Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 129084 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 645(@200wpm)___ 516(@250wpm)___ 430(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129084 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 645(@200wpm)___ 516(@250wpm)___ 430(@300wpm)
My bride steps out of the house, wrapping her arm around my dad’s extended elbow. Breathe, Westcott. I slowly inhale, drinking in the vision of my soon-to-be wife as she walks toward me.
My heart pounds in my chest, but when I get choked up, I realize I’m staring through a watery haze. I swipe away the fiendish devils invading my eyes, wanting to stare at her instead.
She’s spectacular. Two braids drape like a halo around the crown of her head while the rest of her hair flows down in soft curls, the ends getting caught in the wind. She wears her hair more golden than brown these days, but either way, she’s fucking gorgeous. Her makeup draws my eyes to hers—the green and gold are radiant in the diffused light of the setting sun. The softest pink hue of the dress flattered against her skin, the flowing material in contrast to the fitted top that hugs her amazing tits. I feel like I should apologize for having that thought during such a ceremonial event, but I’m okay with noticing such things. Damn, she looks good. She’s making it hard to keep my hands off her when she finally reaches me.
So I don’t.
Taking her hands in mine, I bring the left to my mouth, kiss it, and then do it to her other hand. I didn’t expect this moment to be so emotional. We live together. We’ve already had a child. You wouldn’t think the traditional act of us coming together would be so poignant, but I feel everything about this moment with her—the breeze, the warmer air, and the salt that lingers in the humidity surrounding us.
I feel everything because this woman came into my life and taught me.
“You look beautiful.” It’s easy to get caught up in her and our life. I never knew I needed it until she showed me what I’d been missing. Our life—it’s my favorite place to be with my favorite humans ever.
“You’re so handsome, Noah.” Glancing at Max sitting in the front row with Cassandra . . . and her plus-one, Halden. Liv smiles at him. “You’re my handsome little guy.”
Max runs to throw his arms around her legs. Bending, she kisses his head and whispers something that has him smiling while looking up at her. He turns to me and holds out a hand to shake. I shake it but then lift him into my arms and hug the little silly. When I set him down, he runs to Cassandra and climbs on her lap.
The justice of the peace clears his throat. We both glance at him and then back at each other with smiles. Liv and I didn’t want stuffy or too formal. My mom and Trudy wanted to handle the food, my dad took care of stocking the bar inside, Marina took care of the flowers, and Tuesday and Loch handled the setup. Harbor was out of town, so Lark and Mavie assisted the moms in the kitchen.
This wedding was a true family affair. But even treated more casually, I suppose we should get this moving. The sooner we’re married, the sooner we get to honeymoon. And I plan to honeymoon the hell out of her.
The justice asks, “Are we ready for the vows?”
Staring into my eyes, Liv replies, “I’m so ready to marry you.”
We recite the lines after him and stand there, the humor gone as the love swallows us completely. Her lithe fingers are bare until I slide the wedding band and then an impressive diamond ring—if I do say so myself—onto her hand. Since I didn’t have a ring a few days ago when I asked her, I made up for it today.
But when she slips a platinum band around my finger, I feel the weight of the metal and the commitment we’re making. I didn’t just choose her. She chose me—then and now—always willing to go the distance for each other.
As tears build in her eyes, I caress her cheek, moving closer, unable to keep my hands from comforting her. The tip of her nose turns pink as her emotions well up inside. I kiss it and then her cheek, the corner of her mouth, and her lips.
Her mouth opens, and as our tongues reunite, the warmth of her hand slides around to the back of my neck, holding me to her. She doesn’t have to hold on so tight because I’m not going anywhere.
“I pronounce you husband and wife, equal partners on the deeds of life, and all in. I guess you can kiss—Pfft. You’re already kissing. Carry on.”
The applause brings us back to the wedding, our eyes opening, and a new fire burning inside—one lit by our passion and devotion to each other. She says, “I love you so much, babe.”
“I love you more than you’ll know.”