I love seeing Cal and Jonah together. They may not be related by blood, but they are so sweet together the way they show up for each other.
I make my way inside and find Carly in the hall bathroom, fighting with a curling iron. She sees me and looks relieved. “Hi, Silvie.”
“Can I?” I ask, motioning to the curling iron.
She hands it to me and relaxes. “Thank you.”
“It’s always easier when someone else does it,” I say softly as I curl her hair into long waves that match mine.
“Beautiful,” I murmur, meeting her eyes in the mirror.
“Thank you for everything. I’ve felt more like myself with you around. You’re so good for my son.”
You’re so good for my son.
But am I? Because this isn’t real. And then it makes me feel guilty that when this is over, Carly will be hurt, too. I shake the thought out of my head and focus on today. Today. Today with me and Cal. And including Carly.
“Are you ready?” I ask.
She nods, eyes twinkling with excitement. “Areyouready?”
I laugh. “I am. We took photos at the beach. But now it’s time for the ceremony.”
We head out to the living room, where Birdie is officiating, and Jonah, Cal, and Wilby are waiting.
Cal’s mouth turns up when he sees us. I walk to him, and he takes my hands. The ceremony is simple. Nothing exaggerated. And it’s fast.
When Cal says his vows, his voice is steady, and his eyes never leave mine.
When I say mine, I look at his eyes, and my heart feels like it’s going to beat out of my chest.
Birdie smiles and pronounces us man and wife.
Jonah claps Cal on the back. Carly wipes her eyes, smiling bigger than I’ve ever seen her smile.
Man and wife. So strange, yet so right. How can this be? For the first time in a long time, I’m not paralyzed with anxiety and worry. It feels like hope.
“You may kiss your bride,” Birdie says.
Cal’s eyes never leave mine as he leans in, lips brushing mine, and a surge bursts through me. His kiss is warm and grounding, confident in a way that makes my panties wet and my knees go soft. One hand settles at my waist, pulling me closer like this is exactly where we belong.
I moan softly into his mouth, and he deepens the kiss just enough to make my heart flutter. It isn’t rushed or showy. It’s tender, as if he knows this moment matters to us. And it also feels like he’s memorizing me, the way he lingers, soft and firm all at once, and I kiss him back, just as passionately.
Because I do love kissing Cal. And standing here right now, being married to him feels impossibly right. Like it’s the beginning of something.
18
Cal
I can’t rememberthe last time I saw my mom this happy and excited. She’s hasn’t had people at her house in years. And never this many people at one time. Granted, most of these people are like family to her, except for Wilby and Silvie. But she’s becoming Silvie’s biggest fan. Next to me. I’m definitely Silvie’s biggest fan. Whether she knows it or not. I know she’s doing this for me, and that makes me even more grateful. And it also feels like progress.
Laughter spills out of the living room as I follow Mom and Silvie to the kitchen. She holds up a cake that she’s made for us.
“Oh, Carly! It’s beautiful!” Silvie exclaims, looking surprised and emotional. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“Oh, I wanted to,” Mom says sheepishly.
“Mom, that is so nice,” I add, looking at the simple triple-layer cake that she decorated to perfection. My mom has always been a great baker, and she has made cakes for every birthday or any other special occasion she can think of. It makes sense that she made us a wedding cake. I bet this made her so happy.
