CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
There was no destination wedding with guests arriving on private jets or an elaborate celebration at an iconic hotel like Chateau Marmont or the Four Seasons.
They didn’t rent out the Griffith Observatory or the Getty Center.
Wolf said he didn’t need fancy, and Harris was so over-the-top happy that he didn’t care that his fiancé shot down his suggestions.
He just wanted to get married. The expression “high on life” is exactly how he could describe every day since the engagement.
The ceremony was taking place on the beach outside Harris’ Malibu home.
The guest list was small and intimate, consisting of their little group of friends, Harris’ immediate family and some close relatives, and Ethan’s parents.
Naturally, Tyler was the self-appointed wedding planner and walked around with a headset and clipboard while doing double time as a groomsman.
Tight security formed a barrier behind walls of flowers to ensure privacy, but the ocean sprawled openly in front of the gazebo.
Curtains of white chiffon and bunches of white gardenias and red roses covered the canopy and billowed down all four corners of the gazebo.
A soft breeze sent the beautifully combined scents of the flowers and the ocean through the air.
The soothing sound of waves breaking on the shore reminded Harris that he was surrounded by everything he loved—the beach, his friends and family, and Wolf most of all.
The day he dreamt about was finally here.
“Did you ever think you’d end up marrying me?” Harris whispered to Wolf as they walked hand in hand down the white runner to the gazebo.
“Never.”
Harris let out a small laugh. “Thanks.”
“You know what I meant. I never knew you had feelings for me. You were one of my best friends, then I fell for you so fast it made my head spin. What about you? Did you ever think we’d get married?”
“Yeah,” Harris replied with certainty. “Once I realized you were my person, there was no way in hell I was letting you get away. I knew we’d be together, no matter what I had to do in order to make you fall in love with me. It turns out, I didn’t have to do much.”
Wolf smiled and shrugged. “What can I say? I’m easy.”
“Are you ready to get married?” Harris asked, as soon as they reached the gazebo and turned toward one another.
“Been ready.”
The ceremony contained the usual “I do’s” and the exchange of rings, but my God, was Harris’ heart pounding.
Wolf, on the other hand, was cool and composed and just gazed into Harris’ eyes the entire time.
Finally, the moment Harris had been waiting for came as the officiant proclaimed, “I now pronounce you husband and husband!”
Wolf practically attacked Harris with a kiss that was hot enough to burn the gazebo to the ground.
Everyone cheered and hollered. Even occupants of the neighboring homes were out on their decks clapping their hands and popping streamers.
“We’re married!” Harris exclaimed, raising Wolf’s hand high in the air.
“I know!”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
They headed down the white runner and back to the house, smiling like crazy as they were bombarded with tons of rose petals.
The celebration took place inside Harris’ beachfront mansion and included the traditional cake cutting and speeches, music and merriment, until the last guests finally left late into the night.
It was an amazing day, but Harris was glad it was finally over because it meant they could start their life as a married couple.
“Ready for the honeymoon?” he asked, exhausted but ready to commence the long-awaited activities ahead, as he watched Wolf stripping off what was left of his tuxedo.
“No.”
“What do you mean, no?” Harris asked, surprised at the response.
“I don’t know about you, but I need a shower. I expect your mouth and tongue to visit every inch of my body, and I want to wash off the day first.” Wolf tilted his head to the side. “Aren’t I such a considerate husband?”
“You certainly are. Can I join you?”
“You better, because my mouth and tongue are ready to reciprocate.” With that, Wolf strolled into the bathroom completely naked and turned on the shower.
Harris couldn’t get out of his tuxedo pants and shirt fast enough.
Steam was already filling the bathroom when Harris reached for the partially closed door, but he paused when he saw Wolf standing in front of the sink with something in his hands.
Then Harris smiled when he realized Wolf found the note that he left in the drawer with the toothpaste.
He didn’t think Wolf would find it until morning.
It simply said, “Good morning, my sexy husband. Happy One Day Anniversary. Love you. Harris, your crazy-stupid-in-love husband.”
Harris quietly watched from the half-closed door, unnoticed, as Wolf read the note. A smile bloomed on Wolf’s face, he kissed the note, pressed it to his heart, then folded it in half and put it back in the drawer with the toothpaste, and entered the running shower.
Harris waited a moment to gulp down the love that threatened to bring tears to his eyes, then walked into the bathroom and stepped into the shower and shut the sliding glass door.
Wolf spun around, water streaming down his naked body, and smiled.
Harris wrapped his arms around the love of his life and kissed his husband under the warm water as steam filled the air around them. It was the first day of an eternity together, and proof that dreams do come true.