Oh. Courtney really was on this.
No time to think about that, though, because music played for Courtney’s entrance, and she made her way down the aisle.
Irina waited her turn to strut toward Knox like a badass rocker wife. When the bridal march started, she erased herself and slapped on her bridal character for the day.
One foot in front of the other.
She stepped outside and paused. Not because of the pirate who would be marrying her.
Or because she was drinking in the phenomenal job she’d done with their wedding—seriously, it looked great.
No, she paused because this was real.
This wasn’t a character.
She was herself.
Knox was smiling at her, his eyes broadcasting that he knew this wasn’t a character and clearly he liked that.
How the hell was she supposed to be herself? She’d planned on being thecharacter. She loved being the center of attention. Adored when she could play a part and entertain. Funny, though, at the moment, even though she was in full costume, knew her lines like the little freckle on Knox’s earlobe…she still felt more exposed than she’d ever felt before.
Get it together, girl.
One step. Then another and Dad met her at the end of the aisle, linking his arm with hers and holding her hand. Which was super sweet since she was in the middle of something that felt like riding a wave into the side of a building.
“Smile, sweetheart,” Dad said, quietly.
She lifted her gaze to Knox’s, worried that the sight of him waiting there for her would throw her further off kilter.
But that’s not what happened.
Knox winked like they’d talked about. She winked back like they’d planned.
He grinned. She grinned.
Her breaths were ragged as they walked toward him, but she did her best not to look like she’d had extra helpings of beans for lunch.
Somehow they made it to the front of the aisle. She wasn’t certain how, since the whole thing was kind of a blur.
“Dearly beloved, we be gathered here today,” Bax said in an—on any other day—impressive pirate accent. “t’ join this scallywag ’n this wench in matrimony.”
Did he really call her a wench?
“Oh God,” Courtney said, loud enough for everyone.
Uh-huh. Irina bit at her tongue so she wouldn’t say anything, but then she caught Knox’s gaze and it didn’t matter that Bax talked like a pirate, and she wasn’t in character, because she was with Knox.
“You can take a breath,” Knox said. “You probably should do that.”
Right, breathing was so important. She nodded and did that. Then she did it again.
Knox reached for her hand when her father did the whole, “Her mother and I support her decision to marry this rock star.”
The switching of the hands was not part of the plan. But it felt super nice, grounding her in the moment. She let him pull her closer and allowed him to be the stability she needed until she found her sea legs.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
He squeezed in response.
