57. Zoey
57
Zoey
T he beautiful Arizona sun peaks above the horizon, welcoming a new day and turning the sky into brilliant shades of dazzling gold. It’s a perfect day, more than I could have ever asked for because, in a little more than an hour, I’m going to marry my best friend.
It’s been a week since Noah proposed at the lake, and while I know this is all happening so fast and not typically how this would go down, I wouldn’t have it any other way, especially considering the circumstances. We want to make the most of every second, and if that means getting to marry the man who makes me the happiest woman in the world in a short, private ceremony while the sun still rises in the dewy morning, then that’s exactly what we’re going to do.
I stand at my bedroom window, not brave enough to crawl out onto the roof. At this point, I don’t even think I’d have the strength to haul myself out through the frame. While this past week has been incredible with Noah getting to plan our wedding and Mom helping me choose a dress, I’ve also continued my steady decline, which is part of the reason why we’re doing this so early in the morning.
By the time the sun is just reaching the top of the sky, I’ll be too exhausted to even stand, and by the time it lowers back down to the horizon, I won’t be able to keep my eyes open. If we opted for a starlight ceremony like I’d always imagined, I would have only been able to enjoy it for an hour or two. This way, I get to take my time and soak up every last second—even if it means asking my family to wake up before dawn.
A soft knock sounds at my door, and I turn to find Mom beaming at me with glassy eyes. “Are you ready to start?” she murmurs, her voice filling my room with nothing but unconditional love.
I nod, glad that I get to relax and sit down through this part. “Born ready,” I tell her as butterflies dance through my stomach.
I make my way back to my bed, knowing Hazel is about to come in and bombard me with makeup, and as I drop down, I can’t help but glance toward Noah’s empty side. He stuck to tradition and snuck out early so he wouldn’t see me the morning of our wedding, and while I love that about him, I also hated not waking up in the warmth of his strong arms. It’s daunting that I don’t know how many mornings I have left to open my eyes to him, but I know from this day on, I will never have to wake up alone again.
Just as expected, Hazel shows up only moments later and doesn’t waste a single second. She dives straight into my makeup, going the extra mile to make sure I’m pampered at the same time. Hope turns up halfway through makeup, and seeing just how gifted Hazel is in this department, demands that she does hers too, which Hazel is more than happy to cater to.
Without hair to worry about, getting ready doesn’t take long, and before I know it, Mom and Hope are helping me into my dress as I gaze at myself in the mirror. It’s a beautiful silk gown with delicate beaded straps and a plunging back, soft and flowy, that perfectly accentuates what little curves I have left. The gown trails down to a small train, the material gathered at my feet, and while it’s not exactly the extravagant gown I pictured for myself, it’s beautiful all the same.
I always wanted something covered in beading with a long train, but I’m simply not strong enough to bear the weight of a gown like that anymore. Looking at myself now, taking in the subtleness, the soft lace, and the headband veil that falls like a gentle summer breeze over my face, I realize that nothing could have been better. It’s absolutely perfect, but what makes it better is knowing that this will be the dress Noah always remembers me in. This very moment will live in his memories, treasured and cherished until the end of time.
When I’m ready, my dad appears at the door, his soft intake of breath drawing my attention. I glance up, peering at my father across the room, a small smile stretching across my glossy lips. “Hi Daddy,” I whisper.
A single tear falls from his eye as he wanders toward me, not stopping until he’s standing right in front of me. He gently collects my veil between his fingers and lifts it over my head, letting it fall back behind me. “You’re absolutely breathtaking,” he tells me, his fingers gently brushing over my cheek. “You truly are an angel sent from the heavens.”
I smile up at my father, willing myself not to cry. “You’re walking me down the aisle, right?”
“There’s no greater honor for a father than to give his daughter away on her wedding day,” he whispers. “There’s no place I’d rather be.”
My cheeks flush, and for a fleeting moment, I feel like that same little girl who used to dress up in Mom’s old wedding gown without a single care in the world. I would make Dad walk me down the aisle and give me away to Hazel, who was forced to step in as the groom when Noah had enough of playing weddings. It’s surreal to think that we’re right back there again, only this time, it’s for real, and no one is playing.
“You won’t let me fall?”
“Never,” Dad murmurs before reaching back around me and gathering my veil once again. He leans in and presses a soft kiss to my cheek before meeting my eyes. “I love you, Zo. You’re always going to be my sweet angel, my little girl.”
I can’t keep the tears from falling and he hastily wipes them away before finally lowering my veil back into place. “Let’s go get you married,” he says, and with that, he steps in beside me, his arm folding right around my waist. I place my hand over his, and as Hazel collects the bouquet of tulips, made out of the dozens Noah has gifted me over these past few weeks, one each and every day without fail.
The nerves and excitement creep in, but I can’t wait. I’ve never been so ready in my life. We make our way down the stairs, and Dad holds on to me tighter than ever as Mom and Hope follow behind us.
Dad opens the door of the fancy limousine, and I can’t help but laugh to myself. This is insane. I’ve never ridden in a limo before, but it’s absolutely everything and more. I feel like a princess. This has Hazel written all over it, and I love how she put her two cents in to make sure today is absolutely perfect for me.
We all climb in, and after we all get settled, the driver hits the gas, and we’re sailing down the road, away from East View and out toward the countryside. I have no idea where we’re going, only that I’ll get to see Noah when we get there.
The second Noah found the place, he decided he wanted to keep yet another surprise. It’s been bugging me all week, but I know whatever he’s chosen is going to be amazing.
It’s a thirty-minute drive before the limo turns down a long, winding road, and as he does, my eyes light up with an array of breathtaking, vibrant colors. Beautiful shades of reds, pinks, yellows, oranges, and whites fill the rolling hills of the tulip fields before me.
I sit up straighter, my eyes so wide as the morning sun glistens off the dew lingering on the delicate petals. It’s the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen. “Oh my gosh,” Mom whispers, her hand falling to my thigh and gently squeezing. “I knew it was going to be beautiful, but I never could have imagined this. It’s breathtaking.”
I’ve never heard truer words in my life, and my eyes start to water. It really is breathtaking. I didn’t think anything could outdo Noah’s incredible proposal, but this is so much more than I ever dreamed.
We drive through fields and fields of vibrant tulips when the driver finally eases onto the brake, and as I twist to gaze out the opposite window, I finally see him—Noah Ryan, my bestest friend and the love of my life—waiting for me among a sea of beautiful colors.
His smile is brighter than I’ve ever seen, and the way my heart races is something I’ve never experienced before. It’s overwhelming, pure, and filled with the most adoring, eternal love, and I know with every fiber of my being that my purpose in life, every single moment I’ve ever experienced, was a path leading straight to this.
My reason for being was to be with this man, to teach him how to love, how to grow, and to be the light that’s always led him home.
I’ve never felt so at peace, never felt so perfectly right.
He stands under a gorgeous wooden arch with drapes of white chiffon that sway in the morning breeze, but despite its beauty, my gaze remains locked on him. He’s so ruggedly handsome, and that sparkle in his eyes has me ready to barrel out of the limo and fall straight into his strong arms.
Despite the dark window tint, his piercing eyes collide with mine, holding my stare as that tether between us solidifies and turns into the most indestructible kind of metal, entwining right around our souls and holding us there. Not even in death will this bond falter.
He will hold me up, right through till the end of time, and when we finally get the chance to meet again, it’ll be like a sonic boom, the stars aligning as everything falls right back into place, right where it was always supposed to be.
I take a shaky breath as the limousine driver walks around the car and opens the back door. Dad gets out first, offering his hand to all of his girls, even Hope because my nana raised him to be the perfect gentleman—though sometimes I think he forgets that.
From within the car, I can hear the subtle music playing through the tulip field, and my heart sings. He really has thought of everything. When it’s my turn to get out of the car, my father offers me his hand, and I gingerly take it, beaming up at him as he smiles right back. “I won’t let you fall,” he promises.
Stepping out of the car, Mom and Hope fix my veil, making sure everything is just right, and as the celebrant strides through the beautiful tulips and takes his place by the corner of the arch, I turn to face Noah.
The wide smile on his face falls into a gasping breathlessness, gazing at me in complete, overwhelming awe, his eyes conveying the words he can’t speak. My heart races and booms like thunder among the rolling clouds.
It’s so much more than I thought it could be, so undeniably perfect.
Mom, Hazel, and Hope make their way through the small rows between the tulips, meeting with Aunt Maya and the small handful of friends and family that are gathered around us, and as the music shifts to From This Moment by Shania Twain, my father offers me his arm.
We walk toward the beautiful arch, and with every step I take, my gaze remains locked on Noah’s. My father holds me up, his strong hands ready to take me right to the end as he tells me how much he loves me.
Each step brings me closer, and as my heart races so much faster, I pick up my pace, unable to wait a second longer. My feet stumble to a stop in front of Noah, and my father leans in to wrap his arms around me. “Always my little girl.”
My eyes sting, but before my tears can fall, Noah takes my hand and pulls me right into him. It’s just the two of us existing in this moment, and the world fades away. His fingers entwine through mine as he drops his forehead, the two of us locked in pure bliss. “You’re so beautiful,” he murmurs, his voice thick with emotion. “I love you.”
“I love you,” I whisper right back, our hearts synching and beating as one.
The celebrant steps forward, and as the music fades out, he commences the ceremony, welcoming our family and friends and giving a brief rundown of our story so far. And with every second that passes, Noah’s dark gaze remains locked on mine, both of us absolutely captivated.
I breathe him in, wanting to revel in this moment, not willing to miss a damn thing. I want to save it all to my memory, the feel of his hands in mine, the way my heart races, the heavy pulse in my ears. I want to remember the way he smells, the way his hair falls forward into his eyes and dances in the morning breeze.
I want to remember the sound of my mother’s soft cries as my father holds her at his side, the overwhelming scent the tulips create around us. I want it all. I want to drown in this moment and feel it lift me right into the sky.
When it’s time to say our vows, Noah’s hold shifts on my hand as he places a gold wedding band at the tip of my finger. “Zo,” he starts, holding my gaze as though it’s the only thing keeping him breathing. “It’s simple. I will love you. I will love you today, tomorrow, and every day until the heavens and the earth no longer exist. Whether you’re here by my side, sharing our lives together, or watching over me from above, I will love you. You’re my everything, Zoey James, and as long as my heart continues to beat, it will beat for you.”
Tears roll down my cheeks as he gently pushes the gold band into place on my finger, and when it’s my turn, I take his hand, just as he did mine, looping the gold band around the top of his ring finger. “You’re my person, Noah. I’ve walked my life with you, side by side, right from the beginning, and as a little girl, I couldn’t have imagined the type of roller coaster loving you was going to take me on,” I breathe. “You’ve consumed me, have owned me in every possible way. So for me, today isn‘t about giving myself to you because I’ve always been yours, and I will continue to be yours until the end of time. My heart has always belonged right in the palm of your hand, just as yours has belonged in mine. We’re twin flames, and while I won’t be here to give you another fifty years, to build our lives together, or to build a home filled with love and laughter, I promise you that our souls will never part. I will always be with you, always love you with everything I am, even as I watch over you from the heavens.”
Noah drops his forehead to mine as I slide the wedding band into place, then before the celebrant has a chance to tell him that he may kiss his bride, Noah lifts the veil over my head and pulls me into him, wrapping his arms around my waist as his lips come down on mine.
Our family and friends applaud as the celebrant officially announces us as husband and wife, but all that matters to me is the feeling of Noah’s warm lips moving against mine.
Husband.
Noah Ryan is my husband.
Our family rushes us, congratulating us as the celebrant tries to pull us away to sign the documents to make this official. And once all is said and done, we spend the rest of the day celebrating. Coach Sanderson and Noah’s teammates hired out a whole restaurant just for us as a wedding gift, and after a magical day filled with love, family, and undeniable happiness, Noah finally gets me in the car, and I’m more exhausted than I’ve ever been in my life.
Dusk is just starting to fall over East View when Noah brings his Camaro to a stop outside the fanciest hotel in town. My brows furrow as I look toward him. “What are we doing here?”
“It’s hardly romantic spending our wedding night under your parents’ roof,” he tells me. “Especially considering that they’ll know exactly what we’re doing.”
My cheeks flush, and I try not to think about just how right he is. The fact that we’re spending the night in a hotel is even more of a reason for my parents to know what we’re doing. But we’re married now, and nothing is going to stop me from getting to spend my wedding night with the man I love. My husband.
“Thank you,” I tell him. “Now hurry up and take me to bed. I haven’t been able to kiss you the way I really want to kiss you with everyone’s eyes on us all day, and if I don’t get to put my hands on you soon, there’s no telling what I might do.”
Noah gapes at me for a moment. I’ve always been forward when I needed intimacy with him, but it usually comes with flushed cheeks and a shy smile, but not tonight, not now.
Noah helps me out of the car and hands his keys to the valet before sweeping me right up into his arms, the delicate train of my dress hanging below. He carries me right into the elevator, his lips on mine the whole way up to the thirty-fourth floor. And when he slides the keycard into the reader and opens the door, a soft gasp slips between my lips.
The room is incredible, but it has nothing on the city views out the floor-to-ceiling windows, and I have to pull away from Noah, needing a moment to take it all in. He sets me on my feet, making sure I’m balanced before allowing me to step out of his strong arms. I make my way across the room and right over to the impressive window as I gaze out at the sunset dancing across the windows of the high-rise building around us. I’ve never seen anything like it.
I’m taking it all in when I feel Noah’s warm fingers at my shoulder, gently brushing over my skin, trailing all the way down my elbows to my hands. My fingers catch his and then his lips are at the base of my throat, and I tilt my head, opening up for more.
His other hand takes my waist, and he turns me until those lips are coming down on mine. Fire burns through my veins, and I push up on my tippy toes, needing to be closer to him. He fingers the beaded strap on my gown, pushing it down over my shoulder, his fingers so sensual over my skin. I need so much more.
He takes his time, kissing me deeply and worshiping every inch of my body as I reach up between us and start unbuttoning his suit shirt.
My dress falls away, and as I free him from the confines of his pants, his hands skim over my ass, effortlessly lifting me. Wrapping my legs securely around him, I hold on for dear life as he turns and walks us over to the massive bed, and as he lays me down against the pillow, he pulls back from our kiss. “I love you so fucking much, Zoey,” he tells me. “This right here, with you in my arms as my wife, I’ll always remember us this way.”
Tears form in my eyes, and I nod, absolutely breathless. “I know,” I tell him, my hand sliding down from his shoulder to his chest, feeling the way his heart beats beneath my palm. “Remember us just like this.”
He nods, his lips coming back down to mine, and when he reaches out over the bed to grab the small foil packet, I shake my head. “Not tonight, Noah,” I murmur. “I just want to feel you.”
He holds my stare a moment longer, and while I’m sure there are a million reasons why we shouldn’t, there are also a million reasons why we should. What it really comes down to is that I love this man with everything I am, just as I told him in my vows, and with only a handful of weeks left, I want to spend every single moment I can feeling the way he makes me come alive. Feeling him and only him.
Noah nods, and not a moment later, he reaches down and grasps my thigh, hitching it high over his hip, and with that, he pushes inside of me, his lips moving over mine.