CHAPTER 48 collins
collins
The sun is setting behind us on the lake, just like we planned. Its beautiful amber glow reflects off the still water and dances across her face, making her look even more breathtaking than she already is.
When it’s time to kiss my girl, I do it like no one else is looking. It’s as though the world has narrowed down to just her and me.
Hand in hand, we walk back through our closest family and friends, and my heart has never felt so full…so certain. The moment our feet hit the patio, I turn and scoop her up into my arms, heading straight for the door and up the stairs.
“Collins!” she squeals, laughter bubbling out of her. “What are you doing?”
Halfway up, I glance back. My brothers, Lou, Bea, and Billy are all making their way back down the aisle, and not a single person looks confused by our disappearance.
Good. That’s all I need.
“If you think I’m waiting another second to feel what it’s like to be inside my wife,” I say, just above a whisper against her ear, “you’re sadly mistaken.”
She throws her head back, laughing as we reach the bedroom. I push the door open—then stop short.
There’s stuff everywhere. Clothes, flowers, makeup, girl shit…everywhere. It looks like a bridal magazine exploded in here.
“What the hell did you guys do?” I ask.
She starts to answer, but I cut her off, crossing the room and sweeping everything off the bed in one motion.
“Doesn’t matter,” I say, laying her down gently. “We’ve got more important things to take care of.”
She pushes herself up slightly. “Help me unbutton the back. I need to get out of this dress.”
“Can’t you keep it on?” I tease, a grin tugging at my mouth. “It’s kind of part of the whole bride fantasy.”
“No.” She laughs softly. “I’ll put it back on. Right now, it comes off. I’m not ruining it.”
She reaches behind herself, struggling a little, so I step in. Carefully, I undo each tiny button, taking my time as the lace loosens beneath my fingers. I peel the fabric away from her, and drape it over the chair beside the bed.
When I turn back, it hits me all at once…
“My god, John…you’re unreal.”
She smirks, cheeks flushing as she leans back on her hands and scoots up the mattress.
“I compromised on the dress,” I say softly. “But everything else stays on, got it?”
She nods, biting her bottom lip, and I swear I’ve never wanted anything more or been so hard in my life.
Lying there in nothing but a pair of white lace underwear, a garter, and nude pumps, she pulls the veil from her hair, the bow still perfectly in place. The sight is enough to drive me completely insane.
I shake my head, half in disbelief, half in awe. I’m the luckiest man alive.
“Collins,” she says, laughing softly. “Stop staring like you haven’t seen me before and take your pants off.”
Now I’m the one laughing, the sound breaking free as I make quick work of my button and zipper. “Yes, ma’am.”
I toss everything aside with her dress and climb onto the bed, hovering over her. I take my time, letting my hands and lips wander, memorizing every inch of her like it’s the first time all over again.
And when I finally reach her lips. I kiss her slowly, deeply, like I have all the time in the world.
Because she’s my everything.
And somehow…even more.
With all the thoughts that have been racing through my mind, I don’t expect the sudden shift. The way everything inside me softens the moment we come together. But that’s exactly what happens. As I move closer, her lace gently pushed aside, even kissing her feels different now…deeper.
When I ease into her, it’s not just physical. Everything I feel for this woman comes rushing in all at once. It hits me so hard, warmth gathers in my eyes from somewhere deep inside, and I can’t hold it back.
A single tear slips free, falling against her skin.
She looks up at me with those blue eyes, the same eyes I fell in love with that summer. She reaches up, her fingers brushing along my cheek, tenderly.
“I love you so much, Collins…my husband.”
The words settle into me, growing roots.
I bend down, pressing my lips to hers, holding her there as I move with slow, deliberate care. Like I’m memorizing her, like I’m afraid to ever forget this moment.
“You’re my whole damn world, Johnnie,” I murmur against her mouth. “I’ll love you until forever. My soul will always remember yours.”
Through every lifetime.
Through heaven and earth.
It’s us.
Together.
Always.
The soft, steady chords of “Collide” by Howie Day drift through the speakers, wrapping around us, slipping into the night air like something sacred. The sound settles over the dance floor, over the water, over us.
I hold her close; too close, maybe. Like, if I loosen my grip even an inch, she might slip away. I force myself to lean back just enough to look at her, to really see her even though every part of me wants to keep her tucked safely against my chest forever.
But I don’t have to hold on that tight.
Because she’s mine.
And I’m hers.
Always.
Behind her, the lake has gone dark, the last light of day long gone. Now it reflects only the moon and the stars, shimmering like the sky itself fell into the water. Heat lamps flicker softly, and strands of glowing lights stretch above us. Just like they did the night I asked her to marry me.
I glance over her shoulder. Campbell and Bea sway together, completely lost in each other, their smiles smitten. Crandall and Lou move the same way, the world reduced down to just the two of them.
And then there’s Billy.
His tux is halfway undone, shirt untucked, hair a complete mess as he tears across the edge of the dance floor, Bolt chasing after him.
A laugh almost breaks free from my chest, but it catches somewhere inside, caught up in everything I’m feeling at once.
I don’t know what I did to deserve this life.
But damn…I’m so fucking grateful it’s mine.
“She would have loved this, you know.”
My gaze drifts past her, landing on the trailer behind us. I don’t have to say anything more. She understands, she always does.
“She would’ve been sidling up to the DJ,” she says softly, a smile tugging at her lips. “Requesting Willie Nelson, drinking a Budweiser, dancing with a cigarette in the air.”
A quiet laugh escapes us both, but it’s laced with something more, something tender and aching.
Grief doesn’t disappear. It just learns how to coexist with the happiness.
We’ll miss her forever.
But she’s here—in every memory, every story, every piece of this night.
And from now until we see her again…
We’ll keep living.
Keep loving.
Keep making memories…building a life she would be proud of.