Laughing, I nod. “She’s been so excited for him to see it since we picked it out.”
Striding around the high cedar bushes that separate us from our small gathering of guests and the ceremony site, Andi smiles broadly. “It’s time! Are you ready to get married?”
“Fuck yes,” I laugh, nodding. She hands me my bouquet of peonies, the stems wrapped in a length of fabric that once belonged to one of my dad’s shirts. I’m grateful I get to carry him with me today. “Let’s go.”
At a cue from Andi, the music shifts, and we’re off. I’m pretty sure I disassociate during the bridal party entrance, because then it’s my turn.
I decided to walk by myself, because I didn’t want to be given away to Zach.
Because I’m not being given to him. No, I’m choosing Zach with every step, every breath, every beat of my heart. It all belongs to him.
The first bars of an instrumental version of Beauty and the Beast start, and I step around the cedars and find Zach at the end of the short aisle waiting for me, all four of our kids at his side.
I know just when he recognizes the song, too, because he tilts his head at me, and then his chin wobbles, just a little. Joel grips his shoulder from where he’s standing behind him as best man, and I watch as Zach takes a deep, shuddering breath in as I make my way closer. Xander, Chief, Nate, and Tommy flank him as well, all looking sharp in their light, sand colored suit pants and white button-down shirts.
Abigail, Bailey, Chloe, and Declan all wait for me to reach the front row before stepping forward, just like we’d rehearsed to stand on either side of me. Abi holds Declan’s hand to my right, Bails and Chloe on my left, and together they lead me the last few steps to Zach, and Chief slides out of line, taking his place as our officiant.
“Hi, Princess,” Zach breathes when I stop in front of him, his blue eyes sparkling with moisture. He shakes his head, smiling from ear to ear. He raises one hand to his face, covering his mouth and jaw. “You’re stunning.”
“Do you love it?” I whisper as Chief asks our small gathering of family and friends to sit. Zach nods, his gaze dropping to look me over from head to toe again.
“I loveyou,” he whispers back, and the laugh that escapes me is broken with unshed tears.
“Love you, more,” I breathe.
“Hey now, y’all are supposed to wait for me,” Chief chastises teasingly, and we both apologize while our guests laugh.
But we don’t actually mean it. Not really. We’re in a bit of a hurry, after all.
Not that anyone knows it, yet.
By the time Chief is pronouncing us husband and wife, I’m fairly bouncing on the balls of my feet.
Zach doesn’t wait for Chief to tell him he can kiss his bride, either.
Wrapping one arm around my waist, he pulls me in and drops his mouth to mine. And I can’t help but laugh against his mouth when Chief sighs in exasperation, “So impatient.”
“Hi, Wife,” Zach whispers, grinning against my lips.
And damn do I love the way that sounds.
Zach
Champagne flute in hand, I watch as Tessa heads over to my wife, handing it to her. I’m mid conversation with Xander and Joel when my wife’s eyes find mine, widening.
Excusing myself from my brothers, I step up beside Louise and lean in to kiss her soundly. The champagne flute passes from her fingers to mine, and then it’s deposited on the closest tabletop while no one is looking.
“Thank you,” she mouths, and I nod, glancing around.
“Very sneaky,” Sienna whispers from behind us, and I grimace. Fuck. Guess I wasn’t as good at hiding that as I thought. “You can’t hide shit from a photographer.”
Louise blushes a vivid pink, glancing at her sister.
“You might as well just tell everyone,” she mutters, pretending to fiddle with the buttons on her camera. “You’re not going tobe able to fool everyone all night by passing off every glass of champagne or shot sent your way—”
I look down at my wife—my fucking wife—and she just shrugs, grinning. “We said after the wedding…”
“Yeah, I thought you meant more than an hour after,” I laugh, but shake my head. “Where are the girls?”
