Chapter Forty-Eight
Jack
“Uurrghhhh, it”s wrong again,” I growl, yanking my bow tie off and throwing it to the ground in frustration.
Fuck, I’m sweating.
“It was fine the first sixteen times you did it. Stop stressing. It”s your wedding day. Have a whiskey and calm the fuck down,” Harry says, scooping up the bow tie and turning me to face him as he starts to tie it for me.
“Why am I so nervous? This is ridiculous,” I huff, running a frustrated hand through my hair.
“It is ridiculous. Pull yourself together. What do you think’s gonna happen? She walks in the church, realize she could do better and walk back out?” Brad says casually from the chair in the corner of our hotel room.
I glare over at him. “Don’t even fucking joke.”
“Ignore Mr. doomsday over there. Ria isn’t going to walk out. She loves you, and you love her, so quit your stressing, and breathe because I don’t fancy giving you the kiss of life today.”
I wrinkle my nose.
“Now that’s perfect, don’t fucking touch it,” he says, tapping my face and walking away.
I reach for my tux jacket and pin the white rose to it. I smile because in the next hour, Ria’s going to become my wife and I will officially become a stepdad. I’ve been as good as over the past two years but today makes it official and knowing that not only Ria will have my last name, but the girls’ last name will be double-barreled with the blessing of Alex’s parents floods me with emotion.
It’s been a hard year, particularly for Anne and Steve, but they are good people. It wasn”t their fault how their son turned out and they have welcomed me into their lives with open arms and they will always have my unwavering respect and appreciation for the way they are for the girls and for Ria and I’m happy they were able to make today. Being with Ria has shown me that family doesn’t mean blood. It’s people who show up for one another and love one another despite everything and anything and that”s what we are, one big blended, chaotic, messy, perfectly unperfect family.
“Right, fuckers, have these,” Brads says pouring four shots of bourbon into glasses.
“Brad, I can”t,” I say, pleading. “And why four?”
“Unless you have become a complete pussy, one shot isn’t gonna make you drunk, plus it”s tradition, remember?” I give him a knowing nod. Before any major event, tour, wedding or funeral, we have always done a toast and today it’ll be no different.
The door opens and both Brad and Harry don”t seem shocked to see Noah, standing in the doorway, dressed in the same uniform we used to wear and an overwhelming surge of emotion courses through me. He made it back in time, for her, for us.
“I’ve got to be quick; I need to get to Ria, but I wanted to see you all before the main event,” he says, walking towards us.
“Right on time, my brother, come join us,” Harry says, waving him over. The guys hug and greet each other. It’s been a long time since the four of us stood in the same room. The last time was at the funeral of our friend, Scotty..
I hug and pat him on the back, and we give a knowing nod. No words needed. We”ve spoken many times before today and the night I called him telling him I wanted to marry his sister was the most nerve-wracking day of my life. But it didn”t feel right to do it without his blessing.
Brad hands us all a shot and we raise the in the in the air as Brad says, “To Jack and Ria. May your life be full of good health, wealth and love. To the friends we wish were here but aren”t. May they watch over us and protect us and may we always look out for each other no matter what paths life takes us on.”
Harry continues with our tradition, adding something we would say before we left for patrol.
“No bullet, no shell, no demon in hell shall break this bond called brothers.”
We raise our glasses a little higher and clink them together, saying together, “Semper fi.”
I stand at the altar facing the man who will be marrying us, anxiously anticipating the music. The only thing Ria asked for was a quartet at the ceremony and I’ll be damned if she didn”t get it.
The violinist begins to play “Until I Found You” and the guests rise. I know Lexi and Elle, along with Ali and Gabby, will be walking down first. I turn to see the girls throwing rose petals perfectly, the biggest grins on their faces. A little giggle escapes Lexi’s mouth as she throws the petals a little too high and they fall onto Elle. I let out a little chuckle. Ali and Gabby walk behind them a few steps apart, looking beautiful.
I turn back around to take a deep breath; I need a moment to just get it together before she appears. The music changes pace and gets louder and Harry leans in to whisper, “You’re gonna wanna turn around, my man.”
As my eyes land on her, the wind is knocked out of me. Ria glides down the aisle, arm linked with her brother, looking utterly breathtaking. No worry or nerves show on her face. Just pure happiness. Our eyes lock and the smile that beams across her face has me doing the same.
This incredible, strong, beautiful woman is about to become my wife, and I feel like the luckiest man alive.