Chapter Thirty-Six
PRESLEY
Growing up, I was never one of those girls who dreamed about her wedding. I didn’t dress up my Barbies in glittery gowns or write my name next to my latest crush in a diary that I hid under my bed.
I didn’t even have a diary—or Barbies, actually.
It’s not that I didn’t want to get married. I just couldn’t picture being a bride. There was just so much tulle and glitter…and white. I couldn’t imagine myself being the center of such a spectacle.
Getting married in Vegas would have actually been a perfect solution…if I’d been sober. If I’m being honest, I was a little nervous at first about the idea of having a second wedding. But with my mother in charge, I should have known I had nothing to worry about.
She’s kept the wedding small and intimate, just like we wanted. Everything from the flowers to the cake is simple and understated, and there isn’t a speck of tulle or glitter in sight.
Hollis and I decided to do the traditional thing and spend last night apart. It felt kind of silly, since this is really more of a vow renewal than an actual wedding, but he wanted to.
He wants to do all the wedding things.
It’s kind of adorable, actually.
Sitting at the desk in my old bedroom, I put the finishing touches on my makeup. I had a stylist come in and help with my hair, but I like doing my own makeup.
Plus, it gives me something to do. My sister was here earlier and hung out with me while the stylist did my hair. She even brought me lunch and a glass of wine from the kitchen.
But eventually, she had to go help with the setup in the tent, and I was left wondering if this is why brides have bridesmaids? To keep them occupied leading up to the ceremony?
Because the hours just seem to drag.
The door creaks open, and I turn to see my mom enter.
She’s changed since the last time I saw her.
She’s now wearing a gorgeous blue floral wrap dress and espadrilles.
She stops the moment she sees me, placing a palm over her head.
“Oh, Presley,” she says, her eyes already wet with tears. “You look so beautiful.”
I stand and do a turn. “Do you like my hair?”
I had the stylist create beachy waves, pinning pieces back with baby roses. She nods, dabbing at her eyes. “It’s perfect. And you were right about the dress. It’s stunning.”
My mom was a bit surprised, shall we say, when I told her I bought my wedding dress online.
I think she had hoped for that mother-daughter moment where I’d find the dress and we’d both cry happy tears.
I didn’t exactly mean to take that away from her, but the second I saw this beachy beauty online, I knew my search was over.
The mermaid style enhances my slim frame, creating the illusion of an hourglass shape, and the plunging neckline is both sexy and sophisticated. The delicate modern ivory lace screams beach wedding, and the small train gives me just enough bride vibes without making me feel like a pageant princess.
“Is it almost time?” I ask, walking over to the window in my room that overlooks the beach.
I peek through the blinds where the tent has been set up for the reception.
Beyond, toward the water, a cluster of chairs has been arranged, and guests have begun to gather and take their seats.
The ceremony itself is small, reserved for close family and friends.
The reception, however, will be slightly larger, with some extended family and my parents’ friends attending.
“Almost,” my mom replies. “But I was sent to give you this.” She hands me a small box and a card.
I look down and immediately recognize Hollis’s slanted handwriting. He told me no gifts. I look up at her with an incredulous expression. “He literally said no gifts!”
“Don’t shoot the messenger,” she says, patting my arm. “But if you want to open it before we head down, you’d better do it now.”
“Yeah,” I answer as I take a seat on the corner of my bed, being mindful of my train. “Okay.”
I slide my index finger under the sealed flap and tear open the envelope. Inside, there’s no card—just a plain piece of paper folded in half.
Pres,
I know I said no gifts, but that’s only because I don’t need any. You already gave me the greatest gift by marrying me.
Plus, I am the king of grand gestures. How could I not get you something? Don’t worry—it’s not a car.
I laugh out loud, trying hard not to mess up my makeup.
I remember you once saying that you love moonstones. Did you know they symbolize new beginnings, protection, and love?
I smile to myself. Yes, I did know that. They also represent femininity and good fortune. It’s why I like them so much. Well, that and they’re pretty.
I don’t know if I believe in stones having special powers, but I like the idea that when you wear these, you know I gave you something that symbolizes not only our wedding day—a new beginning—but also the love and protection I give with it.
See you soon,
Hollis
I exhale deeply and set the note on the bed. I haven’t even walked down the aisle yet, and he’s already trying to ruin my mascara with his sweet words.
I lift the lid of the box and gasp. I knew there would be moonstones, and from the wording, I gathered they were earrings, but I was unprepared for how stunning they would be.
“That man,” I whisper under my breath. The moonstones, set in white gold, are teardrop-shaped. Their milky white color catches the light and shimmers with hues of blue, purple, and green. They’re simple and elegant, just like my dress. I turn to my mom. “Can you help me put them on?”
“Absolutely.” She takes the box and pulls them out one at a time. While she helps hold back my hair, I place them in my ears. When I’m done, I take a minute to look at myself in the mirror.
My mom stands behind me, tearing up once again. This woman is always crying. She gives me a gentle squeeze and asks, “Ready to get married?”
“Yeah.” I smile.
“This time, maybe try to remember it?”
I choke out a laugh. “I’ll do my best, Mom.”
HOLLIS
I can’t breathe.
That is how I feel the moment our eyes meet. The moment I see her in that dress.
Like the oxygen has been ripped from my very lungs.
She looks so fucking pretty. There are flowers in her hair and sand between her toes.
I want to race down that aisle, meet her halfway, and scoop her up in my arms, but I force myself to stay put. I’ve been waiting all day. I can survive thirty more seconds.
It feels like a damn eternity, though.
Did it feel like this the first time? Like my heart’s about to beat out of my damn chest from the all-encompassing awe that this woman has chosen me.
The tequila haze I was in after the bachelor party gave me some of the memories back from that night, but the actual wedding? Still fuzzy.
Maybe someday we’ll remember it.
But at least I know I’ll never forget this.
She reaches the end of the aisle and kisses her father on the cheek.
God, Lance. I’ve been so focused on Pres that I barely even noticed he was there.
He’s looking sharp in a slim black suit and a crisp white button-down—no tie.
He whispers something in Presley’s ear, and she nods before stepping forward.
She looks up at me, and I take her hand.
Fucking butterflies, I swear.
“Most people try to get married once. And only once,” Hendrix begins, pausing for effect. “But apparently, my sister and Hollis like to do things the rock and roll way—go big, go to Vegas, and then…not remember any of it.”
The small crowd chuckles. Yeah, everyone knows we accidentally got married now. Apparently, none of the women at Presley’s bachelorette party can keep a secret from their significant others.
I doubt any of them are ever gonna let us live it down either.
“But in all seriousness, we are all here today to celebrate a love that’s been twelve years in the making. And I think we can all safely say, we’re so glad you found your way back to each other.”
A few whoops and cheers fill the air. The moonstones hanging from Presley’s ears catch the light, and I smile. They look just as beautiful as I knew they would be.
“Now, this is usually the part of the ceremony where the officiant might talk about love being patient and kind, but we know from their first wedding that neither of these two is patient.” He smirks. “So we’ll just skip ahead and focus on what really matters—the vows. Pres, you want to go first?
“Shit, yes. Do you think I want to follow him?” she says, making everyone else and me laugh.
Then she squeezes my hands and looks up at me with those sapphire blue eyes.
“Everyone knows that I love the beach. They probably think it’s because I grew up here, which is partly true.
As a kid, I liked coming down here to build sandcastles and dip my toes in the sand.
It was, after all, the coolest backyard a little girl could have.
But I didn’t really fall in love with the beach until the summer before my sophomore year, when a boy knocked on my bedroom door and asked if I wanted to go for a walk. ”
My eyes start to sting. I’m going to fucking cry in front of everyone, aren’t I?
Her eyes lock with mine. “I thought I fell in love with you in the weeks and months since we were married, but I realized I’ve been falling for you for years. Since those quiet moments when we walked on this very beach.”
I let out a deep breath. She does the same.
“Hollis, I don’t know where life will lead us. I don’t know what obstacles are ahead. But I do know I’ll be by your side, walking under the moonlight, and finding our way back home, again and again.”
“Well…” Hendrix clears his throat, his voice a bit hoarse. “Not sure what you were worried about, sis.” Then he turns to me. “Good luck following that.”
“I—” My voice cracks as I blink back tears. “Fuck.” Shaking my head, I scrub a hand down my face as a few quiet chuckles echo over the sound of the breaking waves. “I did not think I was going to be this emotional.”
“I did,” Pres and Hendrix say at the same time.
“I had a whole speech prepared. I was going to talk about the first time I saw you at school and those walks on the beach. I was going to tell you how happy you make me, and how I’m going to spend the rest of my life trying to do the same for you.
” A tear trickles down her cheek. I’m pretty sure a few fall down mine too.
“But now all I can think of is getting to the part where I get to pull you into my arms and kiss you senseless.” Someone wolf whistles in the crowd.
“You are my home, Pres. The only one I’ve ever had, and I will love you until my last dying breath. ”
Her eyes glisten as she mouths the words, “I love you, too.”
“Well, I guess that’s my cue to move on to the rings portion of the ceremony, huh?
” He looks at us expectantly. We look back, waiting.
Just when I begin to second-guess our choice of officiant, his brows go up, and pats his suit jacket.
“Oh, sorry! Forgot.” He reaches in and pulls out two familiar gold bands, handing one to each of us.
My left hand has felt empty ever since I gave Hen my ring this morning.
As if she knows what I’m thinking, Pres smiles and holds out my wedding ring.
I give her my hand. “I promise to love you, to cherish you, and to always be by your side wherever life may take us.” She slides the cool band back onto my finger—right where it’s supposed to be.
I hold out her ring, and she offers her hand. With a smirk, I say, “I promise you forever, and this time, I’ll remember every second of it.”
The crowd laughs as I take her hand again. We don’t turn to Hendrix. We don’t break eye contact. We just wait until he chuckles and says, “Well, I guess I can now say by the internet powers vested in me by the golden state of California, I can now pronounce you husband and wife…again!”
She grabs the lapel of my tan suit and pulls me toward her. Nothing about our kiss is chaste or brief. I wrap my arms around her waist and lift her off the ground as people clap and cheer.
I’ve never been happier.