Total pages in book: 195
Estimated words: 185573 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 928(@200wpm)___ 742(@250wpm)___ 619(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 185573 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 928(@200wpm)___ 742(@250wpm)___ 619(@300wpm)
“Honey, I think you could wear sweatpants down that aisle and he wouldn’t care,” Birdie replies. “He’s going to love the dress because you’re beautiful in it, but most of all, he loves you.”
“He really does,” I murmur my agreement as I wave my hands in front of my face. “Shit. I can’t cry again. I’ll mess up my makeup.”
“So, mess it up,” Birdie says. “It’s okay, I promise. All he cares about is that you’re here.”
I nod, and somehow, we get ourselves together just as Tori, Gypsy, and Zoe slip into the dressing room.
“You look so pretty!” Zoe squeals the moment she sees me.
“Thank you, sweetheart.” I bend down and give her a hug. “So do you.”
She beams up at me proudly, doing a little spin in the dress she picked out. “Madden says we’re the two most beautiful girls in the world.”
I laugh, because of course Madden would say that. She is beautiful, and I’m so glad she’s here. I’m equally nervous and eager to be a part of her life, and I just hope that someday I get the chance to tell her the same thing on her own wedding day.
“Thank you for helping me today, Zoe. We couldn’t have done all of this without you.”
She puffs out her chest, taking her role very seriously. “I’m ready to drop the flower petals.”
“You’re going to do an amazing job,” Birdie assures her.
I glance up to catch Tori offering me a shy smile.
“You really do look gorgeous, Bianca,” she says.
“Thank you.” I blush.
“Madden’s going to love it,” she tells me. “You two deserve this. I’m just so, so happy for you.”
When she tears up, Birdie puts the kibosh on it real quick.
“Oh no, not you too. We’re barely holding it together as it is.”
Tori laughs, and Birdie instructs us all to take a deep breath.
“Is it time?” I ask.
Tori nods. “Yes. I’ve come to collect you and take you to your very impatient fiancé. I don’t think he’ll be able to relax until he’s finally got his ring on your finger.”
“He’s waited long enough,” I agree. “Let’s not torture him anymore.”
The girls do a final once over, checking to make sure my dress is smooth in all the right places and making last minute adjustments to my hair. And then they escort me out to the chapel doors. I wavered back and forth on how I wanted to do this today. There were a lot of decisions to be made in a short amount of time, and so many of them felt unnecessary. I decided to do away with most of the frills. It will be a simple ceremony, with a candlelit aisle in a beautiful chapel. Birdie and Zoe are the extent of my processional. And the most important thing was that I walked down the aisle toward Madden, so he can see that I choose him. That I will always choose him. For the rest of our lives.
With that being said, it doesn’t make me any less nervous to have everyone else’s eyes on me at the same time. But I’m more comfortable knowing it’s our friends, and the only people in the world I really want here are the ones who will be here.
“You okay?” Birdie asks.
“I’m more than okay.” I release a shaky breath. “I’m ready.”
She nods, giving me one last little hug before the attendant comes to join us. Tori and Gypsy slip into the chapel, leaving the three of us behind. Then we wait until the music starts. It takes a couple of minutes, and we all settle into silence as we prepare for our prospective journeys. When the attendant gives the cue, Birdie is the first down the aisle. Zoe gives me a thumbs up before the attendant sends her on her way, and finally, it’s my turn.
I’m not sure I hear any of the music. The moment I step inside, my gaze finds Madden’s and he becomes my anchor. I can feel my heart practically beating out of my chest as his eyes flash with a possession and heat that nearly makes me melt into the floor.
Somehow, I manage to keep one foot in front of the other until I’m standing in front of him. And when he leans in to brush his lips against my ear, I feel myself relaxing. Everything else falls away as he whispers against me.
“You look beautiful, peaches.”
A flush spreads down my throat as my eyes roam over him too. He’s wearing a black waist coat, a white dress shirt, and black slacks. And he’s never looked hotter. When he sees the approval in my gaze, his lip tips up at the corner, and I could almost forget that we’re in a room full of people until the officiant clears his throat.
“Shall we begin?”
“Yes,” Madden and I both say at the same time.