My smile widened. “That was the best snap decision I’ve ever made.”
Lola chuckled. “No, I think it was the second best. Your best one was falling for Lennon.” She winked, then offered me her arm. “Let’s get you married, shall we?”
My skirts and petticoat swished as Lola and I walked arm-in-arm out of the house and into the backyard. The big live oaks offered a lovely shade against the heat of the September evening. Dusk was settling into the sky, and pink clouds blossomed. Tiki torches lined the perimeter of the seating area to keep mosquitoes and other flying pests away. I shuddered, remembering the palmetto bug.
“What’s that for?” Lola asked as we waited for the music to change—our cue to walk down the aisle. I’d eschewed attendants because I’d wanted this wedding to be about Lennon and me.
I told Lola the story of my first night in Houston, and she laughed so hard we missed our cue. The cellist came over and told us we needed to walk, but Lola was still guffawing as she led me down the aisle. I knew those photos of her, face alight with joy, were going to be some of my favorites of the day.
They were.
But none was as special as the mental photo I took of Lennon in his black tuxedo and crisp white shirt as he looked at me that first second we rounded the corner and began walking down the linen cloth we’d set up as an aisle. The sheer wonder on his face made every moment of our months apart worthwhile.
His eyes were so filled with love and joy that I felt mine filling with tears. When Lola and I reached Lennon, he bent down and kissed her cheek, whispering something in her ear. Then he met my gaze as he took my hands. “I’m beyond ready for forever with you, Vivian Lee Cruz.”
“I’ve known since you picked up my hat,” I replied.
“I’ll be here for you until my last breath,” he said.
And those were the vows I’d remember until mine.
Camden Grace crooned into the microphone, his eyes on his pretty blond wife, Jenna, the whole time he sang about enduring love. She patted her baby bump, shyly having admitted she was having a second boy a little earlier.
“I told Cam we’re not calling him Waylon, no matter how many beautiful songs he writes me. Now he’s made it a thing.” Jenna sighed, but her eyes flashed with delight. “He even sang me a song about how cute I looked when I woke up, which was the biggest, fattest lie ever since I was greener than the grass and nearly upchucked on his chest.”
I giggled as I sipped my champagne. Lennon had asked to choose the menu and caterer, and I’d happily handed over the tasks to him. The sit-down meal had been delicious—and healthy enough for the players heading back into another season. Unlike my darling husband, I didn’t have practice starting next week, so I could imbibe a couple of glasses of the expensive champagne he’d splurged on—and I intended to do so. I also planned to eat a huge piece of cake. I wanted to live up this moment because I was so happy.
“Are you going to give in?” I asked Jenna.
I noted all the CATS had moved closer to the stage. A little celeb crush on Cameron Grace was to be expected—the man was potent. But my gaze drifted to my sexy man. I was utterly delighted to have married Lennon.
“Now, we got one more surprise for the bride before we cut the cake and kick off this party,” Cam said. “And I just wanted to tell y’all that those donations for the K-Nine rescue program are going to great use. We got us four more matches this week.”
There were whoops and hollers as Cam stepped back.
“Pfft, no,” Jenna said, answering my question. “But I’ll give in on William or Nelson, so Cam’ll be happy.” She shot me a sly look. “He’s been practicing.”
I frowned, not understanding Jenna’s comment until I heard Lennon begin to sing. I gasped, my fingers coming to my lips as tears sprang to my eyes.
Jenna bumped my hip before wrapping her arm around my shoulder. “He’s got a fantastic voice. Like a huge, broody angel.”
I laughed as I cried, my gaze fixed on Lennon as he sang a beautiful love song.
Naomi and the other CATS surrounded me as Lennon sang, and they wolf-whistled and screamed when he finished.
Jenna grinned. “This is my kind of crowd.”
“We’re a loud but loving bunch,” I told her.
“Just as it should be.”
“Let’s dance,” Naomi hollered. “Adam, I need those delicious hips of yours pressed against mine.”
Adam grinned as he handed Stol his beer. “Whatever my beautiful bride wants.”
The deejay picked an upbeat, fun song, and soon everyone was breathless and a little damp from exertion.
“Having fun?” Lennon asked.
