Here goes nothing. I clear my throat and lean forward to speak into the mic on the stand next to us.
“There’s so much I want to say. So much love to try to condense into a few words. It’s tough; I’ve got a lot of love for you, and none of the words I found seemed to do it justice. You gave me the best gift ever: you gave me the gift of hope. You taught me that it’s okay to hope again, okay to love again after a tragedy. You showed me that itispossible to find that hope and love after losing everything. I wish I could find the right words to express the depth of my gratitude for that, but my vocabulary falls short. Just know that I will always be there for you, always loving you, now through the end of forever.”
Iris’s smile widens, and my heart melts.
“And you, Ms. Bridges?”
Iris is more on the ball than I was. She starts without a moment’s hesitation.
“Micah, my love, it’s been a wild journey these past months. When you moved in next door, I practically drooled at how gorgeous you are, but your inner beauty is even more amazing. You have so much love for me and Hailey that it seems impossible. How can one person have that much love in them? But I realized that it is possible because I have that same depth of love in me. Love so deep it threatens to drown me, but you’re there every day to hold me afloat. You’re my lifesaver, and if it takes me until my dying breath, I’ll do everything I can to prove myself worthy of that.”
Dear God, I love this woman!
“Are there rings?”
The officiant’s question brings me back to reality, and I take Iris’s ring out of my pocket. She’s seen it already, but she still gasps and shakes as I slide it onto her finger. The fit is a little snug, but I’m not worried. I know the real one will fit perfectly after she has the baby.
When it comes to Iris’s turn, I half expect a simple, plain band as well. After all, she insisted on using her own savings for my ring, refusing to even borrow my credit card to go buy it. My eyes almost pop out of my head when she has Hailey hand her a sleek, stylized black ring with a channel of black stones embedded in it. It has similar curves to Iris’s engagement ring, like a dark, masculine version of it.
It’s perfect.
Iris isn’t the only one of us shaking now. I tremble so much she almost can’t get the ring lined up with my finger. We share a laugh as she struggles to get it on me. Finally, the smooth metal glides up and over my knuckle.
After a few more words from the officiant that are lost to me, I hear the important ones: “Kiss the bride.”
Our lips meet, and cheers and applause rise around us.
We did it. We finally did it.
The reception afterwards is a total blur. Everything’s blurred in my eyes, except Iris. She remains perfectly in focus, like she’s the only thing in the world that my brain will register as whole and complete.
Becky brings Hailey to our table to say goodnight before she takes my baby girl home. Iris and I plan on staying in the hotel for a week, but we’re only an hour’s drive away if Becky needs anything, plus she has all the grandparents in town to help her out. From the exaggerated yawn Hailey gives me and Iris when we hug her, though, I doubt Becky’s going to have any troubles tonight. That kid’s going to knock out before Becky even pulls into the driveway. With all the running around she did today, she’s earned herself a good night’s sleep.
Our parents booked the hotel dining hall until midnight, but whether or not the guests stay that long, I have no clue.
Iris and I slip out at nine. We’ve got a honeymoon to start, after all.
The elevator ride to the penthouse takes an eternity. I want to rip off Iris’s lacy wedding undies and get started there, but I promised myself I would wait until we actually arrive in the honeymoon suite. I settle for a little make-out session in the elevator, complete with a quick little game of “snatch and grab” before the doors open to the top floor.
Iris giggles and readjusts herself as I lead her to the penthouse door.
“I don’t know why you’re putting those back in place. I’m just gonna take ‘em off you in a few minutes, anyway.”
“You’re not the one trying to do a pregnancy waddle down the hall with your underwear off-kilter. This is difficult enough without you making things less comfortable.”
I raise a brow at her. “You could take them all the way off. That would be comfortable.”
She sticks her tongue out at me as I slide the keycard home and unlock the door. “I’d like to make it inside the damn room before you undress me!”
“Well then,” I sweep her into my arms and carry her over the threshold, “can I undress you now?”
Iris giggles. “Maybe close the door first?”
I kick it shut with my foot. “Now?”
“Hmm …”
“You keep teasing, and I’ll be forced to give you extra orgasms. That’s the rules.” I carry her to the massive king-sized bed and lay her on the velvety blankets. For the first time, I notice the décor: sleek and modern, with blacks and golds and whites. I let out a low whistle and turn in a circle to take it all in. “Wow. Your parents really shelled out.”
