Chapter Twenty-Seven
Audrey
Of all of the things to be asked about in the week leading up to my wedding, something I never imagined talking about was chargers. You might be thinking of phone chargers. Nope. My mother said we needed plate chargers. Yep. You heard that right, plate chargers. I didn’t know and didn’t care what those are... expensive nonsense, but at this point, none of it matters.
What matters is the bone-deep certainty that today is the day I’ll walk down the aisle, straight into Wolf’s arms. Today we become husband and wife. I’ve handled the dozens of emails about napkin folds, shades of pink, sizes of bread... on and on. But that’s over. I’ll never again get an email, text, or phone call about wedding planning. I vow if I’m blessed with a daughter, that I won’t put her through this torture. I’m going to suggest a simple beach wedding thousands of miles away.
The bridal suite at the Descanso Beach Club is currently buzzing with excitement. Chloe’s steaming my veil while arguing with a DJ over the phone. My mother’s in the next room requesting a backup cake in case the primary cake loses its structural integrity. I don’t care. I’m standing barefoot on the cool tile, gazing out the wide glass doors in awe at the calm ocean on a stunning summer day.
Our ceremony will take place on the grass beyond the cabana bar, where white chairs line a driftwood arch draped in flowing linen and eucalyptus with pink and blush flowers. The ocean sparkles as if diamonds have risen to the top to give me a perfect view on this glorious day. The gentle breeze blowing inside carries a mix of salt and Jasmine from the floral garlands hanging from the chairs. It’s as if Mother Nature herself has RSVP’d to my wedding, giving her blessing on this special day.
Gazing out the window, I notice it’s quieted in our suite. I sense Chloe move up beside me. “Are you nervous?” she asks, handing me a bottle of water.
I beam at her. “I feel like I should have some nerves, but all I feel is peace and joy.”
“That’s because this couldn’t possibly be more right.”
“It feels like a dream, one I pray I never wake from.”
Chloe beams at me. “You’re marrying a man who crash-landed a plane and saved your life before fighting a wildfire until he conquered it. This wedding is the least dramatic thing that’s happened in your relationship.”
I smile as she laughs. “I guess we’ve made it through a lot. At least I know we’ll never grow bored.”
“That isn’t possible,” she says. “You’ve not only made it through a lot, you’ve chosen each other every step of the way. There isn’t a better foundation than that. I’m so happy for you.”
I laugh while my eyes fill. I wasn’t expecting to be an emotional bride, but I guess some traditions are never meant to be broken. I pull Chloe close and hug her. We cry together before pulling back, both of us laughing.
“I love you enough to share you,” Chloe says.
“I felt the exact same way when you got married. Nothing will ever break our bond, but it’s pretty dang wonderful to add partners to our lives who we both love. It’s going to be amazing to see where we are in thirty years.”
A shudder runs through her. “Let’s not go there. It’s terrifying.” She frowns. “I’m not looking forward to wrinkles. Gross.”
I laugh hard at this, all tears officially gone. “I’ve always felt that way, but I’m not so scared now that I’m disgustingly in love. I look forward to the changes I’ll go through in life, and to living out my years with the man I love and my bestie living right beside me. I want children and grandchildren, and a life well lived. I never thought I’d be the woman I’ve become.”
“I guess we’ve grown up.”
We both groan. “Dang it. We were supposed to stay young forever.”
“We can stay young at heart.”
“I’ll drink to that,” she tells me. Champagne flutes appear out of nowhere, handed to us before the person disappears, and we giggle. Being catered to this extreme is both wonderful and creepy. But this will end as of tonight. Chloe holds up her glass. “Cheers.”
I clink my glass against hers. “Cheers, my beautiful friend.”
Our moment is broken as my dress is brought into the room. As much as I complained about all of the measuring and swatches, I’m not complaining about the final results. The dress is more beautiful than anything I could’ve imagined.
Our suite is full of loved ones and strangers alike as I’m dressed, my hair’s done to perfection, and my makeup is applied with expert precision. I’m grateful for Chloe because she’s my buffer between the good and the chaos. I’m oddly calm, though, not allowing any of the crazy to get to me.
Things are going wrong left and right: caterers missing an entire tableful of appetizers, the ring bearer losing one of the rings before Drake found it in the mimosa ice bucket, and Sherman giving relationship speeches to guests trying to run away, but I don’t care because I’m marrying Wolf, and it doesn’t get better than that. I’m about to become Mrs. Young. I smile, my feet anxious to get moving. It can’t come soon enough.
Wolf
Before this day, I’ve never worn a tux without a definitive plan for how soon I can take it off. But as I stand in a private lounge above the beach club, gazing at the same sea I’m sure Audrey’s looking at, I’m not thinking about how uncomfortable the bow tie is. I’m only thinking of her.
For the past twenty-four hours I haven’t been allowed to see her, which I think is a stupid tradition. So all I’ve done is revisit our whirlwind romance. I think of how she looked in the plane the first time we met, how I chased her, and how we danced beneath the stars. I think of the crash that could’ve ended in disaster, but instead brought us so much closer, about how she kissed me with fervor and made me promise to come back to her, and most importantly, I think of how beautiful she looked as she told me she’d be mine forever. Soon, but not soon enough, she’ll be walking down the aisle toward me, and nothing else in this world will matter.
Jayden walks into the room, handsome in his fitted jacket, his usual stoic face lit up with a smile, his eyes bright. This wedding is bringing a lot of joy to our family.
“You look far more composed than I was expecting,” he tells me.
“I’m simply trying to make it through these final hours we’re kept apart.”
“Are you sure she isn’t running?”
I glare at my brother. “Don’t even joke about that. I’d find her no matter how long it took.”
Nick pokes his head in next. “Your mother-in-law’s asking if you have a preferred scent for the candle ceremony.”
I look at him in confusion as I shake my head. “Do I look as if I know any scents of candles?” He laughs.
“I’m gonna say smoky,” Ace says with conviction, looking around his brother.
“Sure, whatever,” I tell them. I’m so sick of these crazy questions. I look at Jayden. “I’ll never ever plan a wedding again.”
Jayden beams at me. “Well, unless you have a daughter.” My face drains of color. There’s no doubt Audrey and I will have children. Just the thought of our future daughter dating makes me want to go to war. I don’t get to obsess on this for long because more is thrown my way.
Drake comes in with a flask. “Let’s hope you don’t cry and turn into a meme,” he says with laughter.
I shake my head. “You’re the crybaby of the family.”
“Hey, your wife’s so hot, I might shed a tear or two that I didn’t find her first.” I punch my brother hard in the arm. He doesn’t move so much as an inch.
His teasing does the trick, though, and I relax as I take a sip from the flask. I don’t guzzle because I want to be fully alert at my wedding. I don’t want a single moment of this day to be forgotten.
I look at Cooper. “Does my collar look like it’s trying too hard?”
He laughs. “I don’t think anyone’s going to be looking at you today.” He’s right. The groom is simply part of the decorations, it’s all about the bride today... as it should be.
Jayden hands over the vows I scribbled on a napkin at the Catalina Coffee and Cookie Company. I don’t want to forget a single word of praise and love for Audrey. I can speak the words from the heart, but the second my eyes are on her, I’m going to forget my own name.
“Don’t you want to try to memorize them?” Jayden asks.
“Nope. I’m sure I’ll lose some brain cells the second the ceremony begins.”
“Yep, I think he’s going to throw up and cry, maybe at the same time,” Drake says.
Joseph enters the room, larger than life, a huge smile lighting his face. “What a beautiful place for a wedding. What a gorgeous day it is,” he booms. I’m shocked the windows don’t shake.
“I couldn’t agree more,” I say. He stays a few more moments, and I hear him grumbling about people needing to be more appreciative of him being the reason for these love matches. I laugh as I turn away. The man will never be known as humble.
More people come in and out of the room, and time seems to be at a stand-still. I assure myself all I need is patience. Soon, I’ll be with Audrey again. Until then, I’ll stand here and take all of the advice and love from my family and friends. There’s no doubt it’s done with love.
My heart thumps when the music finally begins. A smile splits my lips open as I look at my brothers. It’s time.
“Alright lover boy, are you ready?” Jayden asks.
“More than ready.”
“Then let’s get you married,” Drake says. The three of us walk from the room and head straight to the front of the aisle. I’m finally going to see my bride.
I don’t notice the guests dressed in vibrant colors sitting before me, don’t notice the clear blue sky, and don’t notice the sounds and smells. All I’m focusing on is the place Audrey will appear at any moment. Women walk down the aisle and I look past them as they make their way forward and stand to the side.
Soon, the audience stands... and I suck in a breath as she appears, the most radiant creature I’ve ever seen. She pauses at the head of the aisle, her hand wrapped in the arm of her father, who refuses to look at me. I’m sure he’s proud of her and broken-hearted that his baby is no longer the little girl he raised. He also has to be proud of the incredible woman she’s become.
She moves down the aisle as if she owns the very tides behind us, with her hair swept up, soft tendrils framing her glowing face. Her dress sways with the wind like it’s made of seafoam and dreams. She’s floating to me, looking more radiant than ever.
She’s real. This is real. A gust of wind blows past her, making her laugh as she reaches up to hold her veil. Chloe quickly rushes to her, and puts things back in place. My heart thunders as I force myself to stand still. I want to run to her, to pull her into my arms. We don’t need all of this pomp and circumstance. We simply need to say our vows, seal our promises to each other, and be one for the rest of our lives. She’s been mine, as I’ve been hers, from the moment we met, but I want to make it official.
She finally reaches me, and I forget how to breathe. She’s so stunning, I can’t process it.
“Breathe, flyboy,” she whispers. She might be joking, but I see the tears in her eyes.
“I’m trying. It’s hard to do when you’re every single dream I’ve ever had come to life.”
The tears in her eyes spill over and she shakes her head at me. “Don’t turn me into a mess or my mother will have words.”
“It’s only fair since I might faint, I feel so lightheaded.”
The preacher clears his throat, and the spell between us is broken. “We’re gathered here today...”
I take Audrey’s hands in mine as our eyes lock while the preacher speaks words I don’t hear. She’s all I can focus on. Somehow, I manage to get through the ceremony. Somehow, I read my vows, even when they’re interrupted by Drake sneezing loudly before muttering about being allergic to sappiness. Chloe coughs to cover her laughter when Audrey promises me a life of chaos and storms and more love than I can comprehend.
We both jump when, right after we say I do, fireworks shoot off behind us in broad daylight. I look at my brothers in confusion. They shrug, saying it’s a statement piece. Whatever. None of that matters because Audrey’s officially my wife now. I pull her close and seal our vows with a kiss. Our eternity has officially begun.