Total pages in book: 215
Estimated words: 199344 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 997(@200wpm)___ 797(@250wpm)___ 664(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 199344 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 997(@200wpm)___ 797(@250wpm)___ 664(@300wpm)
Mom, Hazel, and Hope make their way through the small rows between the tulips, meeting with Aunt Maya and the small handful of friends and family that are gathered around us, and as the music shifts to From This Moment by Shania Twain, my father offers me his arm.
We walk toward the beautiful arch, and with every step I take, my gaze remains locked on Noah’s. My father holds me up, his strong hands ready to take me right to the end as he tells me how much he loves me.
Each step brings me closer, and as my heart races so much faster, I pick up my pace, unable to wait a second longer. My feet stumble to a stop in front of Noah, and my father leans in to wrap his arms around me. “Always my little girl.”
My eyes sting, but before my tears can fall, Noah takes my hand and pulls me right into him. It’s just the two of us existing in this moment, and the world fades away. His fingers entwine through mine as he drops his forehead, the two of us locked in pure bliss. “You’re so beautiful,” he murmurs, his voice thick with emotion. “I love you.”
“I love you,” I whisper right back, our hearts synching and beating as one.
The celebrant steps forward, and as the music fades out, he commences the ceremony, welcoming our family and friends and giving a brief rundown of our story so far. And with every second that passes, Noah’s dark gaze remains locked on mine, both of us absolutely captivated.
I breathe him in, wanting to revel in this moment, not willing to miss a damn thing. I want to save it all to my memory, the feel of his hands in mine, the way my heart races, the heavy pulse in my ears. I want to remember the way he smells, the way his hair falls forward into his eyes and dances in the morning breeze.
I want to remember the sound of my mother’s soft cries as my father holds her at his side, the overwhelming scent the tulips create around us. I want it all. I want to drown in this moment and feel it lift me right into the sky.
When it’s time to say our vows, Noah’s hold shifts on my hand as he places a gold wedding band at the tip of my finger. “Zo,” he starts, holding my gaze as though it’s the only thing keeping him breathing. “It’s simple. I will love you. I will love you today, tomorrow, and every day until the heavens and the earth no longer exist. Whether you’re here by my side, sharing our lives together, or watching over me from above, I will love you. You’re my everything, Zoey James, and as long as my heart continues to beat, it will beat for you.”
Tears roll down my cheeks as he gently pushes the gold band into place on my finger, and when it’s my turn, I take his hand, just as he did mine, looping the gold band around the top of his ring finger. “You’re my person, Noah. I’ve walked my life with you, side by side, right from the beginning, and as a little girl, I couldn’t have imagined the type of roller coaster loving you was going to take me on,” I breathe. “You’ve consumed me, have owned me in every possible way. So for me, today isn‘t about giving myself to you because I’ve always been yours, and I will continue to be yours until the end of time. My heart has always belonged right in the palm of your hand, just as yours has belonged in mine. We’re twin flames, and while I won’t be here to give you another fifty years, to build our lives together, or to build a home filled with love and laughter, I promise you that our souls will never part. I will always be with you, always love you with everything I am, even as I watch over you from the heavens.”
Noah drops his forehead to mine as I slide the wedding band into place, then before the celebrant has a chance to tell him that he may kiss his bride, Noah lifts the veil over my head and pulls me into him, wrapping his arms around my waist as his lips come down on mine.
Our family and friends applaud as the celebrant officially announces us as husband and wife, but all that matters to me is the feeling of Noah’s warm lips moving against mine.
Husband.
Noah Ryan is my husband.
Our family rushes us, congratulating us as the celebrant tries to pull us away to sign the documents to make this official. And once all is said and done, we spend the rest of the day celebrating. Coach Sanderson and Noah’s teammates hired out a whole restaurant just for us as a wedding gift, and after a magical day filled with love, family, and undeniable happiness, Noah finally gets me in the car, and I’m more exhausted than I’ve ever been in my life.