43. Storm
It’s already past one o’clock and I’ve barged into six churches already. Interrupting four weddings. If New York has a total of 6,000 places of worship, I could only imagine what New Jersey has. And I’ve only hit six of them!
By the time I get to the seventh church, I’m out of breath. Taking my Jeep was starting to get annoying since this street has exactly three churches on it, so I decided to run it. I’m starting to think I’m not going to find her. I’ve left Stevie eight voicemails asking for Lorie or Glenn’s phone number, but she has yet to answer me. I just need a break. God, give me a break to find my angel.
I bust through another set of doors, interrupting yet another wedding. I have my hands on my knees trying to catch my breath and let out a loud sigh staring at everyone’s eyes on me. “Millie? This Millie’s wedding?” I ask, barely able to get my words out, I’m wheezing.
Auden gasps, standing at the altar. “Storm?”
My heart is already beating quickly, but this is surreal. I found her. I found my angel.
“Who the fuck is this?” the groom barks.
“Sorry, sorry. I’m looking for her,” I wheeze, pointing at Auden, and start coughing. “Go on, I didn’t…fuck, I can’t breathe. I should definitely quit smoking…I didn’t mean to interrupt…sorry…I’ll just pop a squat back here.”
“Oh, my God,” Auden says, pushing her lips together as Millie sends her death glares. Auden tilts her head and furrows her brows. “I’m sorry.”
The priest clears his throat. “May I continue?”
“Yes,” Millie says, looking over at me, then back at Auden, and smiles as she looks at her husband-to-be.
I feel bad for barging in like this, but I had to find my angel. Lo and behold, I found her in a church, still wearing my necklace. She’s staring at me, tears shimmering in her eyes and she tries her hardest not to smile when our eyes lock. She’s beautiful. And that dress leaves nothing to the imagination. It’s tight in all the right places, the sage color makes her eyes pop, and that ass looks divine.
I take another deep breath and look up at the statue of Jesus staring down at me. Thank you. That’s about all I can say. She’s crying softly, her lips pushed together as tears roll down her cheeks. She’s as in much pain as I am.
Her eyes find mine again, her eyebrows furrow. I smile at her, a smile that lets her know I’m in this.
Millie and her new husband share their first kiss as man and wife. Their families clap and cheer and rise as the organ plays a tune. After a little while, Millie takes her husband’s hand and starts for the entrance, the groomsmen and bridesmaids following behind. Auden smiles at me, biting her bottom lip when she passes. I have such an urge to jump at her and kiss her all over, but I won’t disturb this wedding any more than I already have. It’s brilliant to know that God was on my side today. He brought me back to my angel in a church of all places.
The wedding party is standing outside and everyone is lining up to say their congratulations. I wait, making sure I’m the last person to congratulate them. I’ve been to a couple of weddings before, but they’re hick weddings in the backyard or at the small chapel. Nothing this big or extravagant.
But my leg hasn’t stopped tapping restlessly. Aching to go to her. I look back and see her smile at someone, shaking their hand. I watch as she embraces a blonde man, her nose wrinkles as she does it and she’s laughing, pointing in my direction and blushing. I think that’s Sean. He’s staring at me and smiling. With a salute, he leaves a kiss on her cheek and my beauty has the biggest smile on her face when she catches my eye.
“Storm.” Glenn chuckles. “Way to make an entrance.”
“Hi, sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt like that.” I chuckle awkwardly, fidgeting with my tie. “I went through six churches before I found her.”
“Oh, dear,” Lorie says, laughing. “You may have interrupted a wedding, but you made my daughter happier than she’s been all day yesterday.”
I wince, nodding slowly and buttoning up my blazer. I was gutted when we silently agreed to end. I knew it was a bad idea then, and seeing Auden now, I could only imagine what she went through, how it hurt her to leave yesterday morning.
The way the sun is reflecting off her flaming red hair is breathtaking. Her blue eyes scan the line of people hoping to see me, but I won’t stand in line yet, I’ll hold it up because I’m going to kiss her. And when I do, it’ll be the type of kiss we’ll need to take care of.
“Getting in line?” Glenn asks.
“Oh, I was gonna wait—”
Lorie squeezes my shoulder. “Nonsense, come on. She’s going to be so happy to see you.”
My heart is hammering so damn quickly, it’s making it hard for me to breathe. I’m excited. Nervous. Happy. Finally, I’m going to be able to hold my woman.
I don’t take my eyes off her as we walk; she greets people so sweetly, it’s kind of admiring. She’s going to make an amazing mom one day. We said no kids yet, but once she settles her business, it’ll be a discussion. Our life will be perfect. We will be perfect. I hate that I didn’t fight hard enough when she left yesterday. I should have stopped her and jumped in the car. Make sure we did what he agreed to do. Because I’m in this. One hundred percent.
Lorie and Glenn are in front of me, but as we approach the lineup, and I lock eyes with Auden, I push through everyone—giving my apologies once more—and grab Auden’s face. I kiss her like it’s been ages. It’s profound, and people are cheering us on. I feel her laugh against my lips, brushing her thumb on my jawline.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, pulling away from her.
She laughs, pulling me into a hug. “Me, too.”
“You’re lucky you’re cute or my sister would’ve kicked your ass for interrupting the wedding,” the pregnant woman beside Auden says.
“Go wait over there, by the rose bushes,” Auden orders, gently kissing me.
I smile and kiss the tip of her nose. “I’ll wait wherever you want me to wait, baby.”
I step away, grinning, and skip down the stairs to awkwardly stand by a few rose bushes while watching Auden kiss people’s cheeks and hug them. I’m in a state of euphoria. I made it. I found her and I’m so fucking ecstatic that I did. This is not what I expected my life to become, but I sure am glad it’s taken this turn. I’ve found my future standing in a beautiful sage dress and looking stunning as always. I’m one lucky son of a bitch.