“I’m two seconds from busting the door open and just going in there.”
Max chuckles. “You’re about as bad as him.”
“I love ya, Max, but I’m not really in the mood to be teased right now.”
“I’m sorry. You’re right.” He fights to stop from grinning but fails.
I grin back. “How do we know when it’s time?”
“When I tell ya it is.”
He looks incredibly handsome in his suit and tiewith his hair spiked up in the front. Standing next to Kari, they look picture-perfect. I love them together. They love them together.
I hope we are standing outside their wedding next.
Max flashes me his trademarked smile, the one with his dimple popping on his cheek. “You ready, Jada?”
“Obviously.”
He nods. “Let’s do this. Mr. Stanley, you know when to go, right?”
Dad nods. Kari wraps her arm through Max’s, and he kisses her forehead. Music floats through the door a little louder than I’ve been able to hear, and the doors swing open. Max and Kari disappear into the room I can’t yet see into, and my father turns to me.
“Ready, sweetheart?”
“I am, Daddy.”
He pauses a few seconds and then leads me to the doorway.
My face nearly splits in two at the sight before me. All of my close friends are standing, their eyes on me. Max and Kari flank the end of the aisle. Once my eyes land on Cane, I can’t pull them away.
He’s wearing a black suit and a gold tie, and his hair has been cut short since I saw him this morning. He’s clasping his hands in front of him, a smirk on his face. He’s trying to play it cool, but I also know him better than that. He’s rocking slightly back and forth. His eyes have a slightly wild look about them. I know he’s trying to talk himself out of barreling down the aisle to me. The thought makes my smile grow even wider.
Brian begins to play “The Book of Love”by Peter Gabriel, and my father begins to move. We walk slowly down a golden strip of carpeting leading to my world. With each step, Cane’s smirk lessens, and a grin takes its place. His eyes widen, and the blues swirl, and I have to choke back the mass of emotions stirring inside me.
It’s really happening.
This man is so much more than I’ve ever even wanted. Just looking at him, standing as patiently as Cane Alexander can, waiting to marry me, is more than I’ve ever dreamed.
Cane
I can’t breathe.
I’m holding my breath, and I know it, but I can’t force my lungs to work. The sight of Jada walking down the aisle to give herself to me forever knocks the air out of me.
She’s so fucking beautiful. Just as beautiful on the outside as I know her to be on the inside. She’s the best person I’ve ever known. It amazes me that something so perfect would willingly want to be withme.
Jada came into my life and turned it on its head. She gave me a reason to do better, be better. She made mewantto do those things. She made me want to be a better man, to make her proud of me.
I know there’s a room full of people, but all I see is her.
Why is she walking so damn slow?
My fingers itch to grab her and kiss her, to say “I do” and have her say the same. It’s not that I don’t want to enjoy this. I just want it done. Signed, sealed, and delivered with an “Alexander” at the end.
Hurry the hell up, Jada...
Jada
