“You love me this much?” I ask him.
“I love you more than that,” he says.
Running past the applauding people and shouts of congratulations, I have tunnel vision for a future that will start today. Today is the best time to start everything and anything.
It only takes us a half hour to cross the state border and arrive at the courthouse. We walk in, and to my utter shock, the place is decked out with flowers, tea lights, and rows of seats filled with everyone we love. Daisy pops out of one of the rows as I’m trying to take in what’s happening. “Come with me,” she says.
I’m still spinning in a haze as she tears my clothes off and drapes me in a beautiful white dress. “You’re easy to turn into a bride.” She whips out a tube of lipstick and curling iron. “I just need five minutes, and you’ll be ready to go.”
“Is this crazy?” I ask her.
“Yeah, that’s putting it mildly, but you know what? I like the way you think. You know how to live. More people could learn from that mentality. You’ll never have to wonder if you’re going to miss out on something.”
I’ve always thought I was nuts with the way I think, but thinking about the future stresses me out. I know I’m happy today, and I don’t want to tarnish that with the thought of possibly not being happy tomorrow. I don’t know if I was bred to think that way because of the way Mom and Dad were or if it’s just something that’s part of my brain, but it works for me, and it hasn’t failed me.
“Austin is lucky,” Clara says as she walks into the bathroom. “I couldn’t be happier for you two. He needed you. He’s always needed you.”
“That means a lot to me,” I tell her.
“You look beautiful.” I turn to look in the mirror, still unable to wrap my head around this, but it’s how I always dreamed my wedding day would be. Unplanned, but perfect.
“Let’s go,” Daisy says.
She pulls me out of the bathroom and before I know it, I’m standing at the bottom of the aisle, staring at Austin, who managed to get into a tux faster than I was able to slip into a dress.
Brendan steps out from the last row of people and he hands me a large bouquet of roses. “I couldn’t miss walking my best girl down the aisle, he says, placing a kiss on my cheek.”
“I can’t believe you’re here,” I whisper, trying not to choke up.
“I can’t believe you’d think I wouldn’t be here for this. I couldn’t be happier for your, Scarlett. Without a doubt, he’s your one.”
I swallow the lump in my throat as Brendan slips his arm through mine, walking me slowly—the way Austin likes, the way I’m not used to—down the aisle. I pace myself with deep breaths, having no doubts in my mind. Mom stands up in front of Austin with tears in her eyes and reaches for my hands. “I could learn a thing or two from you,” she says. “You are going to have a perfect life, Scarlett. I’m proud of you.” She kisses me on the cheek and passes my hand over to Austin’s.
I’m lost in his eyes, wanting to pinch myself to make sure I’m not asleep, but the words floating around us are real. The promises he’s making are clear, and the promises floating freely from my mouth are purely instinctual.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride,” the judge says.
Austin’s hands cup my cheeks and just before he touches his lips to mine, he says, “Could you have walked any slower down that aisle?”
“No,” I tell him before leaning in to kiss him.
“I love you,” he whispers to me. “I needed a strong woman to handle me, and I’m grateful I found you.”
“Some men just need to find the perfect man handler, and I’m happy to be that person in your life, Austin Trace.”
“We’ll discuss that title of yours a little later, okay?”
“You won’t complain when the conversation … comes … back up,” I whisper.
