his face.
I know this man’s moods and when he’s pretending, when he’s faking a smile.
This one is from the heart and reaches his eyes. He nods at me, once again probably reading my mind.
Then Leo ends our embrace and reaches for Jordan first, because he’s standing right there, and we both hug him, Shae, Casey-Marie, Chris—everyone.
Shae holds up a hand to quiet the audience. “I’ve been asked to instruct everyone to head out to the tent for the reception while the wedding party takes a few more pictures in here.”
Ushers start dismissing people and my mind finally slips back into POTUS mode.
Stella and Ellis.
I’m not even going to ask where they are.
As we start taking more pictures, I notice Mom and Dad make no comments about my missing sister and brother-in-law. The audience has been cleared and we’re five minutes into the picture taking when Stella and Ellis enter the room, both of them wearing dour expressions.
Dad notices them. “About time you showed up. That was rude, being late and missing your brother’s wedding after he made a point of arriving early at yours.”
Stella pulls up short. “But wewerehere!” She glares at me. “Stupid Secret Service wouldn’t let us drive up. They made us walk! And there was some bullshit about our security team. We showed up at least ten minutes early!”
“Did you clear them in advance, like the invites said?” Shae asks with a smile, and that’s when Ellis’ eyes widen and whatever Stella was about to say gets cut off by him grabbing her by the wrist and clamping down tight.
“Stella’s office apparently botched this,” Ellis says, and when Stella starts to argue with him he visibly shakes her arm where his hand’s still clamped around it. “We thought it started at one. And apparently they didn’t understand the security requirements. There was a miscommunication.”
I glance Jordan’s way to see if maybe he sent them a “special” invitation with the wrong time and information on it, but the way he arches his eyebrow at me tells me no, this is all them and they’re scrambling, trying to save face.
“Funny,” Shae says. “If you thought it started at 1:00 that would mean you thought you arrived at least anhourand ten minutes early, right? Not ten minutes early, like Stella just said?”
Pink fills Ellis’ cheeks. “That’s what we meant,” he mutters.
Mom looks disgusted. “Stop lying. Both of you.” I’ve never seen Mom look so angry. “Don’t insult our intelligence. I know you think we’re nothing but a couple of hick farmers, but we’re smarter than you give us credit for. We damn sure have more common sense than either of you put together.”
She jabs a finger at Stella and I’m glad there’s no one else in the East Room right now except for a couple of mortified looking photographers—who’ve signed NDAs—and Secret Service agents, who won’t talk. “You thought you’d blow in here late and that Elliot would hold up his wedding for you just so you could make an entrance. I overheard what Secret Service said about you wanting Elliot to meet you downstairs.”
Mom steps forward, her hands on her hips, and I’m literally too stunned to intervene. “Grow up and get over yourself, Stella Louise Woodley. You saw a chance to make a fuss and draw attention to yourselves. Shame on you.”
