Now Colorado wild stretches behind us and snow feathers down around the edges of his shoulders, and I wonder if this wasn’t the endgame all along. It makes no sense, and somehow, all the sense in the world.
I can’t shake the feeling I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.
This isn’t my first time getting married, but even with the fancy venue and big crowd I had before, this feels infinitely more real. My chest squeezes as I take in the copper arch, the pine boughs, the lace at my wrists, and the man at my side who smells like winter and second chances.
The minister smiles as he talks about how marriage is two lives choosing each other over and over again. It’s not the flowers or the celebrating that hold you together, but choosing each other in both the good moments and the bad.
Aiden’s fingers find mine again. He flips our hands so his knuckle brushes my palm and hooks his pinky around mine like he’s sealing something only we can feel.
My breath hitches.
We turn to face each other, hands laced, and attention locked.
“Chloe and Aiden have written simple promises for today,” the minister says.
Panic bubbles up inside me, because I did no such thing.
Before I can tell the minister that he must have gotten some wires crossed, Aiden tightens his grip on my hand, forcing me to redirect my attention to him.
His throat works as he looks at me.
“I didn’t want to say someone else’s words today—I want to give you mine.” His eyes squint in an adorable way, like he’sasking for permission and forgiveness all at once. “Hope that’s okay.”
I nod because somehow, after this morning at the house and our conversation in the car about how these moments are forus,it fits.
“You’re a light in the darkness, Chloe, reminding me that hope waits in unexpected places. You make my whole life brighter.”
Oh. I tighten my grip on his hand.
“I promise to always have steady hands when life shakes, and to offer soft words when it’s loud. To give you a home that you’ll always belong to. To cheer your dreams when they feel bigger than you can manage alone, and to protect your heart when things get tough.”
Tears sting my eyes because his words feel like smooth balm on wounds that stretch back further than I can name.
“I promise to help carry the load, even when you think you can do it alone. And we both know you’ll try.” He flashes me a warm smile. “I choose you, Chloe Brooks. I promise to always be your safe space and your partner, for always.”
I once stood in this same position, listening to vows that ended up only being words. But this is different.
If I were standing at the top of the mountain trying to decide whether or not to go down the slope, this is the force of momentum that doesn’t give me a choice. I’m speeding toward a finish line that’s supposed to have an end date: one year from today.
But I’ll never be satisfied with that.
I wanted Aiden then. And I want him now.
Even though this is supposed to be a fake marriage, there’s nothing phony about the way my heart trips over itself.
Peace settles over me as my own vows take shape in my mind.
My voice trembles but holds. “You may seem tough to people who don’t know you, but you have the kindest heart of anyone I’ve ever known. Not to steal your words, but you’re a light in my darkness, too. When my whole world was crumbling, you didn’t even blink.”
He wipes away a stray tear with the pad of his thumb that I wasn’t even aware had fallen.
“I promise to meet you in the hard parts of life and stand by you while we work through them. To celebrate you in the good moments, no matter how big or small, so you never forget. To be patient, and fill our home with love and memories so you never feel alone, ever again.”
I’m making promises I don’t know how to keep, but my heart is completely ignoring my brain. Especially when hope swirls in Aiden’s eyes, and I want more of that from him.
To replace the sadness that plagues him in the quiet moments.
“And I promise to always have cookies in the cookie jar, so you never go hungry.” The mega-watt smile he gives me outshines every moment so far. “I choose you, Aiden Wheeler. I promise I’ll always be your safe space and partner in all things, for always.”
