Chapter 35
Chapter Thirty-Five
Tania
The smell of fresh flowers fills the room, mingling with the faint hum of chatter and laughter. My bridesmaids bustle around, inspecting dresses, finalizing details, and making sure everything is perfect for tomorrow. The wedding. My wedding.
It still feels surreal.
I stand near the window, looking out at the garden where the ceremony will take place. The white chairs, the flower arrangements, the arch draped in fabric—it’s all there, waiting. A wave of nervousness washes over me, tightening my chest.
“Tania?” Jenna’s voice pulls me back to the present. “Are you okay?”
I turn, forcing a smile. “Yeah, just... taking it all in.”
She gives me a knowing look. “You don’t have to pretend with me. What’s going on?”
“I’m just... overwhelmed,” I admit, my fingers fidgeting with the edge of my dress. “It’s a lot, you know? Everything has to be perfect.”
“It already is,” Jenna says firmly. “And you’re going to look amazing walking down that aisle.”
Her reassurance helps, but the knot in my chest doesn’t loosen entirely. She squeezes my shoulder before heading back to join the others, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
Later that evening, when the house is quiet and the others have gone to bed, I sit in the study, staring at the journal I’ve been keeping since Levi and I reconnected. It’s filled with notes, thoughts, and moments I didn’t want to forget. Flipping through the pages, I can’t help but feel the weight of what tomorrow means.
A soft knock at the door startles me, and Levi steps in, his tie loosened and his hair slightly tousled. He looks tired but happy, and my heart swells at the sight of him.
“Couldn’t sleep?” he asks, his voice low as he approaches.
“Something like that,” I reply, closing the journal and setting it aside.
He sits beside me, his hand resting lightly on mine. “You’re nervous.”
It’s not a question. He knows me too well to pretend otherwise.
“A little,” I admit, letting out a shaky laugh. “Okay, maybe more than a little.”
He squeezes my hand gently, his thumb brushing over my knuckles. “Talk to me.”
I hesitate, then let out a sigh. “I just... I want everything to be perfect. For us. For you. I keep thinking about all the things that could go wrong, and it’s driving me crazy.”
“Tania,” he says softly, his voice steady. “Nothing about tomorrow needs to be perfect. The only thing that matters is that we’re there, together.”
His words make my chest ache, and I glance down, blinking back tears. “I’m scared, Levi. Not about marrying you, but about everything that comes after. What if we mess this up? What if I mess this up?”
“You won’t,” he says firmly, lifting my chin so I’m looking at him. His green eyes are warm, filled with a confidence that steadies me. “We won’t. Because we’ve already been through the worst, and we’re still here. We’re stronger now, Tania. Together.”
His words are like a balm to my nerves, and I let out a slow breath, the tension in my shoulders easing. “How do you always know exactly what to say?”
“I don’t,” he admits with a soft smile. “But I mean every word.”
I laugh lightly, leaning into his touch. “Thank you.”
He wraps an arm around me, pulling me close. “Always.”
We sit in silence for a while, his presence grounding me in a way nothing else can. He presses a kiss to the top of my head, his hand tracing slow circles on my back.
“Do you remember what you told me the night I proposed again?” he asks, his voice low.
I smile, closing my eyes. “I said yes.”
“And it’s still the best word I’ve ever heard,” he murmurs.
His tenderness makes my heart swell, and I realize that the nerves I’ve been carrying all day aren’t about the wedding itself. They’re about the future. About the love we’re building and the promises we’re making.
“Levi,” I say, pulling back slightly to look at him. “I love you.”
His smile softens, and he brushes a strand of hair from my face. “I love you too. And tomorrow, when I see you walking down that aisle, I’m going to feel like the luckiest man alive.”
The sincerity in his voice makes my chest tighten with emotion, and I press a kiss to his lips, letting the warmth of his love steady me.
As I lie in bed later, staring at the ceiling, the nerves are still there, but they’re quieter now, tempered by the memory of Levi’s touch, his words, and his unwavering support. I know tomorrow will be a whirlwind of emotions, but for the first time, I feel ready.
Because no matter what happens, I’ll have him by my side.