Chapter 25
HADLEY
Okay, I’m doing this again.
I stare at myself in the mirror. I’m in a white dress, this time for a real-ish wedding.
My wedding.
The white dress is fitted and just long enough.
The lace and silk are subtle, simple yet elegant.
My hair is down except for one side pulled up slightly, with a peach rose in my hair, and I skipped the veil.
I’m confident that the extravagant wedding and reception downstairs at the Dizzy Duck Inn will make up for my lack of a princess gown.
Any minute now, I will walk down the aisle to marry my husband again, with memories to replay in my head for the future ahead.
I needed a moment to myself before my dad comes to collect me and bring me down the aisle. My mom agreed a few moments of reflection would be a nice idea. Who am I kidding? She needed to go shed a tear and yell at the caterer to ensure the cupcake tower is taller.
A smile already hits me from everyone being so happy.
The gentle knock on my door puzzles me, as I thought for sure I had a few more minutes before showtime.
“Hadley, let me in.” Connor speaks low, as if he doesn’t want to be discovered.
“Connor?” I sound surprised.
I open the door, and he slides right through the crack, only to close the door and gape his mouth open at the sight of me. I steal his breath as he admires me, and I mirror his sentiment, as he always looks suave in a suit, like the man he was always going to be.
“Beautiful,” he rasps before he strides a few steps in my direction.
I already feel the butterflies, every cliché for a wedding spinning through my body. “Here we are, Mr. Spears.”
“Again… Don’t worry, everything is going smoothly.
Isla is your maid of honor extraordinaire, with 90% of the single hockey players here eyeing her like crazy.
My mom quickly checked on Ace.” Because we adopted him when the shelter phoned to say that he still didn’t have a family.
The little dude loves his life with us, plus he’s good company when Connor will be away more and I need to cuddle in bed.
“Our brothers have managed to be respectable ushers. Everything is in check.”
“Then what brings you here?” I sound very curious.
He begins to chuckle as his lips stay closed, then he waves his phone up in his hand. “I kind of have a pre-ceremony present.” Connor indicates with his head that I should follow him to sit on the end of the bed.
“Really? You want us to go at it right now? It took a solid two hours to look like this,” I feign disbelief.
He gives me an odd glance. “That’s not it. This is something…” Connor swipes his screen and shows me an email. “Significant.”
I read the email from Briggs.
Con,
Only you could get me to give you two wedding presents for two different weddings in the span of a few months. However, this is perhaps going down as legendary. We’re all idiots. You know those Elvis chapels? They save videos for six months…
…Yeah, I watched. Isla too.
Briggs
My eyes snap to Connor who has a grin. “Our… first wedding?” I’m unsure how I feel about this.
He nods. “Yep. Do you really want to watch it? It isn’t long.”
“Uhm… is it a good idea? Did you watch it?”
“No.”
I roll my lips in and debate for a millisecond. “Who the hell are we kidding? Press that play button.”
Connor laughs and does what I say. I squeeze his arm and keep him close as we sit tight to get a full view.
Then my brows furrow when he presses play.
The screen shows me that Connor is handing over a paper and his credit card to the chapel clerk, while I am on his back piggyback style.
“Ah yes, I think we had to get a license at the county office which is conveniently open late, and there are about ten chapels within a three-block radius.”
“So, we just walked across the street?” I wonder.
We both angle our heads as we try to figure out how we found ourselves in such a predicament. “Sounds about right.”
On the screen, he sets me down when the lady behind the desk indicates for us to walk down the aisle. My head now falls to my hands when the video shows me jumping onto Connor’s front, straddling his waist, with my arms linked around his neck. Then he walks us down the aisle in that very position.
“Wow, you were eager.” He smirks at me. “Oh look, we’re getting to the good part. Elvis is making an appearance.”
We both watch the video as we arrive at the end of the of the aisle, with a man in a costume ready to seal the deal. Connor lowers me, and we look at one another.
Suddenly sound begins on the video.
“Should we be questioning this more?” I ask Connor, clearly under the influence of tequila and holding fake flowers.
“Were you when we were making out with my hand up your dress in the elevator at the hotel after we fought then gave in?” he challenges, and it doesn’t sound like he’s sober, not by a long shot.
I shrug my shoulder. “Meh, you’re right.” I face Elvis. “We can do this. He has already told me he doesn’t hate me… I think. Wait, did I admit that I want him too?”
Connor scoffs a laugh. “Damn straight you did, you pushed me against a wall to kiss me again.”
I smile and point a finger at Connor. “I totally did. After you told me you didn’t hate me at all, and I should be yours.”
“You should be, Sprinkles.” Connor nearly sounds offended.
I coo a sound. “You called me Sprinkles.”
We share another affectionate look before we grab one another’s faces with our hands to kiss hard and fast, not taking notice of the man trying to marry us.
Elvis observes us blankly then gets into character again, complete with a chuckle and voice that clearly isn’t his own. “You kids ready to shake it? We’ll make it quick so you can take this to the marriage bed.”
Connor and I pull away from one another in a state of buzz and realization.
“Be mine forever,” Connor states.
“Do we get to have a dog? I can wear your jersey too, right” I ask far too seriously.
Connor wraps an arm around my middle to keep us close. “Anything you want. I’ll get a diamond ring after in the hotel store. We should totally get another bottle of tequila to celebrate that we’re doing what we were always meant to.”
“Yesss, tequila. Naked too. Naked tequila for our wedding night,” I agree with excitement.
“You two seem like cool cats. But I gotta keep this cruising, we have another couple waiting in some medieval costumes, and we try to keep this short.” Elvis is doing his best to move us along.
“Fast version,” Connor snaps at Elvis then returns his gaze to me.
Elvis chuckles again. “Take her to be your bride?”
“Yes.” Connor’s answer is quick and sharp.
Elvis directs his attention to me. “Take him to be your husband?”
“Yes,” I reply with vigor.
“I pronounce you husband and wife. Love her tender and love lives forever.” He leans to the side to grab rose petals before he throws them at us. “Crystal at the front desk will take your picture. Have a blast.”
Then we kiss and nearly skip down the aisle.
I lean my head against Connor’s as he turns his phone off and the room is silent.
“That was…” he begins.
My eyes widen and my lips curl in as I’m struggling to come up with words. “Kind of a trainwreck.”
He kisses the top of my head as he nudges my arm. “We’re not watching that ever again, are we?” Connor seems to be on my wavelength.
“I don’t think so, unless we’re playing naked tequila.”
We both let a laugh escape.
“You were totally into it, though,” he points out.
I gasp at his accusation. “You were the one leading us. It was completely you pushing that wedding,” I lie and try to control my grin.
“Who the fuck cares how it got us there. We’re married and where we’re meant to be.”
Our eyes lock in a sentimental gaze. “So we are.”
“We get a redo today.”
I gently shake my head. “Thank the heavens for that. I have a feeling this wedding is the one that I’ll always want to remember.”
“No Elvis in sight,” he promises.
I huff a sound. “But we’re getting Briggs instead,” I deadpan, because we don’t actually need someone official since that deed is done, but it’s just as scary as a fake Elvis but equally perfect too.
Standing up off the bed, I smooth my dress, and Connor joins me as he adjusts his tie.
“My wife,” he whispers.
“My husband,” I reply.
We both lean in for one last soft kiss on the lips before Connor walks to the door, and just as he opens it, my father is standing there with his fist up, about to knock.
My dad swims his eyes between us. “Really, you two? Couldn’t just give your parents one traditional element for this wedding?” He is half serious but maybe kind of annoyed.
Connor and I both shrug as my father brushes past Connor then turns to lead my husband out. “The groom isn’t supposed to see the bride before the wedding. Bye now.”
I try to suppress my laugh and so does Connor.
We only follow our own path and rules.
Always have.