Page 98 of Sweet Oblivion

But the craziest thing is I think he may have been saving me in a million other ways since.

Ryker

“You think she ran away?” Hendrix jokes as we stand at the end of the aisle, waiting for a bridesmaid to finally make an entrance.

“Nah,” Jamie laughs. “Ashton wouldn’t let Delaney leave without her, and there’s no way my wife is running anywhere these days. She sat on the couch crying two days ago because she couldn’t see her feet.”

“So that’s what I’ve got to look forward to?” My brother asks Jamie, horror creeping through his voice. “I feel like Emmie’s barely pregnant and she’s already crying more.”

Hendrix shrugs. “Yeah, but just wait. It’s going to get worse, then all of a sudden, you have this baby crying, and your wife crying, and no one’s slept. You probably smell like puke. And you’re going to look at your life and wonder how the hell you ever got so lucky.”

Jamie, Mav, and I all stop and turn to Hendrix, and I’d wager a bet we all equally feel like assholes.

“Don’t do that,” he snaps. “This is a good day. And I’m just here to remind you that life is short. Enjoy it. Enjoy your pregnant wives.” He throws a hand on my shoulder. “Enjoy your new wife. The one you haven’t admitted you’re in love with yet, even though the rest of us have already seen it.” He shoves his hands in his pockets and grins as Mav’s daughter, Rosie, and Hendrix’s son, Bodhi, stand at the end of the aisle with Tori on a pale-pink leash in front of them. “Worship your wife. Love your kids... Just enjoy life.”

We watch as the kids and Notorious scramble down the aisle, Rosie tossing her rose petals as Tori pulls her forward, and Bodhi basically running to his grandmother as soon as he sees her. It’s a bit of a shit show, but it makes me smile.

Dillan steps up next and slowly makes her way toward us, followed by Lexie and Kaleigh before Ashton steps up, and I get my first glimpse of my girl behind her. Ashton whispers something to Delaney, then kisses her cheek, and when she turns back around, she’s crying. The four of us at the end of the aisle smile as Mav, Hendrix and I all then laugh at Jamie.

Finally, the music changes, and the string quartet plays a beautiful version of “Here Comes The Sun” as my beautiful bride locks her gold-flecked eyes with mine and smiles.

Her long dark hair is down in beautiful soft waves. The bruising is gone, and her makeup is back to being light and natural. A lacy white dress hugs her hips and skims her softcurves, and a long veil fans out behind her like a ribbon wrapping the perfect package.

She actually takes my breath away.

Hendrix leans in to my side, but I don’t take my eyes off Delaney. I can’t. “Life’s short, man. Don’t waste time that isn’t promised.”

And as this woman, my woman, slowly walks toward me, I know what he means. And I make a silent vow to not waste another minute.

After handing her bouquet to Ashton, Delaney turns to face me. “Hi,” she mouths without saying a word, then smiles and signs,Are you ready to do this thing?

With Hendrix’s words still ringing in my ear, I cup her face in my hands and kiss her, drowning out the cheering from the guests and the way the priest tries to get our attention.

“Yeah, baby. I’m ready.”

Damn . . . This is a mistake.

Not the marriage. Not Delaney.

This—the reception.

The family.

All the pomp and fucking circumstance surrounding this.

I’ve had my hands on my wife for hours, but not a single minute of it’s been alone.

Not. One. Second.

“Why do you look like you’re about to commit another felony, brother?”Jamie asks, a stupid, shit-eating grin on his face that only grows when I glare at him.“What? Too soon?”

“Maybe just a little.” I take a sip of my drink. “I’m married.”

“That’s what typically happens at a wedding.” He shakes hishead and turns toward our wives on the dance floor.“They look happy out there.”

Yeah, they do.

Delaney’s laughing and smiling with the girls as she shakes her hips to the beat and throws her head back, her long hair kissing the small of her back.