Total pages in book: 15
Estimated words: 14086 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 70(@200wpm)___ 56(@250wpm)___ 47(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 14086 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 70(@200wpm)___ 56(@250wpm)___ 47(@300wpm)
I held up a hand and shook my head. “Don’t do it, Dad. Do not launch into that Prince song. I know you want to.”
“Fine, but I rented a karaoke machine for the reception. Trust and believe I’ll be doing that entire album,” he said, which made everyone chuckle.
He got serious after that and led us through a nice, simple ceremony. Ryan and I promised to love each other forever, and then my dad announced, “I now pronounce you married. Welcome to the family, Ryan! Oh, and kiss your husband. I almost forgot that part.”
Ryan took both my hands in his and whispered, “I love you so much, baby.”
“I love you, too. God, I love you.” My heart felt so full as my sweet, beautiful, amazing husband kissed me.
After everyone applauded and cheered, I put my arm around Ryan’s shoulders and took the iPad from Dare. Then I held it up and said, “We’ll see you next week on our honeymoon, Mom. I love you, and we’re both looking forward to celebrating with you!”
The last thing I heard before I ended the video call was my grandmother yelling in Korean, “What did he say?”
Ryan turned to Benji and asked, “Did you take everyone’s phone and explain to them how the escape room works?”
“We’re still doing that? I thought it was just an excuse to get us here,” Dare said.
“Not we. You.” I smiled at my friends, and then Ryan, Benji and I headed for the door. “We tested out this new mystery last week, and Ryan solved it in thirty-three minutes. We don’t expect you to beat his time, but we hope you beat the two-hour time limit. Then you can join us downstairs in the parlor for cake, cocktails, and karaoke. And yes, we will be getting started without you.”
“Don’t worry, we fixed the locks,” Benji called, as we left the room and he shut the door behind us.
I heard Skye yell, “You heard him, people, let’s do this thing! There are a lot of us, so I know we can beat Ryan’s time.”
I chuckled and took my husband’s hand, and he shook his head and said, “No chance.”
It ended up taking them one hour and fifty-six minutes to escape. We hadn’t expected them to take so long, but it was wonderful to have that one-on-one time with my new husband. While we waited for our friends, we cuddled on the couch downstairs, sipped champagne, and ate chocolate-covered strawberries. “Good wedding,” he said with a smile, as he took off his heels.
“It was perfection.” I kissed him and rested my forehead against his. “I’m really looking forward to our honeymoon, too. Not the part where we’re inundated with my Korean relatives, but the part where it’s just you and me, naked in a suite at the Busan Hilton. Thanks for humoring me, by the way. I know that’s not a dream honeymoon destination.”
“Sure it is. It’s you and me, together, and that makes it a dream honeymoon. Plus, it’s someplace that matters to you, so it matters to me, too.”
“You really are amazing. How did I get so lucky?”
“I’m the lucky one. I was in such a bad place when I met you a year ago, and I had no idea how I’d ever turn my life around. But you changed absolutely everything by loving me, and providing stability, and by believing in me. I don’t have the words to tell you how grateful I am, and how much I absolutely adore you.”
“You did the same for me, and I’m so glad I get to spend my life with you.”
Ryan looked so content as he wrapped his arms around me and whispered, “Always and forever, baby.”
Later on, in private, friends would ask me if I was nervous during the wedding ceremony. They’d say, “It must have been tough to put yourself out there like that, after what happened the first time.”
I shook my head and told them the truth. “I wasn’t nervous at all, because this time, I knew I was marrying the love of my life.”
I was sure of Ryan, and he was sure of me, too. It was that simple.
The End