Devotion - Chapter 8 #2
"No. Not tonight. Penny, I still feel horrible about acting like such a terrible friend the past few weeks.
I'm going to put this on hold until after I'm done with my maid of honor duties.
I can do that," she said more to herself than to me.
She seemed to take a deep breath. "You do owe me one week of sitting in pajamas and eating ice cream after your honeymoon, though. "
"Deal."
Melissa laughed.
"Thank you, Melissa," I said and gave her a hug.
She didn't say anything, she just hugged me back.
Someone whistling made us pull apart.
"Alright, everyone in the bridal party, bride's father, groom's mother, and the pastor, please get in the back of the aisle for a super quick meeting," our wedding planner announced. "I was promised dinner tonight and I'm hungry."
I laughed. The reason we had picked Justin to be our wedding planner was because we thought he was hilarious. He also always seemed so calm, which I certainly appreciated. Melissa and I walked over toward the rest of the bridal party.
"I heard you got cold feet," Matt said to me.
"No joking around about that before the wedding," Justin said and gave him a dirty look.
Mason elbowed Matt in the ribs. "That's not...I didn't tell him that's what happened," Mason said defensively.
"It's fine. Hey, Matt," I said and gave him a hug.
"I'm glad you decided to show," he said and gave me a kiss on the cheek.
"Okay, everyone, pay attention," Justin said. "Leave the hugging for later. By the way, Penny and James, you both look amazing as always."
"Thanks, Justin." That was the other thing. He always gave me compliments. Just being around him inflated my self confidence.
"God, now I'm chit chatting. We'll never eat at this rate. Focus, people," he said and clapped his hands together. "What order did you want everyone standing beside you in? That dreaded question...who's the favorite?"
"Melissa is the maid of honor and Rob is my best man," James said, gesturing toward Melissa and Rob.
"They'll come in right before you two then. No flower girls or ring bearers, right?"
"Nope," James said.
"Good, just double checking. Kids ruin weddings. Absolutely ruin."
I laughed.
"No, seriously. They steal all the attention when they shit their pants on the aisle or throw petals in someone's face. Yes, I've seen both those happen. Who will be walking down the aisle before Melissa and Rob?"
"Well, I don't know, we never really discussed it. I think it would be nice if Bee and Mason walked down the aisle together," I said.
Bee smiled. "Really, whatever way you pair us is fine," she said.
"No, that sounds good," James said and winked at Mason.
Mason pressed his lips together and shook his head.
I laughed and Mason's frown turned into a smile. He shook his head again, as if he knew James had told me he was going to pop the question soon.
"Okay, Bee and Mason and then you two," he said and pointed dismissively at Jen and Matt.
"Thanks. I feel so special," Matt said.
"You know you wanted to walk with me," Jen said.
"No bickering. Hey!" Justin said and clapped again. "James, did you want to start everything off by walking down with your mom?" He pointed at Mrs. Caldwell.
"No," James said quickly. "I'll walk alone."
Mason patted his back. No one pointed out the fact that James' parents actually weren't there.
"Whatever suits you," Justin said. "The less family drama the better if you ask me. You first then, handsome," he said to our pastor. "I almost forgot about you. And go slowly, it's not a race." He pointed to the aisle.
Pastor John laughed.
"And now the man of the hour," Justin said and grabbed James' arm. "Just wait until he's halfway down the aisle and it's your turn to shine. Wait for it. Wait for it."
"See you up there," James said. He ran his fingers gently from my elbow to my wrist. The gesture gave me shivers. Or maybe it was the fact that this was all actually going to be happening in a day.
"Now!" Justin said, like it was the most magical moment of his own life. "What's your name again?" Justin said as he spun around and pointed at Matt.
"Matt."
"Okay, Matt, hold your arm in front of yourself like you're holding a baby," Justin said and showed him what he meant.
Matt made a funny face.
"And Jen, just grab his muscle and hold on tight."
"What muscle?" she said with a laugh.
"Don't pretend you haven't noticed that I'm ripped now," Matt said.
"Mhm. Whatever you say," Jen said and grabbed his arm.
"What did I just say about bickering! Now hold this rose. No, lower. Just pretend it's a whole beautiful bouquet like you'll have tomorrow. Yes, there, perfect! Now put on a smile and follow that handsome man down the aisle."
"Ew, Matt?"
"No, James of course! The man of the hour. Have you never seen him or something?"
"He's my brother."
"Your loss, honey. Go, now," Justin said and snapped his fingers.
"Hey, Pen."
I turned around to see my dad standing behind me. "Hi, Dad." I gave him a hug, tuning out my friends squabbling and Justin giving orders to everyone.
"Nervous about tomorrow?" he asked.
"More excited than nervous."
"That's my girl."
I laughed and unwrapped my arms from around him. "What about you?" I asked. "Are you worried that you're going to trip?"
"Absolutely," he said. "And if I do, I'm pulling you down with me."
"Fair enough."
"Pen, I can't believe..."
"Your turn, future Mrs. Hunter," Justin said, cutting my dad off. "Okay, slip your hand around his arm and hold this flower. You want it low so that everyone can see your gorgeous dress." He grabbed my hand and lowered it.
"Now, Dad, it's your job to make sure this goes smoothly. You've been taking care of her ever since she was a little girl. Don't ruin the last time you're the only man in her life. Got it, Dad?"
My Dad looked a little flustered that Justin kept calling him Dad.
"Okay, now walk slowly, and gracefully. Try to float. Head up, shoulders back. Work it!"
I laughed, which made my dad laugh too.
"Laugh all you want now, tomorrow I know you'll be crying. God, I'd be crying if I was marrying a hunk of meat like that."
And those comments were the reason why James hadn't wanted to hire him. But, I liked Justin too much to care if he was a little inappropriate sometimes. He was just excitable.
"And go. Now." He motioned for us to start walking.
"He's quite the character," my dad whispered to me as soon as we were out of earshot.
"No talking down the aisle!" Justin yelled after us.
"That he is."
"Great, great," Justin said from right behind us, making me jump. "You guys look perfect. Now stop here. Give your daughter a kiss on the cheek."
"Good luck, Pen." He reached up and squeezed my cheek like he used to do when I was little.
"I said a kiss, not a weird squeeze," Justin said. "Do it for the pictures."
My dad smiled down at me. "You look beautiful, Pen. And I'm so glad you found someone to make you happy." He kissed my cheek.
My eyes were getting watery already.
"Now, Dad, sit down next to Mom. And Penny, gracefully float up to your soon-to-be husband."
James' eyes were glued on me as I walked toward him.
When he opened his mouth, I thought he was going to say something romantic, but he said, "I kind of wish this had been the real thing. The video footage would have been hilarious."
Pastor John laughed.
It reminded me that the vows I had been working on for months weren't going to be heard by just James. They were going to be heard by the pastor and all our friends and family. I was suddenly extremely nervous.
"Pretend you like each other!" Justin shouted and pushed his hands closer together to show us we were standing too far apart.
James laughed and grabbed my waist, pulling me against his chest. "How about this?" he said more toward me than to Justin.
"Okay, pretend you like each other a little less than that."
James kissed the tip of my nose and let go of my waist. I took a step back. James held out his hands for me and I grabbed them. All I could focus on were his eyes. The same eyes that had captivated me when I was his student. I never thought we'd wind up here. But I was so thankful that we had.
"Bridesmaids, each take half a step to your left," Justin said. "No not that much! God, I'll just make some kind of markings so you know where to stand tomorrow. Forget about it. Pastor, get your thing on."
Pastor John laughed. "Right, well, I'm going to make a few jokes, which I'll keep to myself for now.
I want to get you laughing on your wedding day.
I'll do the normal spiel about love and what this commitment means.
Normally right now, I would just have you practice reciting the vows after me, but you've decided to read your own vows, correct? "
James squeezed my hands. "Correct."
"Well, then after you exchange vows, I will simply say, do you James take Penny to be your lawfully wedded wife?
James ran his thumbs against the backs of my hands. "I do."
"And Penny, I'd say, do you Penny take James to be your lawfully wedded husband? And you'd answer 'I do.' But don't say it now, it's only the rehearsal."
I laughed. "I do," I mouthed silently to James.
He raised his left eyebrow.
"And then I'd say, by the power vested in me, by the state of New York, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride. And you'd..."
James pulled me against him and pressed his lips against mine. His tongue darted across my lips and I opened my mouth, inviting him in. His fingers tangled in my hair as mine pressed against his neck, deepening a kiss that was already too sexual for public.
"Ow ow!" Melissa yelled.
"Get a room," Rob said.
I laughed and pressed on James' chest.
"God, I can't wait for tomorrow," he said.
I kept my hand on his neck and smiled up at him.
"Less tongue tomorrow, yes?" Justin said from the seat he had taken in the second row. "Now after that, you'd walk hand in hand back down the aisle with huge wedding bliss smiles. I love newlyweds."
James gave me a playful smile.
I wanted to tell him to follow Justin's instructions. But that smile of his was my favorite. It meant he was so caught up in this moment, that nothing else in the world mattered. Just him and me. "Whatever you're thinking of doing, do it. I dare you."
"Dare accepted." He leaned down and lifted me over his shoulder.
I squealed as he put his hand on my ass. I wasn't sure if he just wanted to touch me or if he didn't want me to moon all of Central Park. I laughed the whole way down the aisle.
"Piggyback time, Melissa!" Rob said from behind us.
I heard Melissa laugh and I didn't doubt at all that Rob was giving her a piggyback ride down the aisle.
"No!" Justin shouted. "No, no, no! The exit is supposed to be elegant and...ugh! I give up. Rehearsal done."
James set me back down on my feet. "I'm pretty sure we just got hitched."
"I didn't say 'I do'."
"I saw you say it, baby." He tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear.
"No paper, no proof."
"You got me there. Tomorrow I'll get the signed evidence."
"I can't wait."