27. Epilogue
This is happening all over again. It’s like reliving my worst nightmare, but this time, it’s no dream—it's reality. I’m going to kill Elliot Sharp because he’s ruining everything again with his ridiculous rules.
I slam the book on the table, startling Daniel and Julia. “Can you tell your best friend to be more reasonable, Dee? Our rehearsal dinner feels like a funeral without the flowers!” I turn to my brother, but he’s too busy munching on his chips to care.
“You tell him yourself. You’re the one marrying him,” he replies, and while it’s a valid point, this isn’t exactly the best moment to remind me.
Elliot slides into the seat beside me, his fingers dancing over my hands in a familiar, persuasive manner. “Babe, I’m not saying we shouldn’t have flower petals at the wedding, but covering the entire floor with them is a little excessive.”
“It’s not! They’re beautiful!” I protest, my voice rising.
“What if someone trips or has an allergy?” he shoots back, glancing anxiously toward the kitchen.
“Then they should take allergy medication. Come on, babe, it’s been a year, but you’re still acting like the same grump you were at Daniel’s rehearsal dinner!” I whine, and he cocks an eyebrow at me, as if reminding me of how that night ended. But this is different.
“Fine, can we at least have a few flowers laid out today? It’s our rehearsal dinner!” I plead, tugging on his arm.
Before he can respond, Emma’s voice slices through the tension. “If you two keep this back-and-forth going, we might never eat today, let alone have the wedding in three days! And in case you’ve forgotten, we only have three hours left.”
“I’ve never said this before, but if you both keep arguing, I’ll scream. Just agree on something for once!” she yells, and the room falls into silence.
Elliot leans in, whispering in my ear, “Looks like we’ve managed to piss Emma off. She might just set your wedding dress on fire.”
I chuckle, my frustration fading. “Maybe it’s your cue to back down,” I reply, and he nods in agreement.
Rising to his feet, he smooths down his beige suit. “Do whatever my lady asks. I have a kitchen to manage,” he says, planting a kiss on my forehead.
“Who works on their rehearsal dinner? You’re just a control freak,” Daniel teases, and we all know it’s true. Elliot thrives on keeping his kitchen running like a well-oiled machine.
“It’s better for me to be in control than Aaron; he’d probably make a mess. See you later, babe,” Elliot calls over his shoulder as he heads off.
I watch him go, feeling a mix of disbelief and gratitude. It’s almost surreal how we overcame those difficult months, and now we’re only days away from forever.
As Emma bustles off to handle the last-minute details, Daniel leaves the room to find a snack for Julia, whose pregnancy cravings are growing insatiable.
“Do you think it’s the baby making you eat this much, or have you always been good at hiding this side of yourself?” I tease, rubbing her now-visible baby bump.
“It could be both, but your little niece certainly has an appetite,” she laughs.
“I wonder who she takes after?” I ask, but as if in response, we both feel the baby kick.
We burst into laughter. “I guess that’s all the confirmation we need.”
While we wait for Emma to finish arranging the hall, I pull out my laptop to pen my latest blog entry: my wedding vows. By the time I close it, Emma is waiting in the doorway, hands on her hips.
“Looks like you and Elliot are the perfect workaholic duo,” she says with a teasing smile.
I smile back and rise to hug her. She lets out a relieved sigh. “I prayed for this day for you both, and I’m so glad to be part of it,” she whispers into my hair.
“Me too, Em,” I reply, pulling away as she leads me to the hall.
Like Julia and Daniel, we’re using the same hall, but this time, I’m the bride. Elliot stands in the corner, a radiant smile lighting up his face as guests begin to arrive.
“Are you ready?” he asks, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
“I’ve been ready for a while, El,” I say, wrapping my arms around his neck, savoring the moment.
He holds me back, keeping me close. “Before we go in, I want to read my vows to you, just between us.”
“Aren't those words reserved for the actual wedding?” I tease, but he nods earnestly.
“I know that, Ollie, but our journey toward happily ever after started long before now. Stop interrogating me before you ruin the moment,” he says, a hint of mischief in his voice.
Laughing, I nod in anticipation. “Alright, Mr. Grumpy, just don’t make me ruin my makeup.”
His gaze softens as he begins to speak, the words flowing effortlessly from his heart.
Dearest Olivia Reed, It was love at first sight, love at first kiss, and love in all shades. I spent most of my life running from love, but today I swear to spend the rest loving you. I swear to give you new reasons to be proud of me. I swear to be a good husband and father to our children. I’ll love you until my lungs give out; this I swear to you, Mrs. Sharp.
As he finishes, I realize I’ve broken my own vow about not ruining my makeup—but it’s for a beautiful cause. Taking his hands in mine, I whisper back, “I was saving my vows for later, but since you’ve started, I might as well go ahead with mine. Let’s keep this a secret, okay?”
My Dearest Elliot, I always prayed for a miracle, a love story that would sweep me off my feet. You came to me like a gentle breeze, dancing your way around until you finally settled into my heart. Now, I’m going to spend the rest of my days loving you. Thank you for loving me, and thank you for being my greatest miracle, Elliot Sharp.
He kisses me softly, lingering just a moment longer than before. “Do you think we've jinxed things by saying our vows before the wedding?” I ask, pulling him into a tight embrace.
“I think we’ve made the goddess of love proud by refusing to stick to the rules. Three days is such a long time,” he replies with a grin, and I laugh.
“If I knew you loved me this much, I’d have chased after you sooner,” I say, but my brother’s dry cough interrupts our moment.
“Daniel! You scared us, man!” Elliot exclaims, hand pressed dramatically against his chest.
“I hate to ruin the moment,” Daniel says, turning to walk away but pausing midway. “But we’ve been waiting for you both inside. And, if you don’t mind, could we share this special moment with you on the actual wedding day as well? We’re supposed to hear those vows too—you know, since we’re your guests,” he adds with a cheeky grin.
Elliot and I exchange amused glances, and as we link our hands together, we make our way back to the dinner, excitement bubbling within us as we start our countdown to forever.
In the end, love conquers all odds, and I can’t wait to celebrate our journey together.