Ella’s sitting on the living room floor doing something with flowers. I believe they’re centerpieces. She looks focused, and I’m terrified to interrupt.
“El,” I call out, but she doesn’t look up.
“What,” she states. Not asks, states.
“You’re a little uptight today, sweetie.”
“And?”
“Why is that?”
“There’s a lot to do,” she mutters.
“We have two days yet. We’re getting as much done as quickly as we can. Your family gets in tomorrow, and they can help too.” I shove my hands in my pockets and lean against the doorframe.
“My brain feels like it’s going to explode. Telling everyone what to do and how to do it, remembering everything, it’s a lot! Not to mention I worked a thirteen-hour shift yesterday and barely slept last night because I am so worked up over all this.”
All I can do is listen and try to understand her frustration. I step closer, towering over her as I extend my hand. She hesitates for a moment before laying hers in mine. I pull her to her feet and hug her.
“It doesn’t have to be so intense, Ella. All I care about is by the end of the day, I make you my wife.”
“I know. I know, babe. I’m just… I want it to be nice and not seem thrown together.”
“It’s not, sweetie. It’s going to be great.”
“Well Cody’s a jackass,” she mutters.
“Cody’s always gonna be a jackass. That gonna stop you from marrying me?” I look down at her with a playful grin.
“I guess not.” She tries not to smile.
“Good.” I kiss her before letting her get back to what she was doing.
* * *
As I’m standing up here staring at Ella, her hands holding mine, with the pastor standing between us, I’m in such a daze. I’m trying to focus but the reality is settling in. Tomorrow I finally get to marry this woman. The woman I’ve loved since I was sixteen years old. I’m ready. I’m so ready, I don’t know how I’ll even sleep tonight.
We rehearsed the procession four times. I’m good. Ella and her dad have their walk-down-the-aisle pace figured out along with the correct way to link arms. It’s our bridal party—also known as my siblings—that can’t seem to get their crap together.
We’re having only them in the wedding. Ella doesn’t have any girlfriends and my buddies couldn’t give two craps if they were in our wedding or not. So Addison is her only bridesmaid, and Cody and Mason are my only groomsmen. Given the odd number, they’re both walking Addie down the aisle, which is apparently extraordinarily difficult. Cody walks too fast, Mason gets hung up on walking to the beat, and Addison is not one for walking in heels.
When we’re finally done, we have a sit-down dinner in the fellowship hall. Ella is the first one back to the table with a plate of food. Cody’s the only one still sitting at the table when she returns. My guess is he’s waiting for the line to be shorterbefore he gets up.
I watch him say something to Ella but can’t hear what. She replies with a look of sincerity. Maybe she’s apologizing for being so angry at him the other day. Hopefully he’s doing the same for testing her patience.
I make my way over with my plate and settle in beside Ella, who looks absolutely stunning, by the way. She’s glowing in the white, off the shoulder dress she’s wearing tonight. Her hair is pulled back in a loose ponytail and whatever eye shadow or makeup she put on her eyelids makes her green eyes pop. Every time she looks at me, I get lost.
“You two keeping it civil?” I ask sorta quietly, but loud enough for Cody to hear too.
“Course.” She nods.
“For now,” Cody teases and stands up to go get in line.
I lean closer to her. “No, really. Everything good?”
“Yeah. I apologized and he did, too.”
“Cody apologized?”
