CHAPTER 26
Around late afternoon, we met up with the boys, had an incredible lunch at the pier, and started in three separate SUVs toward the mysterious wedding destination.
Mina assured us that the wedding dress would be delivered by eight p.m. tonight and I honestly wasn’t that nervous about it. I would marry this man in a rucksack if I had to. I told the girls they had free rein over their bridesmaid dresses and they all settled for a lacy salmon pink number all in different styles.
“Oh,” I whispered as we neared an old familiar road.
“Yes.” Jay smiled, kissing the back of my hand, while his other hand draped casually on the steering wheel.
Strawberry gave a loud bark from the back seat as if she understood where we were going.
“It never struck my mind,” I mumbled.
The cabin in the woods.
I hadn’t been here in ages, and I never even considered getting married here. But it was the perfect location. I couldn’t have imagined a better place.
The small off-road gate was already open, with a plain black car parked by the clearing .
“Security,” Jay said, noticing my frown while he drove through the woods until we reached the massive open glade.
My eyes widened at the sight in front of me. The entire acreage up front was filled with a dozen glamping tents with a massive parking space by the side which Jay informed were for the guests.
The scent of pine and wood hit me as soon as Jay helped me out of the car, and I took in a long inhale of the fresh air.
Strawberry immediately ran off when we let her out, only to sprint to the edge of the woods, bark loudly, and run back to us again—clearly spooked.
“Come on.” He held out his hand, and I took it as he led me toward the back of the cabin. “I’ll show you everything in case you want to change something.”
The expansive land behind the main cabin was transformed with a huge open tent in the center, which Jay pointed at as the reception area.
“How did you get all of this done?” I asked, appreciating the flower ceiling that looked more like a midsummer garden, dotted with pink peonies and glittering lights with dark wooden tables and a dance floor matching it.
“I know you’ll say yes, so I had this planned.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “That’s a little too smug. What if I had said no?”
He gave me a lopsided grin. “You wouldn’t have. Not after you complained that you felt horrible when the doctors didn’t let you see me because you weren’t my wife.”
My feet faltered as I took in what he said. “Wait.” I gaped, wide-eyed. “You were awake the whole time I said that. You were pretending to be in a coma!?” I screamed so loud that some of the passing staff gave me a weird look.
“I wasn’t. I swear.” He backed up, his eyes shining. “I just woke up a few minutes before and you were having your own monologue, and I didn’t want to disturb you.”
“You ass.” I advanced toward him, but he stepped farther back. “You come back here.” I ran after him, fuming as the cold forest wind slapped my face.
“Reading all those cards. So fucking adorable.” He grinned, getting father away from me with Strawberry running faster than that, thinking we were playing fetch.
Damn, his long legs.
Knowing I was never going to catch up to him, I faked a cramp and planted myself on the ground, holding my knee while I pretended to cry.
“Fuck.” I heard him curse and within seconds, I was cradled in his arms. “Fuck, sorry sweetheart.” His face pinched with guilt. “Does it hurt?” He swiped a soft thumb along my cheek while his other hand rubbed my knee.
“No,” I shrieked which startled him and I took the chance and tackled him. He landed on his back while I held his arms over his head, straddling him as I grinned proudly.
“You little menace.” He admonished, shaking his head but the guilt in his eyes was replaced by mirth. “What are you going to do?”
I leaned forward, playfully biting his chin. “I think I’m going to…”
“Going to?” He swallowed, raising a brow.
“Tickle you. ”
My fingers started to dig the side of his ribs but were only met with hard muscles of steel.
In an instant, he rolled us over, and I gasped. “Did you really think you got me?” He taunted, and it was my time to squirm because he tickled me.
“Jay, stop, please,” I sputtered through the stitch in my ribs, fighting hard to breathe. I twisted side to side while he held me down, grinning as he continued his torment.
I giggled, wiggling under him.
“Are you sure you both are getting married tomorrow? With the way I see it, you look like a bunch of seven-year-olds,” Mikey drawled, looming over us with a reprimanding look.
Jay abruptly stopped, and I took that as a chance to escape him and hide behind Mikey.
“Save me,” I panted, clutching his arm.
“Of course, E.” He slung his arm over me, pulling me closer. “I’ll save you from this caveman.”
“Fucker.” Jay threw him a middle finger and jumped to his feet. “Let go of my girl.” He slid to my other side and stole me away from Mikey in one effortless pull. “Let’s go see the wedding place,” he said, walking forward.
Mikey laughed. “Possessive much?” he commented, keeping up with us.
“Shut up,” Jay mumbled under his breath while we circled behind the reception tent, and my heart warmed at the sight in front of me.
“It’s so beautiful,” I rasped, breathless.
The wedding area was so simple, with wooden chairs decorated with satin bows and peonies lined on both sides of the aisle. A simple arch sat at the end with the same flowers as the reception ceiling.
But it was the backdrop that took my breath away, the deep blue of the lake gleamed under the setting sun which spiked the sky in doses of deep orange, reflecting it in the ripples of waves in the water. Beyond that were the deep green woods and rolling hills farther back.
It was mesmerizingly beautiful.
“Do you want to change anything?” Jay asked, his brows knotting.
“Probably the groom,” Mikey joked from beside me, which gained him a death glare from Jay.
“Nothing at all,” I whispered after a moment before locking my eyes with his blues. “I want to change nothing at all.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be nervous on your wedding day?” I questioned, glancing at Katy, who was watching me with a smile on my face. “Because I don’t feel nervous at all, and that’s making me nervous.”
She laughed, which made her eyes glow, and her cheeks pinkened. Pregnancy really suited her; she was rocking her empire-waist dress with soft beachy waves and was bare-faced with just her signature red lip. “I think it’s perfectly fine not to be nervous, E. You’re marrying the man you’ve wanted to marry for ten years.” Her eyes met mine over the mirror. “And you look beautiful. Emmie is going to love this dress.”
I nodded, smiling as I adjusted my veil over my shoulders .
I should say my makeup artist did an incredible job. My skin looked so natural, smooth, and radiant, and I had just a flush of pink blush, a tiny wing eyeliner, and warm pink matte lips. I looked like I wasn’t wearing any makeup at all which was exactly what I liked. My hair was swept in beautiful Hollywood-style curls with a simple pearl brooch holding up my veil.
“Okay, girls,” Gabe commanded, bursting through the doors. “We go now, and E, you’re exactly ten minutes from now.” He had been running nonstop since morning, making sure everything was perfect. Turned out Jay asked his help with the wedding and that little traitor had been hiding for weeks.
I took a deep breath—I was getting married in ten freaking minutes.
Lily, looking so pretty in her floor-length A-line dress leaned in to kiss my cheek wishing me luck and Sierra followed doing the same. She sported an incredible twenties-style mini tunic dress that brought out her beautiful figure.
“See you at the aisle.”
They all bid me goodbye, leaving me alone. I had been holed up in the main cabin since last night. The entire living room was turned into a makeshift dressing room for me and the girls.
I couldn’t really see much through the windows, so I had no idea what was happening out there. But I heard from the girls the place was filled.
I glanced at my phone. Eight minutes to go.
Just then, the doors burst open, and Mikey walked in. “Got it,” he said, waving his hand. “I switched out the box; Gabe will hand it to you at the ceremony. ”
“Thank you.” I smiled.
I didn’t want Jay to buy his wedding band, so I asked Mikey for help. He got me the exact simple gold band I asked for and even had it engraved for me within a day.
“You look beautiful.” His eyes softened as he took me in. “Emmie is going to lose his mind when he sees you.”
“I hope so.”
“I got something for you.” His throat worked a swallow as he approached me. His playful demeanor shifted to a more serious one as he dangled something in his hand. “It’s an ankle ribbon, something blue, something new, and something old, I guess.”
My breath hitched; I hadn’t even thought about that. “Thank you,” I whispered, as emotions flooded my heart.
He gave me a warm smile that made his green eyes gleam. “The ribbon is blue of course and it’s new and this little charm.” He pointed at a little butterfly pinned at the edge. “It’s old. I’ve had it for ages.”
My heart warmed. He made me feel like I wasn’t missing out on having my family here today. “It’s beautiful, Mikey. It means a lot more than you know,” I choked, fighting back tears.
“Of course, E. And remember, with or without Emmie, you’ll always be my sister.” He smiled brightly.
“Now, you’re going to make me cry.” I sniffled, tilting my chin to the ceiling as I fanned my stinging eyes.
With Michael, I never once felt like I had to fight for his love or affection; he gave it to me despite the odds. Like family, it didn’t matter how much you fought or disagreed. At the end of the day, they were your family, and he was mine. My brother.
He laughed, asking, “May I?”
I nodded as he crouched to the floor, gently lifted the skirt of my dress, and tied the ribbon around my left ankle, cursing under his breath as he tried to get the bow right.
“There.” He huffed out a breath. “Sorry, that’s the best these fingers can do when it comes to bows.” He wiggled them in the air.
“It’s perfect.” I gave him a warm smile as he leaned in to place a kiss on my cheek.
He glanced at his watch. “I gotta go. You’re two minutes out. I’ll see you at the altar, E,” he said, stepping back.
“You forgot something,” I called out when he was halfway through the door.
He spun around, frowning. “What?”
“Something borrowed.”
“Ah, shit.” He fumbled through his pockets. “I must have something.”
“How about…” I swallowed as his head snapped to me in confusion. “I borrow your arm instead? Will you walk me down the aisle and give me away, Michael?” My voice cracked.
The creases in his face softened, and the greens in his eyes gleamed with unshed tears. “Of course. It would be my greatest honor, Evy.”
He approached me, tugging me into a hug.
I nodded, trying hard not to let the tears roll down my face.
“Ready?” He handed me a bouquet of simple pink peonies held together in a single satin bow .
“As I ever will be.” I smiled brightly as I looped my arm with his while he carefully led me out.
The soft, pleasant breeze swept through my skin, and the smell of forest and peonies laced the air as he led me farther.
The organ started playing as soon as we rounded the corner. The crowd stood, and they all turned and glanced back, smiling toward me.
But I only had eyes for the man standing at the end of the aisle.
Jay inhaled sharply, his eyes widening as they took me in—raw, unfiltered emotion crossed through them. He looked so gorgeous in a triple black tux that looked like it was made for him, with his raven hair swept back neatly on top of his head.
My heart pounded loudly in my rib cage with every step I took toward him.
His eyes never strayed away from me, and neither did mine.
Nothing else mattered.
Here I was, walking toward the love of my life.
The moment I had been waiting for all my life.
My Jay; mine forever.