Chapter 95 Derrick
DERRICK
And now it comes to our vows. I’m really trying to be strong here. I clear my throat.
“Charlie …” My voice shakes like I knew it would, and I try to calm my nerves.
“From the moment you walked into my life with that ridiculous smile and those abs, I knew I was in trouble. The good kind. The kind that changes you in all the ways you didn’t know you needed.
You made me believe I was worthy of a love like this.
You made me softer and stronger at the same time.
You made every room feel lighter. Every day feel possible.
You’ve seen every part of me, the messy, the scared, the loud, the dramatic, and you never once flinch.
You meet all of it with patience, humor, and this unwavering loyalty that still takes my breath away.
I promise to love you the way you love me, fully, loudly, proudly.
I promise to choose you every day. I promise to protect what we’ve built.
I promise to be your safe place. And, Charlie, I promise this most of all, I will spend the rest of my life making sure you never doubt for even one second how deeply you are loved.
You’re my once in a lifetime. My best friend.
My favorite person. My home. I love you.
And I can’t wait to spend forever with you. ”
Tears fall down Charlie’s face. As he reaches out and kisses my hands, he mouths, “I love you.” Charlie composes himself as best he can as he gets ready to say his own vows.
“Derrick, when you met me, I was broken … but you didn’t see my jagged pieces, instead, you saw a jigsaw puzzle, one you were determined to put back together again.
Piece by piece. Brick by brick. You made me want to be better.
You made me want to build something real.
You are the bravest person I know. The kindest. The most loyal.
The most infuriating.” He grins softly, and the guests all laugh at that.
“And you are the love of my life. I promise to love you through every season, the beautiful ones, the scary ones, the loud ones, the quiet ones. I promise to hold your heart gently and fiercely at the same time. I promise to listen, even when you’re being dramatic, which …
” he makes everyone laugh again, “let’s be honest, is most of the time.
And I promise this. You will never face anything alone again. You’re my person, Derrick Jones.”
Now I’m a sniffling wreck. Come on, hurry up and pronounce us husbands so I can kiss the hell out of this beautiful man.
Eventually, finally, we are pronounced husbands, and we both reach for each other, and the kiss is most certainly not wedding-approved, but I don’t care because I love this man.
My husband. I have a fucking husband. The barn erupts into hoots and hollers as Charlie and I continue to kiss. Just giving the people what they want.
The marquee glows like something out of a winter fairytale.
Fabric drapes ripple softly overhead, fairy lights are woven in long sweeping arcs, fall florals spill from every table, and the heaters cast a warm, golden haze over the whole space.
Snow falls outside in slow, glittering flakes.
You can see it through the clear tent panels, but inside there is laughter, clinking glasses, and the low hum of every person we love.
We’re married.
We’re actually married.
Dinner is finishing up, people are buzzing between tables, kids are darting toward the dessert bar, and Charlie hasn’t stopped smiling for at least three hours.
Our first dance is done, Christian’s speech nearly killed me, Vanessa and Sienna’s made everyone cry, and the Sinclair brothers managed not to embarrass me (too much). The marquee feels full of love.
I’m mid-bite of dessert when Charlie squeezes my knee under the table.
“Hey,” he murmurs.
“Hey, husband,” I shoot back.
His smile goes nervous at the edges. Not bad nervous. Big nervous. He stands and taps his champagne glass lightly. What is he doing?
The marquee quiets instantly, and everyone looks at my new husband.
“Hi,” he says, breath catching on a laugh.
“I won’t keep you long. I know there’s dancing and drinking to get back to, but,” he continues, glancing at me, “there’s a wedding tradition among our friends.
One I didn’t really understand until it was explained to me in much detail by them.
” What is he talking about? What tradition?
“Apparently, at weddings, the groom always surprises his partner with a house.”
I burst out laughing at those memories, then my eyes widen, wait, does that mean?
Charlie smiles. “At first, I thought it was insane. Completely ridiculous.”
More laughter. He lifts one shoulder. “But then I realized something … it’s not about the house. It’s about saying, ‘I see my future. And I want to build it with you.’”
My heart stutters. I already feel the tears threatening.
Charlie reaches into his jacket and pulls out a small navy box.
Oh God.
Oh God.
He looks right at me. The whole tent fades until it’s just the two of us and the low golden glow above.
“Derrick,” he says softly, “a few months ago, you showed me a listing. A house in LA. The one you kept calling ‘ridiculous’ and ‘out of our league’ and ‘for people who are way too grown up.’”
The guests laugh.
I hide behind one hand. “Stop,” I mutter.
“You mentioned it every time we drove past it. You thought I didn’t notice.” He grins. “I noticed.”
My throat closes.
“Everly and I went to see it,” he says. “While you were working. I walked through the front door, and I swear, D … it felt like home.”
My eyes burn instantly.
“It had everything you would want. Light everywhere. A backyard big enough for a dog and kids … other things one day. A space for your studio. It’s close to work and mine.
Close to your friends. Not too big. Not too cold.
Not too perfect. Just … right.” I’m openly crying now.
Doesn’t matter. No one here is shocked. “So,” Charlie continues, voice dropping, “I did the only thing that felt right.” He opens the box.
A silver key glints inside. The entire marquee collectively gasps.
“I bought it,” he says simply. Everything in my body stops.
“And I bought it for you,” he adds, voice cracking softly.
“For us. For our future family. For every ordinary morning and every stupidly wonderful night. For the life we get to build together.” I choke on something between a sob and a breath.
“Give me your hand,” he commands, and I hold it out for him as he slides the silver key into my palm.
“I’m leaving the interior design choices up to you, and the closet is insane.
” He grins widely. Fuck this man. As I jump up and kiss him, the tent erupts into applause.
“I can’t believe you did this.”
“I did it for you. For us.”
“But it’s too expensive.”
“I had help from my parents. It’s a wedding gift from them too.”
“No.” Gasp.
He nods. “There is one condition, though.”
“What?”
“They want grandbabies sooner rather than later.” He grimaces when he tells me.
“Done. When we get back from our honeymoon, let’s go knock someone up.” I grin.
“Really?”
I wrap my arms around his neck. “Really.” I kiss him again. “Also, Christian and Vanessa gave us an extraordinary wedding gift, too.”
“They did?”
I nod. “She wants to give us her eggs.”
Charlie freezes. “What? No.”
“Yes. I was blown away, too. I don’t know, but the offer is serious. They put it in writing, a contract and everything. But it’s something we can talk about another day.”
“I think we will need to talk about that, but wow.”
“Yeah.”
“I fucking love you, D.”
“Me too. Hubby.”