When I finish soaking in every beautiful lyric, Jordan strokes his thumb across my cheek. “Paige, from the moment we met, you changed my world. I will always love you.”
My chest swells with happiness, and I can’t contain the little laugh that bubbles out. Jordan places his hand on my back and pivots toward the couple on the blanket. The older man has his arms wrapped around his wife like he’s holding the world, and the woman turns up the music on the speaker before they both look over at us.
Jordan sends them a wink, and they both give us knowing smiles.
Looking at that couple, I feel like I’m seeing Jordan and me in the future. After all these years, we are finally moving forward together.
Epilogue
JORDAN
· EIGHT MONTHS LATER ·
Paige spins, showing off the shortened version of her wedding dress. We’re the only ones in the hallway outside the hotel’s ballroom, waiting to enter a reception full of our friends and family.
She leaves me breathless for the second time today. The overskirt with the long train she wore at the ceremony this morning is gone, leaving her with a knee-length white-satin dress that flares around her as she twirls with a dimpled smile. The bottom half of her rich, dark hair flows freely down her back in soft curls while the top half is in an elegant twist that gathers just above her veil. She’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
“And my favorite part.” Paige pops one foot up behind her, displaying her small white sneakers with white-ribbon laces. “The shoes. I’m officially ready to dance with you tonight.”
I throw back my head and laugh. “I love them. They’ll fare much better than Missy’s Lucky Louis.”
Paige smiles. “As much as I love my ‘something borrowed,’ I’m not ready to break Missy’s prized heels—or my leg, for that matter. I give you all of ten minutes talking to our guests before you make a break for the dance floor, dragging me along with you.”
I chuckle. “You know me too well.”
“So, what do you think?” She spins again and strikes a pose.
I grab her waist with both hands and pull her to me, then I nuzzle my nose into her neck, making her squeal, before I kiss the soft spot behind her ear.
Paige giggles.
“I think I won’t be able to take my eyes off you,” I whisper into her ear before kissing her jawline, slowly making my way to her mouth.
When our lips meet, I take my time, soaking in every bit of Paige. I never thought kissing her could get any better, but knowing that the two of us are now facing this world together intensifies my feelings.We’re one.And by the way Paige kisses me back, I know she feels it too.
“All right, you two.” Ji’s voice cuts our kiss short.
Paige jumps back in surprise, a blush tinting her cheeks. At least we’re married this time, and Ji isn’t finding us in a pantry.
I grin and wrap my hand around Paige’s waist, keeping her close.
Ji hardly looks affected as she strides toward us. As assistant wedding planner for Mrs. Delgado and co-maid of honor with Missy, Ji’s all business. She’s got a jumbo purse that holds combs and lip balm and a sewing kit, from what I’ve seen so far.She’s like the wedding version of Bob the Builder, ready to fix anything that breaks on her watch.
“Ji, please,” I say. “Can’t a guy make out with his wife?”
Paige looks up at me and mouths the word “wife.” Her eyes are wide and glittering, and she does the cutest little bounce on her toes.
I kiss her forehead.My wife.Paige is my wife.I will never get tired of calling her that.
“Oh please, that’s what your honeymoon in Bali is for. Right now is all about making the bride look like perfection.” Ji gives Paige a fresh coat of lipstick, then she straightens the crooked clip that holds Paige’s veil in place—which up until a minute ago was perfectly aligned. “Hey, what about the groom?” I try my best to look offended.
“Oh yeah.” Ji turns to me and straightens my tie before patting me on the chest like I’m a puppy. “There. You happy?”
“Very.” I beam at her.
Once we’re ready, I wink at Paige and grab her hand, giving it a squeeze, as we position ourselves to enter the ballroom. Since so many of our loved ones live in Pine Lakes, we decided to make the trip back to Colorado to get married before taking off on our honeymoon and moving into our little house in San Francisco.
Ji touches her earpiece like she’s part of the CIA. “Cue doors. Cue Colton.”
