“If they don’t show up, we’ll get witnesses from the chapel,” Lior reassured me.
I knew that was an option, but I wanted my friends. After getting used to the idea that I was getting married for real and it would probably be the one and only time, I kinda wanted it to count. I had my best man and Tanner would act as Lior’s best man. We’d even ordered cake and champagne to be sent to the suite so we could celebrate before going to the airport to fly back home.
“This is surreal,” I said in the car on the way to the chapel. “Tomorrow morning, not even twenty-four hours from now, I’m going to walk into my office a married man.”
“I just hope my mother doesn’t try to set me up with someone else who turns out to be an ex she didn’t know about.”
“She better not. I can get very jealous. Bones will be broken.”
He laughed. “Noted.”
My hands started shaking as we approached the chapel. Holy shit, I was getting married. “We’re really doing this.”
“For the kids,” Lior said.
“For your legacy.”
He held my hand and placed a kiss on the knuckles.
When we got out of the car, relief washed over me when I saw Jax and Tanner waiting for us outside.
They wore matching suits, but not the ones they’d brought with them.
“You two took ten years off my life with your disappearing act this morning,” I said as we walked inside.
“We didn’t disappear,” Jax said.
“We were just…misplaced,” Tanner added.
I glanced at their hands. No new rings. Phew. No crazy Vegas weddings other than mine. They also didn’t look hungover, so maybe they just went out to enjoy the city and stayed out.
They both had jobs with weird hours, so it wasn’t surprising to see them looking this fresh after being out.
The wedding celebrant explained how the ceremony would go while another couple was getting married. We were told to sneak into the back toward the end and wait our turn.
“Are you ready?” Lior whispered as he held my hand when the celebrant called us.
“As I’ll ever be.”
We walked up the aisle together with Jax and Tanner behind us. “Welcome, friends and loved ones. We gather here todayto celebrate the union of Lior Van Stern and Noah James Spencer…”
We turned to each other and held hands.
Before I knew it, it was time for the part I’d dreaded the most.
“Lior and Noah, vows are a personal and meaningful promise to each other, symbolizing your commitment, love, and respect. Lior, please share your vows with Noah.”
Lior squeezed my hands tight.
“Noah, the first time you spoke to me, I was spellbound by your confidence and audacity. When I saw you on that stage in Atlanta, you showed everyone how smart and capable you are. You do everything with a passion and determination I can only aspire to. You are generous and selfless. I still don’t know what’s in it for you by marrying me, but I know I’m the luckiest man to call you my husband.”
A shiver ran up my spine at the wordsmy husband. They held such power. My parents had been husband and wife for thirty-five years. This promise meant something to them.
The vows I’d prepared were perfect, but I couldn’t bring myself to say them, not unless I really expressed the meaning behind my words.
My brain scrambled to come up with something.
“Thank you, Lior. Noah, please share your vows with Lior.”
