Chapter 8 #2
Smiley wasn’t sure if he should be offended or not, eventually deciding that since Casper wasn’t saying anything he didn’t already know, he couldn’t exactly get pissed at him. “Just don’t get any ideas,” he warned the hotshot helicopter pilot.
Casper grinned. “Never. I’ve got my own woman. She’s bummed she couldn’t come out here with me, but maybe next time.”
Smiley hadn’t heard that Casper was dating anyone, but he was happy for him. Which was a weird emotion, since he’d never really thought much about the relationships the men around him were in. They were just something the men did…dated women, broke up, found someone else.
But after being surrounded by men in serious, healthy relationships, he had a different take on girlfriends and wives now.
“If I can have your attention!” Jessyka said loudly from where she was standing on the bar. “We’re going to start, if you can please form an aisle leading from the front door to the pool table landing, it would be appreciated.”
Looking around, Smiley searched for Bree. He was relieved to see her making her way toward him with a smile on her face.
“See you around,” Casper told him, but Smiley barely heard him. All his attention was focused on Bree.
She looked happy. A little tipsy already. Her reddish-brown hair wasn’t quite as perfectly made up as it had been when they’d arrived. As if she’d run her hand through it a few times. Her smile was crooked. And her hazel eyes bore into his as she approached.
“Isn’t this awesome?” she asked, as she snuggled into him the second she got close enough. Her arm was wrapped around his back and she gave him her weight.
A feeling of…rightness settled in Smiley’s chest. He held her against him and said, “Yeah.”
The crowd shifted until there was a space wide enough for two people to walk side-by-side toward the makeshift ceremony area Jessyka had created, where one of the pool tables usually sat. There was a wooden arch decorated with flowers, which was where the couples would say their vows.
Neither couple had any bridesmaids or groomsmen, insisting they wanted to keep things simple. But Smiley knew it was also because neither wanted anyone to feel left out, and since they had so many friends, it would be impossible to pick anyway.
Everyone turned as the front doors opened, and Remi and Kevlar stepped into the bar.
They were arm in arm, and smiling so wide it was almost blinding.
Remi had on a cream dress with tiny sleeves, and Kevlar was wearing his dress white uniform with all his medals.
They paused a moment, and then Queen’s “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” blared from the speakers in the bar, and they started walking toward the arch.
Everyone clapped and whistled at the nontraditional song. It was a great choice for the two of them. It wasn’t a terribly long distance from the door to the arch, but it took quite a while anyway, because Remi kept stopping to hug her friends and family lining the walkway.
When they finally reached the platform with the arch, they turned back toward the front door.
It opened again, and this time Josie and Blink walked in.
Josie looked so tiny next to Blink, and she positively glowed as she looked up at her husband-to-be.
Blink was also wearing his dress whites, but instead of white or cream, Josie chose a pink dress that reached her ankles and made it seem as if she were floating rather than walking, as she and Blink made their way toward the platform.
“I barely know them, and I love this so much,” Bree murmured from next to him.
They chose the chorus to Pink’s song “Trustfall” for their walk down the aisle together. Which Smiley had to admit fit the pair perfectly.
They joined Remi and Kevlar at the altar, and once they were in place, Remi and Josie reached out and held hands, as their soon-to-be husbands wrapped their arms around their fiancées’ waists.
To Smiley’s surprise, Wolf stepped in front of them with an open folder. It shouldn’t have surprised him that the couples had chosen one of their mentors to officiate, but it somehow still did. Wolf wasn’t in his uniform, instead wearing a suit and tie. He looked distinguished and professional.
“I’d like to welcome all of Remi, Kevlar, Josie, and Blink’s friends and family to this wonderful occasion.
It’s a chance for us to get together to celebrate love, friendship, strength, and resilience.
Because without those things, these couples might not be joining their lives together with all of us as witnesses.
Adversity is usually thought of as a negative thing.
Something to get through. To survive. But I think most of us here would agree that sometimes it can be seen as a set of circumstances that allow our greatest strengths to shine.
“The four people in front of me met under the worst of circumstances. Many would say it was the worst days of their lives. But together, they persevered. I don’t care what anyone says, life is full of bumps in the road, and hills and valleys.
Things that can break a person if they aren’t careful.
But with the right partner at your side, you can weather those ups and downs.
You can overcome whatever life throws at you.
I think these four amazing human beings have proven that to us all.
“Together, Remi and Kevlar, and Josie and Blink, are stronger than they are individually. That’s what today is all about. Joining two couples who were meant to be together.
“But look around you. The people here in this room are also our strength. The ones who prop us up when we need it the most. The ones who are there when we need them. When we need a timeout. There’s nothing more important than having a support system.
“Now, I could stand here and hog the spotlight all night, but no one’s here to see me, or hear me blab on and on.”
Everyone laughed.
“Kevlar…the floor is yours,” Wolf said, nodding at his friend.
Remi let go of Josie’s hand and turned to face her almost-husband.
“Remi, from the first day I met you, there was something about you that called to me. It wasn’t just the way you dealt with the shit…
er…sorry…the stuff that was happening. It was a connection I’d never felt before.
To be honest, it was confusing, but I wasn’t going to let you go without figuring out what was between us.
Wolf said that might be the worst day of our lives, but I think it was one of my best days.
Who forgets the day they meet the other half of their soul?
The person who makes you want to get out of bed each day and makes you a better human being because they’re at your side?
“I promise to always trust and value your opinions. To travel beside you in whatever adventures await us. To always fight for us, because that’s what I feel as if I was born to do.
Be by your side. I’ll protect and honor you.
Laugh with you. Sometimes at you, because let’s face it… you’re hilarious.”
Everyone around them chuckled, and Kevlar smiled at his bride.
“Most of all, I promise to love you the way you deserve to be loved. To brag about you to strangers in the grocery store, to keep you forever in my heart and mind whenever we’re separated. And in good times and bad, I’ll be there. For you and with you. Forever.”
“Crap, I have to go after that?” Remi complained, as she wiped away a tear.
Once again, the room broke out into laughter.
Remi took a deep breath before speaking. “Can I just say ditto and be done?”
“Yes.”
But Remi shook her head. “No, I can’t. Okay, here goes.
Vincent, I had no idea how much my life would change when I went to Hawaii on my own.
When I went outside my comfort zone and decided to go on that snorkeling trip by myself.
The truth is, I was terrified when I realized what was happening to us, but with you there, I found that it was easier to stay calm.
You do that for me. You ground me. Make me feel as if I can do anything.
You laugh at my Pecky the Traveling Taco comics, you support me, but most importantly, you love me.
For who I am. And that’s worth more than anything in the world.
“I love you. I’ll always love you. I’ll support and protect you if need be.
And…I’ll be there for your friends too…” She turned her head and looked at Blink.
“I’ve learned the hard way that just because someone says they’re your friend, doesn’t mean they have your best interests at heart.
But the true friends, the ones who will go to hell and back for you… they’re gold.”
Blink put his hand over his heart and nodded once at Remi.
By now, most of the women in the room were crying, and Smiley had to admit he was feeling a little emotional himself. Remi and Blink had a special bond, one born out of tragedy.
“Right, so…” Remi said, looking back up at Kevlar. “Vincent. I choose you. Today, tomorrow, and the rest of our days.”
There was an awkward silence at the end of her declaration.
“Are you done?” Wolf asked quietly.
“That wasn’t enough?” Remi asked.
Chuckles rang out around the room.
“It was perfect,” Kevlar answered for her.
Wolf turned to Josie and Blink. “Your turn.”
“I’m going first!” she blurted.
Blink’s lips curled up in a huge grin.
“I love you, Nate. Exactly how you are. You’re my everything.
My light in an otherwise dark world. You swooped in and gave me back my humanity.
My life. You’re a man of few words, but each and every one is carefully chosen and has meaning.
You make me laugh, you’ve taught me what love is.
You’ve provided a safe place for me, unlike anything I’ve ever known.
I can be myself with you, and that’s more than I’ve had with anyone else.
Ever. I’ve found my place. My home. You make me whole. I love you.”