She leaned in close, her voice pitched low enough that only I could hear. “If you hurt her,” she whispered, “I will rip out your heart with my bare hands and feed it to the desert vultures.”
My eyes widened slightly. “That’s... very specific.”
“I’ve had time to plan.” She smiled sweetly, then stepped back. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks,” I managed.
Kaia took her place next to Syn, and suddenly it was just Harlow and me, standing face-to-face in front of Elvis and everyone we loved.
Her hand was trembling slightly in mine.
“Hi,” I whispered.
“Hi.” Her voice was thick with emotion, her eyes already shining with unshed tears.
“You look...”
“Don’t.” She shook her head, smiling even as tears spilled over. “Don’t make me cry before we even start. I’ll never make it through the vows.”
“Too late. You’re already crying.”
“Your fault.”
“How is this my fault?”
“You’re standing there looking all...” She gestured vaguely at my face with her free hand. “...you. In a suit. With that stupid emotional expression. What was I supposed to do?”
I grinned, squeezing her hand.
Elvis cleared his throat. “Well now, if you two lovebirds are done making googly eyes at each other, we’ve got a ceremony to conduct.”
A few quiet laughs rippled through our small audience.
“Right.” I straightened, trying to look serious and failing miserably because Harlow was biting her lip to keep from giggling. “Sorry. We’re ready.”
“Good, good.” Elvis adjusted his sunglasses and opened the small book in his hands. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in the beautiful city of Las Vegas, Nevada, to join these two crazy kids in holy matrimony.”
Harlow’s eyes met mine, and I saw my own barely contained laughter reflected there.
This was insane. This was perfect.
Elvis continued through the traditional parts of the ceremony. I tried to pay attention, I really did, but I couldn’t stop looking at Harlow. Couldn’t stop memorizing every detail of this moment. The way the light caught in her hair. The slight flush on her cheeks. The way her thumb traced absent circles on the back of my hand.
“Now,” Elvis said, his tone more serious, “I understand you two have prepared your own vows?”
My heart kicked up another notch. “Yeah. We did.”
“Ladies first.” Elvis gestured to Harlow. “Whenever you’re ready, darlin’.”
Harlow took a breath, her hands tightening around mine.
“Owen,” she began, and hearing my name from her lips sent a shiver down my spine. “I’ve loved you for so long that I can’t remember a time when I didn’t. I loved you when we were kids, and you taught me how to throw a baseball. I loved you when you didn’t notice me. I loved you when you noticed me, but thought you shouldn’t, and I love you now, standing here, about to become your wife.”
A tear tracked down her cheek. I reached up with my thumb and wiped it away, my own vision blurring.
“You make me laugh harder than anyone I’ve ever met,” she continued. “You make me feel seen. You make me brave enough to be myself, even the messy parts, and you make the best terrible scrambled eggs I’ve ever had to pretend to enjoy.”
“Hey,” I protested softly. “My eggs are getting better.”
