“My bet is on both of them crying an equal amount. It’ll be a sob fest. I can’t wait to get pictures.”
“I hate you all,” I say.
“We’re putting you in waterproof mascara for a reason,” Quinn says.
My leg bounces as Scarlett finishes my hair and they talk about things they want to get up to while I’m on my honeymoon. Apparently, Scarlett is staying for a bit, and I’m bummed I don’t get to see her the entire time she’s in town. The two of us have kept in contact, but it’s not the same as it was when we were on the cruise.
One of these days, I’ll convince her to move here.
Amy and Riley will no doubt be joining. At our rehearsal dinner, they all talked like old friends, and it’s nice to see such a big day come and go without any drama.
Today’s wedding is going to go the same way.
Once upon a time, I had a different idea of how all of this worked. But as I think about Nate being my husband, I’m so glad I got my head out of my ass.
I’m counting the seconds until both of my parents walk me down the aisle to him. I have a feeling they’ll be in as big of a rush as I am.
I don’t feel anything but that excitement until we pull up to the venue. Then I see Nate in the distance with his wavy hair styled, wearing a perfect suit, and it finally hits me.
We’re going to bemarried.
My heart rate kicks up. Not out of fear, but out of pure happiness.Thisis where I’m meant to end up. This is where I want to be.
That happiness grows until it causes me to tear up.
Quinn, who’s sitting beside me, hands me a tissue. “There it is.”
“Thanks,” I say as I blot the wetness from my eyes. “Now let’s do this.”
I’m pretty sure Mom and Dad congratulate me before they walk me down the aisle, but I can barely focus on anything other than Nate. The second our eyes lock, it’s all I can do not to run to him.
The same goes for him. He’s shuffling his feet as if he’s also fighting the urge.
I go through the motions of what we practiced, but I’m on autopilot, even as the officiant starts speaking.
The only time I’m truly listening to a thing anyone says is when Nate recites his vows.
At first, he clears his throat, looking uncharacteristically shy as he starts reading. My heart rate is probably dangerous for me, andtears are already welling up in my eyes again before he’s even spoken.
I’m so not making it through this unscathed.
“It was always a dream to marry you, berry. And for a long time, I never thought it would come true.” He squeezes my hands and takes a breath before he keeps going. “Now that it has, I struggle to put vows into words, but I’ll do my best. The first thing I’ll do is always share the last strawberry with you, even if I’m starving. I’ll always make you smile, even when I’m being annoying. I want to be there for you, both as your protector and the one who pushes you to do something difficult. But most importantly, I vow to love you every day, throughout every trial life may throw at us. It’s all I know how to do.” He sniffles and wipes a tear.
I’m openly weeping as he finishes.
I want to kiss him right then and there, but I still have my own damn vows to do. “Wow, you really went for good ones, huh?” My voice is rough. I’m surprised I can talk at all.
“Well, you only get one wedding.” He shrugs.
I laugh and take a breath to get myself together. Then, I say mine.
“It’s taken me a long time to understand what love can be. Sometimes it’s putting your feelings second when you want the other to be happy.” Nate’s eyes widen when he realizes I’m not talking about what I’ve done. It’s all the things he’s done for me. “Other times, it’s telling the truth even when it hurts to hear. It’s holding hands when the other is scared, but also pushing them when they need it. These are all things you’ve done for me since the day we met, and I have no idea how to repay all of those little things.”
“Y-you don’t have to.” More tears run down his face now. I wonder if Quinn is cheering at the messes both of us are.
“But I’ll try. I vow to see you, to hear you. To accept the love that you’ve shown me for nearly our whole lives, and to give you just as much in return.”
There’s still more that the officiant has to say, but Nate’s done waiting. Right when they start talking, he pulls me for a kiss and slips the ring on my finger, a detail we both had forgotten during our vows.
