Chapter Twenty-Eight
Wolf
The Catalina Casino Ballroom looks like something plucked from the golden age of Hollywood and dropped into a dream. Massive arched windows line the curved perimeter, opening to a panoramic view of the glittering ocean, moonlight dancing across the waves like they’re celebrating our union, too.
Art deco chandeliers spill light across the circular dance floor. The dome ceiling above, mosaic-tiled and more grand than anyone could imagine, reflects the soft light like a night sky filled with unimaginable stars. It’s simply spectacular.
Audrey and I stand hand-in-hand outside of the grand entrance, her thumb gently brushing my knuckles. We’re ready to run away together, but our guests are waiting.
“Are you ready?” I ask. I haven’t left her side from the moment she walked down that aisle straight into my arms.
She gives me a smile, her skin still glowing, and laughs. “To be introduced to a roomful of people while wearing four-inch heels and pretending we didn’t want to elope?”
“Yep.”
She nods. “I’m ready.” We might be joking but we love all that’s been done for us, even if it was overwhelming and over the top.
The band shifts keys, and the doors open. “And now,” the announcer booms, “for the first time as husband and wife, I present Wolf and Audrey Young!” The crowd rises as they applaud. We step forward and wave to our friends and family.
Audrey’s dress is shimmering in the low light as her skin glows radiantly. The world stands still to watch her. I don’t care what I look like, no one notices me. This is about her, and her alone, and I couldn’t be prouder to have her on my arm.
The orchestra starts a soft, sweeping jazz arrangement of Moon River, one of Audrey’s favorites. This is a surprise for my bride, one of the few things I arranged for this wedding. She turns and smiles at me.
“This was you,” she says with confidence.
“We needed a few things about us.”
She laughs as tears sparkle in her eyes. “And I thought the wedding was about our families.”
“This moment is all about us,” I assure her. “I want you to know I listen when you speak.”
“Since I speak so much, you must have a Webster’s dictionary of information swirling in your head.”
“That I do.”
I pull her to the dance floor, and she melts into my arms. We move with perfect ease, as if we were created for one another. I know we were. This union was meant to be. Every step we take is gentle, intimate, and timeless. She rests her head on my shoulder halfway through the song, and we float. I wouldn’t be surprised if our feet lift from the ground. The rest of the world fades as it often does when she’s in my arms. Though I’ve flown thousands of hours in the sky, for the first time I feel absolutely weightless.
When the song ends, she pulls back and looks at me as her fingers caress my cheek. “I love you.”
I lean in and kiss her. “I love you isn’t strong enough for what I feel.”
“I’m glad we have an eternity to express it all.”
Our intimate moment is broken too soon as we’re pulled off the dance floor. We’re barely able to sit before the sound of clinking glasses and stomping shoes signals the next act in a day of very planned moments.
Drake and Jayden take to the stage, grinning, one wearing a pale suit, the other in classic black. They stand together behind the mic like a comedy duo no one has asked for, but everyone desperately wants to hear.
Drake begins. “I was going to come up here and tell embarrassing stories about Wolf. But then I realized that was Jayden’s job.” I shake my head and chuckle as I squeeze Audrey’s hand. I can get through anything as long as she’s at my side.
Jayden clears his throat with his usual serious flair. “Indeed. You see, Wolf’s the oldest brother, the daring one, the leader of the pack. He’s the man who thinks flying into a thunderstorm is a personality trait.” I can’t argue with that. The crowd chuckles.
Drake grins. “But he’s also the guy who will give you the shirt off his back, the last bite of his cheeseburger, and once, very memorably, his kidney to a stray dog.” Everyone gasps as they look at me, wondering if this is a joke or true. “It’s a long story.” Drake winks, and I laugh, loving that the crowd’s confused.
Jayden gives a solemn nod. “Don’t worry, that dog now lives in Colorado and sends Christmas cards.” Again, there’s more laughter.
“But, for a moment of seriousness on this sacred day,” Drake continues. “Audrey, you’ve done something none of us thought possible.”
Jayden picks up smoothly. “You grounded our brother without clipping his wings. That’s true love, and it’s rarer than any of us could imagine.”
Drake raises his glass. “To love, to flying fearlessly, and to finally having someone who can handle Wolf’s chaotic life.”
“To Audrey and Wolf!” they shout in unison. The crowd raises their glasses as they shout their approval. I lean over and kiss Audrey.
“I can drink to that,” she says.
“I’ll give you the world,” I promise.
Chloe takes the stage next, looking radiant as the light catches her dress in shades of silver and rose. She stands behind the mic with her signature fire in her eyes. The room immediately quiets.
“When Audrey told me she was falling for a pilot, I assumed we were in for a short-term flirtation, a lot of turbulence, and maybe an awkward meeting or two,” she begins. Everyone chuckles and Audrey beams at her best friend.
Chloe looks at Audrey then me, and faces the crowd again. “But, I watched my best friend transform over the months, watched her get lost in this man who brought out the best in her. I saw the sort of change I never expected to see from her, and couldn’t have been happier. Their love is the biggest, boldest, most beautiful thing I’ve ever witnessed.”
Chloe looks at me, tears in her eyes. “Wolf, I knew Audrey was serious when she started writing about you. Not just in her articles or travel essays, but in the margins of everything. You became her story, her home, her favorite character. You became a part of her world.”
Audrey’s sniffling beside me. Chloe has tears running down her cheeks. “You gave my best friend the greatest gift, the ability to see herself, to believe in herself, and to keep her feet firmly planted on the ground. You didn’t try to hold her back, but helped her spread her wings. That’s the bravest, most beautiful love I can imagine.”
Her voice is thick with emotion, and the entire room feels it. She holds up her glass. “Here’s to the woman who ran from everything... until the right person showed her she didn’t have to run anymore. Here’s to the man who flew at her side every step of the way. May your life together be full of laughter, love, adventure, good landings, and just enough chaos to keep things interesting. I love you both.”
Tears flow as the crowd raises their glasses and once again cheers. I wipe away Audrey’s tears as I gaze into her eyes. Then I pull her into my arms and hold her. I honestly didn’t think we’d cry at our wedding. We hated all of the planning. I was wrong. No elopement could seal us together like this day is. We’re one now, but we’re so much more than that; we’re also one with our community of loved ones, with those who support us in the good times and bad. We’re one because we’re loved, and because we love so deeply.
I rise and go to Chloe, to Audrey’s best friend. I give her a hug before pulling back. “Thank you for sharing your best friend, and thank you for your support. It matters.”
She throws her arms around me for another hug. “Promise to always take care of her.”
“You have my word.” Audrey joins us and wraps us both in a hug. Then my brothers join the circle. Our tears turn to laughter as more and more people unite, all of us one, all of us together forever.
We can have a great love, and we can have a circle that protects it. It’s because of these friendships that we’ll continue to flourish for the rest of our lives. I couldn’t be happier than I am in this beautiful moment surrounded by the people I love most in this world.
And right now, right here, under the glow of the sparkling chandeliers, with the sea behind us and music softly playing, we don’t just feel married... we feel eternal.