Mack is waiting just outside the door for me. His eyes mist when he sees me in my white wedding dress. “You look so beautiful, Andi. I’m so happy for you and Luke. And I’m so proud of you, my little girl.”
“Stop before you make me cry!” I exclaim. Rising on my toes, I kiss him on the cheek. “Thank you, Pop. I love you.”
“Just so you know, it breaks my heart to give you away. No father should have to give his daughter away. Whoever came up with this is just sadistic,” he grumbles.
I can’t help but laugh at his assessment of the common tradition of the father’s role in a wedding. It is a little heartbreaking if I think about it, though.
As we approach the entrance to the chapel, the bridal march music starts and we step into the main room. The pews are full of our friends and family, and I’m shocked since I thought this would just be a small, intimate affair. When my eyes scan the crowd, I’m more than shocked to see Travis, Mike, Kale, and Drew sitting on one pew. Cami, Crystal, Leslie, and Jada are also here. Several of the guys from Pop’s gym are here, too.
My eyes sweep up to Luke’s, and he’s smiling brightly. He arranged this and kept it all a secret to surprise me. I’m so lucky to be marrying a man who has put his complete trust in me. Even to the point of inviting another man, one who matters to me, to our wedding. Travis is important to me, as a friend, and I want him in my life. But Luke is the love of my life and I can’t live without him.
As we approach, Luke’s eyes rake over me from top to bottom, then bottom to top, over and over. I can’t help but smile because I know what he’s thinking. I may have tortured him over the past couple of weeks, but I really want our wedding night to be special in every way. If I hadn’t put the brakes on, we’d have never left the bedroom to even prepare for the wedding.
Great. Now I’m thinking about rushing through the service so we can get to the honeymoon. I’ve tortured myself as much as I’ve tortured Luke. It’s a good thing that we never get our fill of each other because we now have a lifetime to feast on each other.
So mesmerized by my husband-to-be in his tuxedo, I barely hear what the pastor says until it’s time to give my vows.
“I understand the bride and groom have written their own vows. Andi, please recite your vows to Luke,” he states.
“Luke, I am so completely in love with you, and I promise to spend my life showing you just how much. I promise to give all of my love to you every day. You will never question whether I need you. In good or bad times, happy or sad days, in sickness or in health, there is no one else for me. I need you. I want you. I love you. Everything I do will be to make our lives together better,” I promise as I slip the ring on his finger.
“Now Luke, please recite your vows to Andi,” the pastor instructs.
“Andi, you make me want to be the best man I can possibly be. Your love is an inspiration, and I will do whatever it takes to be worthy of your love every day. Wherever you are, whatever you need, and whatever the cost to myself, I will be standing next to you. All I want in life is to make you happy, show you that you’re so very loved, and spend every day with you. I promise you will never regret being my wife,” Luke says as he slides the ring onto my finger.
Looking at our hands, I see our tattoos peek out from under our rings, reminding us that our love for each other will never fade, will never wash away, and will never die.
True love doesn’t die. It only grows stronger, regardless of the circumstances and storms that circle around us. When we pull together, we are much stronger than we could ever be standing alone. There’s nothing that can come against us that we can’t weather. We may bend, but we will never break.
The preacher announces us man and wife and we kiss. Luke’s frustration is obvious as he takes too much pleasure in our first kiss as a married couple. It isn’t an appropriate, light tongue kiss—it’s atake-me-upstairs-and-do-me-nowtongue. At least our guests get a big kick out of it.
As we move to the reception area, Luke sweeps me up into his arms and carries me across the threshold. “I know we’re not home yet, but I didn’t want to miss the chance to hold you.”
“I’m all yours. You can hold me any time you want, Mr. Woods.”
“Why thank you, Mrs. Woods. I will take you up on that. Frequently.” He smiles seductively.
He makes me weak in the knees when he does that.
He’s right about one thing. That’smysmile. It was never anyone else’s.
We dance, the champagne flows, and everyone enjoys the party. During our dance, I thank Luke for inviting the bands, including Travis.
Luke shrugs. “I can’t blame him for being in love with you, baby. I’m so head over heels in love with you, I understand how others will be, too. I still can’t believe you chose me.”
“It was never a choice, Luke. I’m where I belong and where my heart always knew I should be. It’s always been you,” I assure him.
“That’s why I’m okay with Travis being here. It’s always been you for me, too,” he says before kissing me. “I believe you and I trust you with my heart and with my life.”
“Is this party over yet? I’d like to be alone with my husband now,” I coo.
“Party’s over. Everyone out. We need to leave,” Luke announces, and the crowd erupts in laughter.
“You haven’t even cut the cake yet!” Brandon laughs.
“Lucas Woods, you are not leaving your wedding reception without pictures, cutting the cake, and Andi dancing with Mack and with Sam. The foot is down, young man,” Linda exclaims.
“Yes, Mom,” Luke agrees.
This is my family. This is my life. I love it—every last crazy bit of it.
