Page 112 of Saving Wyatt

Even wilder still, I’d gotten roped into the preparations for Hwan and Parker’s wedding. With Wilson and immediate danger out of our lives, they were finally free to celebrate their love and union without concern. And even though I expected Hwan to go all out on their big day, he’d chosen the most perfect venue, seeing as his first two options were being rebuilt.

And so I stood there, looking out at the beautiful blue ocean, the waves crashing gently to shore in front of barefoot Parker and Hwan—the latter wearing a pink suit, of course—as they gazed into each other’s eyes and promised to love and cherish each other forever after.

A short, Black kid stood between them, holding both their hands and looking in awe of this celebration of love, and a shiver that had nothing to do with the cold ran up hands and down my spine.

It was truly a beautiful thing to witness. Pure love. A union of two soulmates. A family in the making.

And I had the pleasure and honor of making that possible.

Hwan had insisted. He’d said he wouldn’t have met Parker without me, so it only made sense I officiate their wedding.

I didn’t know what my answer would have been before, in my pre-Ari era. I imagined it wouldn’t have been great. I’d have worried about saying or doing or looking at the wrong thing and revealing my dirty, dark secret.

But now…

I looked up into the attendees behind Hwan and Parker. To the chairs in the sand, to a sea of smiles and pink and white flowers, and I searched for him. For Ari. For his eyes. My love. My very own.

It had taken a stranger from a foreign land to make me realize there was nothing dirty or dark about myself. In fact, there was only light. Wherever he went. Wherever we found ourselves, there could only be light. And what was scary about light? Only evil is afraid of light, and I ain’t no evil.

His smile deepened when he caught my gaze, and I took a deep breath and blinked the sting away from my eyes before it mixed in with the saltiness in the air and made me make a fool of myself.

“Parker, please place a ring on Hwan’s finger and repeat after me,” I said and forced myself to look away and down to my script.

Parker turned to little Levi next to him, and their kid passed on a ring to his dad.

The audience cooed, but I focused on the wonderful couple in front of me. Parker let go of Levi and took Hwan’s left hand.

“I give you this ring,” I started.

“I give you this ring,” he repeated.

“As a sign of my eternal love. And with it I marry you in the eyes of God and our loved ones.”

He slipped a pink wedding band on Hwan that made me chuckle and repeated my words, then it was Hwan’s turn, who put a silver band on Parker with the help of Levi. When they were done, they all looked at me. Everyone was looking at me, and for the first time in my life, I didn’t mind.

“And now, by the power vested in me, I pronounce you husbands!”

The two grooms kissed, and the attendees got to their feet and applauded the new couple as they walked down the natural sandy aisle, leaving me behind to admire them. To admire everyone. It was the first of many weddings. The first of many celebrations now that evil had been banished from Mayberry Holm.

As they walked away, I looked to the side, to the Outpost. Or where it used to be. It would be back one day, stronger than ever. But even if it never did, it didn’t matter. Because I’d built something far, far stronger here. A community. Somehow, I’d brought people together and they hadn’t just saved the island, they’d found their soulmates too. Just like I had. I may have fucked up and not thought this whole mission through, but it all worked out in the end. Even if there was a bitter loss that I could never make up for.

I sighed and approached Ari. He put his hand on my arm and gave it a light squeeze.

“You were good. I’m proud,” he said.

I frowned. “I was good? You were supposed to be watching the couple.”

He shrugged. “Well, can you blame me for not being able to look away from the hot officiant? He’s my boyfriend, you know.”

“Is he now?” I smirked, but before Ari could reply, Elliot groaned.

“Agh, can you all not? Why are you all so sickly sweet? Cringe!” he said.

I laughed. “Did you prefer me when I was a grump?” I asked him.

Elliot scoffed. “You still are. When you’re not sucking face.”

“Hey!” Ari gasped and smacked Elliot’s chest.