Chapter 49
49
brIAR
“ A re you ready?” Owen whispers to me, hooking his arm around mine as I watch Elara skip through the door, already throwing flower petals.
“I think so,” I tell him, taking a deep, calming breath.
He nods, tears already in his eyes. “I hope you know I’m proud of you,” he says, watching as Isla and Zara enter the room.
Nervous, I try to focus on anything but the fact that soon it’ll be my turn to walk through that doorway. What if Leo doesn’t cry? I always cry at wedding videos because these big guys are always crying like a baby. What if Leo doesn’t?
What if I mess up my vows?
So instead of worrying, I watch the others. I watch as Heidi ducks her head when Emmett whispers something to her, a blush creeping up her neck. They’ve been hanging out all summer as Heidi started as a nanny for Juni. She loved the work, but since Leo hired a real assistant, I’ve been working from home full-time. Although Leo said that I didn’t have to work, I’ve been cranking out cookbooks, and with the help of Mila taking over my social media, they’ve actually done really well and have made quite a bit of money .
When I had asked Leo which of our joint accounts to put the money, he had told me absolutely not. He was adamant that I put all that money into my own separate account. It was my money that I should have complete control of, he said.
Having that freedom has never felt so good.
Behind them is Amara and Cooper, who look like they’d rather be paired with anyone else. Amara leans away from him, while Cooper holds his arm loosely at his side, barely wrapped around hers.
As much as I’ve asked, I don’t really know what’s going on there.
Mila is paired up with Dirwin behind them, and for a second my stomach churns. Dirwin was traded in the offseason. We all knew it was coming, but he deserved to go somewhere he would get more playtime. He was a free agent, and it was the right decision.
He made a big deal of wanting to be back for the wedding.
Each couple walks through the doors as the wedding planner’s signal, and finally, after what feels like a million years, the music slows.
“It’s game time,” Owen says, straightening his shoulders.
“It is,” I nod, my body shaking.
“Hey,” my brother says, squeezing my hand one more time. “You guys are already hitched. Just enjoy the day, okay?”
I look up at him, his eyes instantly warming me up. “Yeah, for sure.”
With the planner’s signal, I take a deep breath, and we walk through the doors.
Hundreds of people turn to look at me as I walk down the aisle, my dress billowing out behind me as I smile at them. When Owen nudges me, I finally look forward.
Leo stands in front of a wall of blue hydrangeas in his best black suit, the most breathtaking smile on his face as his eyes glimmer with tears .
The girls stand to the left, decked out in the most beautiful blue dresses, while the men stand behind Leo. Cooper moves to look around Emmett at Leo, but gets elbowed in the stomach, and I chuckle.
Zara waits for me at the end, and when I reach her, she takes my bouquet with a smile, nodding at me as if to say everything is okay. I’m proud of you. And I know she is. Out of anyone, her opinion means the most to me. Having her next to me on my day has meant more than anything. Well, she was also the only person with us at the courthouse, and that meant a lot too.
Owen takes his spot next to Leo and gives me a thumbs up.
Stepping up a stair, I find Leo looking at me with so much affection, I lose my nerve. Tears fall from his eyes as he mouths “I love you.”
“I love you too,” I mouth back.
Our officiant clears his throat quietly. “Welcome, loved ones…”