Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 74730 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 374(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74730 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 374(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
“You two are just the loveliest couple,” an elderly woman says as she braces herself on my arm. I have no idea who she is, but the light of familiarity fills Campbell’s eyes as they make small talk.
Behind the elderly woman is a middle-aged couple.
“Aunt Beth, Uncle Bryan,” Campbell says, leaning in to give them hugs. “So glad you could make it.”
“Wouldn’t miss our favorite niece’s big day for the world,” the man says.
“You two sure do make a beautiful couple,” the woman adds, flashing a mile-wide beam. If I squint hard enough, she looks like a younger version of Blythe. If I had to guess, they’re sisters. “Such a beautiful ceremony, too.”
“Thank you,” I say, winking. “I planned it myself.”
“Don’t let Blythe hear you say that,” the woman chuckles before they move on.
It isn’t until another couple comes up to us that I realize we’ve formed an unofficial receiving line. Ten more minutes of painful small talk go by before the wedding planner notices, intervenes, and ushers us to the head table. I’ve barely sat down before she places a microphone in my hand and tells me to welcome everyone.
My face hurts from smiling and I loathe being put on the spot, but I do what I have to do.
“Hi, everyone,” I say, rising. A hush falls over the room as all eyes turn our way. “Campbell and I just wanted to thank you all so much for joining in our special day. As Father Mark said earlier, love is not just a fleeting choice, but a powerful choice.” I swallow the irony of my words. “Campbell and I have known one another pretty much our entire lives. This may sound cliché, but I knew from the first time I met her that she was going to be my wife someday. Those of you who have the pleasure of knowing Campbell already know that she’s special. She’s optimistic. Easygoing. Quirky—in a good way, of course. She’s kind and generous and thoughtful. She’s never met a stranger. Those of you who are only meeting her for the first time tonight, let me tell you, the beauty you see on the outside doesn’t hold a flame to the beauty she possesses on the inside. It’s an honor to be standing here beside this incredible woman her as her husband and life partner. Thank you all, again, for celebrating with us tonight.”
The massive crowd applauds, followed by the raucous tinkle of silverware against stemware as they prompt us to kiss.
Campbell stands, her ocean blues searching mine as if to silently ask how much of that speech was genuine.
Leaning close, I cup her face and seal my lips hard against hers—a punishing sort of kiss.
She never should have married me.
Earlier today, Oliver attempted to give me a pep talk, saying I had to pretend to be happy for one night and one night only, that we had the rest of our lives to live miserably ever after. He was trying to lighten the mood, of course, but it only reinforced the reality of the situation.
As soon as we sit down, Oliver takes the mic, delivering a best man speech that might as well be a roast of me. One-liner after one-liner garners bursts of laughter and giant smiles. I chuckle at a few of his jokes as well, almost forgetting the reality of the situation.
Across the way, I spot my father at his table, seated next to an empty chair where my mother should be sitting. Once again, I distract myself by taking in my bride and slipping back into my mask.
After we buried Mom last month, my father pulled me aside and said, “Life is hard, Slade. As long as you have someone nice to spend it with, that’s all that matters in the end. You can have all the money in the world, but if you don’t have someone to share it with, someone who truly loves you for you, you’re the poorest man who ever lived.”
Oliver wraps up his speech before handing the mic to Stassi.
“Hi, everyone,” she says. “I’m Stassi, the Maid of Honor, and Campbell’s best friend since grade school. When she first told me she was marrying Slade …”
Stassi delivers a speech more heartfelt than comedic, garnering more happy tears than laughter as she rattles off all of the reasons she knew Campbell had met The One. Just as I was pretending to be happy for my mother’s sake, Campbell was doing the same thing in her own way. I can’t imagine it was easy for her.
Once her short, sweet diatribe is finished, a line of servers in black and white emerge from behind swinging doors, platters full of food. As we eat our first meal as husband and wife, our guests clang on their glasses no less than eight times, wanting us to demonstrate our love with yet another kiss.