Epilogue
Matt
Twenty years had led up to this moment.
Twenty fucking years.
I always knew the day would come. I’d sworn on it.
It felt like today was part of some prophecy. For years, my dreams had circled around today, and now, it was a reality.
I made sure El had everything she could’ve ever wanted for the day. We were living a fairytale today, and I’d give nothing less for the princess.
Rustic, wooden chairs lined each side of the aisle, with cherry blossom trees surrounding us. There were pink rose petals everywhere, and I stood in front of a stone gazebo, which looked like a temple.
Every chair was filled with our friends and family, with our closest loved ones standing on either side of me. I shifted around in my tux nervously, waiting for my favorite person to appear.
I couldn’t wait to see her. I’d missed her since yesterday.
Sun beating down, I stood with my hands behind my back, gulping as the Wedding March sounded. Everyone stood.
The first person I saw was Mac, a wide smile plastered onto his face, and when he turned, I finally saw her.
My breath hitched.
El’s gown, as white as snow, fanned out around her, a long train trailing behind. The straps hung off her shoulders, veil resting perfectly over her curls.
She was so fucking beautiful; I wanted to run to her but forced myself to stay still.
A real-life princess. And she was walking to me.
Butterflies were going crazy in my stomach, and when our gaze met, I smiled, feeling water filling the brims of my eyes.
I got to marry my soulmate today.
The closer she got, the more my heart leapt, and the less patience I had to have her hands in mine.
I’d been expecting a handshake, but when they reached me, Mac surprised me with a hug that I happily accepted before he placed El’s fragile hand in mine. He gave a nod, and I gave one back, a few tears dropping down my cheeks.
I blacked out during the ceremony. Everything was so surreal.
From our vows to our first kiss as a married couple, I was in pure shock, borderline dizzy from the high.
Dinner was amazing. We got to hear speeches from two of our favorite people, which both had embarrassing stories to tell about me.
Lo thought it would be great to share the story about the time her and El put makeup all over my face when I was thirteen and sleeping.
Cody thought it would be great to share every time he had to help yank my hands out of Pringles cans.
Nonetheless, everything was lighthearted, loving. It couldn’t have been better.
When music sounded, everyone rushed to the dance floor. We’d already had our first dance earlier before dinner, so now the reception was truly in full swing. The guys were all loosening their ties, racing each other to the open bar.
I turned to my wife. My wife.
“El,” I said.
“Yes, husband?” she smiled.
Fuck, I loved that.
I stood with a stupid grin. “Dance with me.”
“You hate dancing,” she smiled.
“Not when it’s with you.”
I led her over to the dance floor, giving a small nod to the DJ, who shot me a thumbs up.
The soothing melody of “Young and Beautiful” encompassed the venue, and everyone cleared around us to allow us space.
I’d grown a bit better at slow dancing since we started dating years ago. El always made it easy though.
My heartbeat changed tempo when she smiled at me, and for a second, I thought I may cry again.
Everything I’d ever wanted was right in front of me, smiling at me, clutching onto my hand.
“I love you,” I confessed.
Her chuckle was sweet. “I love you too.”
Giving her a light spin, I planted a strong hand on her back, carefully lowering her to the floor.
Flashbacks flooded my mind of that night at prom. I’d spent years after that trying to decipher the look that had been on her face. I never knew if she wanted me to kiss her or not. God knows I wanted to kiss her right then more than anything.
She was giving me that same look now.
Soft eyes. Glossed lips.
I looked at her ethereal face, feeling a magnitude of emotion as my eyes slid down to her lips.
And this time, I kissed her.
The End.