Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 97592 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 488(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97592 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 488(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Since her and Vinny’s restaurant is doing the catering, she’s allowed to say things like that.
“I’ll come with,” my mom offers, knowing that Brooke’s anxiety is always higher when more people are around. “That way, I can find someone to clean up the wine.”
Sue Baker is the sweetest. And she’ll probably hate me just as much as Brooke will when she finds out I ran off and got married without telling any of them.
Finally alone, I stare at my beautiful sister and fan at my face as the tears hit my eyes. She’s so stunning, I can hardly stand it.
“Sissy Sam,” she whispers, grabbing at her nose as tears start to sting her face as well. “Don’t you dare make me cry right now! I’m five minutes away from walking down the aisle!”
“I know, I know. I’m sorry!”
She turns to check herself in the mirror, carefully avoiding the spill. “Ah, well, it’s okay. I guess I can understand why you’re doing it. I’m definitely going to cry when I finally get to see you and Noah say I do.”
“Hah,” I force out, hoping it sounds at least kind of like a laugh instead of the sound of a cry.
“I’m serious. You’re so next! I’m going to make sure you get my bouquet in the toss if I have to sew it to your hand ahead of time.”
Oh my God. She’s going to kill me.
I can only hope the endorphins from pledging her vows to the love of her life are enough to stop her.
“Happy people just don’t kill people.” Right? At least, that’s what Elle Woods said.
Noah
My wife—I still can’t believe she agreed to marry me—is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen as she walks down Brooke and Chase’s wedding aisle to take her place on the stage across from me.
She surveys those around her, undoubtedly uncomfortable that all the attention is on her, and I do my best to follow her gaze so I might have an idea what she’s thinking about.
She searches the crowd for the boys first, finding them in the front row with her mom, Sue, before moving on to a proud and eager Chase Dawson, super groom, and then her eyes come to me, which results in the kind of smile that gets me out of bed in the morning.
I don’t let go of our eye contact until I absolutely have to, holding her stare through the end of her journey, her stepping up onto the stage, and Chase and Brooke’s daughter Emmy’s wagon processional down the aisle, and then finally give up her eyes when the wedding march starts.
Brooke stands proudly in the center of her dad, Hank, and a distinguished gentleman version of her superhero service dog Benji. There’s a smile, I swear, on all three of their faces as the crescendo of piano music starts and they make the slow walk toward us.
My good girl Dolly shuffles at my feet at the sight of her boyfriend, but everyone else’s eyes find Brooke and hold.
There’s something captivating about brides in general, but Brooke, today, is in a whole other league. She looks gorgeous and happy and relaxed and so incredibly eager to be next to Chase Dawson, it’s not even funny.
A couple of times during the march, I actually wonder if she’s going to kick up into a run.
Chase’s mom sniffles a soft cry, and his dad wraps an arm around her shoulders. They’re so happy, they’re sad. It’s one of the most amazing circles of emotion.
Still, seeing them and the Bakers together helps me believe in the longevity of love.
My parents didn’t have it, but Sammy and I will. And so will Brooke and Chase.
When it’s right, it’s obvious—even if it takes some of us a while to figure it out. I smile at Sammy, and she must feel my eyes on her because her gaze jerks from Brooke to me, and she smiles back.
Brooke stops at the end of the aisle, and Hank offers her hand to Chase, who takes it eagerly.
“Who gives this woman today?” the officiant asks.
“Her mother and I do,” Hank replies, a slight break in his normally macho voice.
Chase and Brooke join hands, their expressions absolutely giddy, and a hush falls over the rest of us as the officiant starts the ceremony.
“Welcome, everyone. Please be seated.”
The crowd follows the simple instruction, and I glance to my own beautiful bride. She’s tearing a little, looking on at her baby sister and her soon-to-be husband, but when she looks up at me, I wink.
Her cheeks flush and her heart thrums—I can see the change in the pulse in her neck. Today and every day, we excite each other, and that hasn’t changed a bit since the day I met her.
I may not have made my move fast enough, but once I did, I knew without a shadow of a doubt, there was no going back.