Skye sniffed and quickly blinked her eyes to dissipate the moisture.

  “I promise to love you until the day I die. I promise to cherish you and make you feel adored every single minute of this journey. I promise to take care of you and provide for you. I promise to protect you just as well as your father did. And I promise to give you whatever you want—forever.”

  Her eyes squinted in emotion.

  “Thank you for marrying me. You’ve made me the happiest man in the world.”

  “Cayson…” She felt my hands in hers and squeezed them.

  Slade sniffed then wiped his tears on his sleeve. “Dammit,” he said under his breath. He cleared this throat. “Now Skye, your vows.”

  Trinity handed her the paper, and Skye turned to me as she unfolded it. She stared at the paper for a long time without speaking, like the words couldn’t escape her lips. Then she finally found the courage to speak. “I spent my whole life looking for the right guy, my knight in shining armor to sweep me off my feet and make me swoon. But he never came.

  “I searched for him in the hallway at school, at every restaurant I went to, and every time I went out. But I never crossed paths with him. By the time I went to college, I began to believe that the passionate, all-consuming love that they spoke of in movies didn’t exist. I started to wonder if my parents were the only two people who actually loved each other. I started to wonder if I would die alone or end up with a man I didn’t really love. Thankfully, that didn’t happen—because of you.”

  I listened to her and tried to remain composed. It was easy to get caught up in the emotion, but I didn’t want to lose my soul right there in front of the whole world.

  “What I didn’t realize was the man I was supposed to be with was right in front of me the entire time. Every time I needed advice, I turned to you. Every time I wanted to go out and have a good time, I wanted you to be there. Whenever I was sad or scared, you were the first person I called. I’ve always thought you were handsome and perfect but…I never thought of you in that way. It wasn’t until I saw you with someone else did I realize you were supposed to be with me. My stupidity almost made me lose the greatest love affair I could ever imagine. Thankfully, I figured it out before it was too late.

  “I’ve always looked up to my parents and hoped I would find a love like the one they have. But as time went by I realized that would never happen. Then, one day, I realized you were exactly what I’d been searching for. And I know our love will be so bright it’ll burn out the stars and even the sun.” She lowered the paper then looked at me with her beautiful blue eyes.

  Somehow, I fell more in love with her.

  “Oh…and I love you,” she said quickly. “And I promise to love you forever.”

  I smiled slightly, knowing she didn’t need to say that last part. It was a truth that couldn’t be denied.

  Slade wiped his eyes again then cleared his throat. “Now, the rings.” He pulled Skye’s out of his pocket and handed it to me. Skye did the same with Trinity. Then I slowly slipped the diamond ring onto her finger, noting the way her eyes lit up as I made the gesture. When she slipped my carbon black ring on my finger, it suddenly felt heavy. The weight of our promise sat on my shoulders. It made it feel real. I would wear this ring for the rest of my life and never remove it. It would accompany me to the grave and further beyond.

  Slade watched us as we stared at each other. “By the power invested in me through minister.com, I pronounce you as husband and wife.”

  Everyone cheered and clapped. Whistles came our way, and people started to throw rose pedals into the air.

  “Now you may kiss the bride.” Slade nudged me in the side. “Kiss her good, man.”

  I pulled her closer to me then forced her into a dip. Skye gripped my upper arms at my unexpected movement. Then I pressed my lips to hers and gave her a kiss that made my toes curl. There was no tongue involved, but it still got me hot. My first kiss with my wife was exactly what I wanted it to be. It was full of friendship, love, and promise. I rubbed my nose against hers then looked into her eyes.

  She stared back at me, her eyes echoing with endless love.

  “Forever and always.”

  “No,” she said as she cupped my face. “Forever and ever.”

  ***

  I pulled Skye onto the dance floor. Her hand felt perfect in mine, and I could feel her wedding ring sitting on her finger. Everyone stood around the circle as the music played. A piano and violin sounded in the background.

  I spun her around before I pulled her to me. It was our first dance as husband and wife, and I knew Skye would be the last woman I ever danced with. My hand moved to her hip, and my other hand moved to hers. I held it against my chest as I led the dance, my eyes never leaving hers.

  The crowd was absolutely silent. They just stared at us while we danced, practically holding their breath. A stream of white lights was overheard, and they reflected in her eyes.

  While I stared into her face, I saw my whole life flash before my eyes. We would be happy together forever. We would have beautiful children, and our life would be full of happiness, laughter, and passion. We would grow old together, and one day we would disappear from the earth forever. But even then, she and I would still be together.

  She looked up into my face as I guided her across the floor, her gown trailing behind her. “I love you.” She already said that numerous times, but I would never grow tired of hearing it.

  “I love you.” I kissed the corner of her mouth, right where her freckle was. “I love you more with every passing minute.”

  She moved her arms around my neck and came closer to me.

  My hands moved to her hips and I guided her against my chest. I liked the lack of space between us. It was probably too intimate for a public place, but neither one of us cared.

  Our song came to an end, and when the final notes played I knew our first dance was over. But that didn’t mean I wouldn’t dance the rest of the night away with her. Just when the song came on and a Michael Jackson song played, I was pulled from Skye.

  “Dance with me.” Trinity grabbed my hand and spun herself.

  “You’re mine.” Slade grabbed Skye and pulled her away.

  I eyed Skye with a sad look.

  “You’ll get her back,” Trinity said. “Don’t worry.”

  ***

  Skye fed me a piece of chicken. “It’s good.”

  “It’s delicious.” I kissed her, telling her I meant something else entirely.

  We sat at the long table with our wedding party, but Skye and I ignored everyone else but each other. She and I hardly ate our food because we were more interested in each other.

  “I never thought this would happen.” The sentence came to my mind without premeditation.

  “What?” she asked, sipping her champagne.

  “That you would be mine.” I couldn’t take my eyes off her face, unable to believe that my wife was so exceptionally beautiful. I always assumed the woman I committed my life to would be gorgeous, but I didn’t think she could compare to Skye Preston.

  “I’m your forever,” she said.

  “And I’m grateful,” I said. “My happiness would only be a fraction of what it is now if things had been different.”

  “But they weren’t,” she whispered. “And that’s all that matters.”

  I kissed her bare shoulder and loved the feel of her skin on my lips. I couldn’t wait to kiss her everywhere later that night. Once we were alone together, she would never be able to escape my grasp.

  She was mine.

  Slade stood up and clanked his fork against his glass. “It’s time for my speech as the best man.” He set the glass down then put one hand in his pocket. “I thought about my speech for a really long time before I finally figured out what to say. For those of you who don’t know, Cayson and I have been best friends since…we left our mothers’ wombs.” He fidgeted with the microphone. “Cayson and I are really different. Cayson has always been the smart and responsible one. He does everything right on his first attempt, and he’s the kind of guy every father wants for his daughter. I’m pretty much the exact opposite.” He chuckled, as did the rest of the crowd. “I’ve never had much self-confidence. People have their opinions about what kind of guy I am. I don’t exactly have the best reputation. But Cayson has never treated me differently. He’s always seen the good in me when no one else did. He defended me when people had insults directed my way. And he’s always believed in me. When I got married, he told me I could be the perfect husband if I just tried. He had faith I could be everything I’d always hoped for. And, like always, he was right. I hate to think of how my life would have turned out without him…and I’m glad I don’t have to.” He cleared his throat like the emotion was creeping into his mouth. “Skye is the girl version of him. She’s always been the top of the class, she’s ambitious and smart, and she has a big heart. I’ve always wanted these two to get together, and when they finally did…it was like all the stars and planets aligned.” He turned to me with a heartfelt look in his eyes. “I’m really happy for you, man. You deserve this day. And you deserve this woman.”

  The crowd clapped as he sat down.

  Roland grabbed the microphone next. “Hey, everyone. I’m Roland, Skye’s brother. I know her better than anyone up here. Yes, Cayson. That includes you.” He shot me a smile then kept talking. “My first memory of Skye was when we went to the zoo. Our parents took us to see the gorillas, and I was terrified of them. I started crying and my dad picked me up. Skye grabbed a rock and threw it hard at the glass in an attempt to protect me.” He chuckled into the microphone. “She’s been a protective older sister since the beginning. She’s come a long way since. In high school, she always got perfect grades. Then she did the same thing in college. Now she’s the junior CEO of one of the biggest companies in the world…I’m really proud of her.” He rubbed his chin before he spoke. “I know this is something none of us like to talk about but…when I almost lost her I’ve never been so scared in my entire life. I couldn’t sleep and I couldn’t eat. My sister always protected me and I felt helpless unable to do the same for her. But everything turned out okay and she was fine. I’m just grateful it turned out that way because I wouldn’t know what to do without her. I’m so happy for both her and Cayson.” He raised his glass in the air before he sat down.

  Conrad grabbed the microphone next. “I know everyone has all these nice things to say about Skye, but I’m here to give you the dirt—the hard truth. I’ve worked with her for a few years now, and you wouldn’t believe how much this girl can eat. This is a true story. We were having lunch one day and she ordered two pizzas. I thought it was weird that we needed two pizzas. Maybe someone else was joining us. I wasn’t sure. Anyway, this girl ate an entire pizza—by herself. Yeah, I’m not lying.”

  The crowd laughed and Skye’s cheeks tinted.

  “And she’s psycho at the office,” Conrad continued. “If I’m even a few minutes late with a report, she’ll storm into my office and raise hell. This girl is on her game twenty-four seven…good luck, Cayson.”

  The crowd laughed again, and I even chuckled.

  “While she’s a sweet girl who’s too smart for her own good, she’s flawed like the rest of us,” Conrad continued. “She’s a little bit crazy but also a little bit nice. It’s a perfect combination because she keeps me on my toes.” He raised his glass to us. “Just do your best, Cayson. And don’t beat yourself up if you don’t come up to par every time.” He clanked his glass against mine then drank it.

  I chuckled then rolled my eyes

  Arsen went next and kept his speech short. “I haven’t known these two as long as everyone else has. But they’ve been very kind and generous, even when I didn’t deserve it. They’ve taken me in as a member of their family, and when they asked me to be in the wedding party I was very moved.

  “I admire Cayson because he’s an old-fashioned gentleman. He always puts others first before himself. I noticed it the first time I met him. Instead of trying to drag people down, he goes out of his way to lift them up. And Skye is the same way. She’s generous and loyal. I can’t think of two people who are better for each other.” He nodded before he sat down.

  Ward came next. “I have to be honest…my relationship with these two didn’t start on the best of terms. Actually, I had a small encounter with Skye…and I kissed her.”

  Everyone in the audience laughed.

  “It was just a quick peck and didn’t mean anything. But, of course, Cayson wasn’t too happy about it.”

  “Thanks for reminding me,” I said.

  “I mention it because it’s a very important moment,” Ward said. “It was the moment when I knew she was irrevocably in love with Cayson. It was written all over her face, and it was obvious in the feel of her lips. I knew then that Skye was off the market even if they weren’t together. The love they had between them was more powerful than anything else in the world. I knew I was in the presence of something special, and I was grateful I got to witness it.

  “Cayson and I didn’t get off to a great start…as you may have figured out. He’s fiercely protective of Skye, and he’s always one step ahead of everyone else. He made it clear I needed to stand down, and of course I did. But in the process, we learned to respect one another. And eventually, we actually learned to like each other. Now we’re friends—good friends. And I’m lucky enough to be marrying his sister, the love of my life and the mother of my child.” He raised his glass to me. “If Clementine and I are as happy as you two someday, we’ll consider ourselves the luckiest people in the world.” He sat down and drank his champagne.

  Theo rose to his feet next. “I’ve known Cayson since…forever. As soon as we were all born we were inseparable. We have a very tight group, and it’s nice to always have a home base to go to. Cayson has been a big part of that. I remember we spent every Sunday watching football games at Skye’s house. We were always together, keeping warm despite the cold winter outside.

  “Everybody knew Cayson was in love with Skye. Geez, even people we didn’t know knew. I remember watching them together every time we hung out, and I always wondered why they weren’t together. I’m not gay or anything, but I knew Cayson was a serious catch. He was good-looking, smart, and he was going places. What chick wouldn’t want that? Sometimes I wondered if Skye was gay…”

  Everyone laughed at his comment.

  “Finally, a miracle struck the earth and Skye finally realized what she was missing. I remember exactly what I was doing when I heard the news. I was at a sports bar eating a burger and Slade walks in and drops the bomb on me. We ordered a few rounds and made a toast to the happy couple.” Theo raised his glass. “And we’ll do it again now.”

  I nodded in gratitude toward his way and he sat down.

  Trinity stood up then fidgeted with her hair. “My turn. I’m the matron of honor and I was so honored when Skye asked me to be a part of her day. Well, she never actually asked me…I just assumed.” She shrugged. “But whatever. We’re best friends so I better be the maid of honor.” She chuckled then got on with her speech. “As Skye’s best friend, we talk and gossip about everything. She’s told me about every guy in her life and every thought that’s ever came across her mind. Whenever she would complain about her ex’s, she would come to me. And when she would complain about her ex-boyfriends, she would also come to me.

  “The moment I knew Cayson was the one was when she kept her glasses on around him. She’s always been self-conscious about it, saying she looks nerdy and her eyes look too big. But when Cayson came along and said she looked cute, she never took them off. The way she was at ease around him told me and everyone else that it wasn’t just a short romance. It went deeper below the surface, in places we couldn’t see.

  “I love Cayson because he’s so sweet and sensitive. He always takes care of Skye and gives her everything she needs. But he also has a backbone and tells her off when she needs to hear it. He keeps her head above water and her feet firmly planted on the ground. But that action goes both ways. There’s not a doubt in my mind these two will be together forever. This is only the beginning of a very long lifetime together.” She patted Skye on the shoulder before she sat down.

  The rest of the bridesmaids said their speeches, and they were along the same lines. They were sweet and thoughtful, but they were also full of stories. While I listened to my sister talk about how excited she was to make Skye her sister, Slade leaned into my ear and spoke.

  “Holding up?”

  “I’m doing good,” I said.

  “All we have to do now is eat some cake, dance a little bit, and then you guys can get the hell out of here.”

  “Why would we want to get out of here?”

  He gave me a smug look. “Like you don’t want to get that honeymoon started.” He nudged me in the side. “Believe me, I’ve been there. I know. Just seeing Trinity in that dress makes me want to do the same thing.”

  I shrugged in defeat. “You know me pretty well.”

  “Man, I know you better than anyone.”

  A fork clanked against a glass then Sean stood up from the audience. “I would like to take this time to thank everyone for coming. We were honored to host the event here. It’ll be something our family will never forget.” He adopted his usual business stance, holding himself straight with broad shoulders. His eyes were dark, like they usually were when eyes were on him. “I have to admit I wasn’t totally happy when I realized my daughter was getting married. Actually, I was devastated. She’s officially leaving my arms and turning to another’s. It’s not my responsibility to take care of her anymore.”

  Scarlet patted his arm.

  He took a deep breath. “But then my wife, the wisest and smartest person I know, made me realize something. Cayson is the best guy we know. We’ve had the honor of watching him grow up. He started off as a scrawny young boy and quickly became a charming and fine young man. If I had to pick anyone to end up with my daughter, it would be Cayson. Sometimes I think he loves her more than I do, if such a thing were possible.

 

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