Chapter 25
Silas
The neon lights of Las Vegas flickered like fireflies.
Laughter, shouting, and music filled the air as Rosalie and I wandered hand in hand through the dazzling chaos.
I felt alive. While I wasn’t big on crowds, or people, I liked how easily Rosalie and I could stroll about without being noticed.
My heart was racing. I still couldn’t believe that I managed to pull this off. Rosalie looked so happy.
I want to spend the rest of my life with her… why wait? Why not start now?
I turned to her. “Marry me?” I asked abruptly.
Rosalie's eyes widened. “What?”
“Marry me, right now.” I gestured to the little white chapel across the street. “I’ll get you a ring… and we can elope, right here and now.”
“Yes.” She nodded. “Yes, yes, I want nothing more,” she repeated, wrapping her arms around me. I hugged her back just as tight, peppering little kisses all over her face.
She said yes. She actually said yes!
“But what about Socks?”
I looked down at the kitten, “We’ll get a hotel room and she can stay in there while we get married.”
Rosalie nodded.
We found a hotel rather quickly, and put our belongings in our room as well as Socks.
Socks curled up on one of the many plush pillows on the bed and fell asleep.
Once sock was asleep, went into the nearby shops across the street, and I let Rosalie pick out whatever ring she wanted before we started crossing the street.
“Are you sure about this?” I asked, giving her one last chance to change her mind.
“Silas, I wouldn’t have said yes if I didn’t want to,”
God, she was so beautiful, and the way her hair cascaded over her shoulders made her appear so ethereal.
I smiled. Giving her hand a gentle squeeze, I guided her into the chapel.
The air was cool and smelled of roses. Intimate, but a bit whimsical too.
We approached the desk. I wrapped my arm protectively around Rosalie, letting her pick out our officiant.
Quite the options really. Varying from Beetlejuice to Elvis impersonators, I really didn’t care as long as it legally bound us as husband and wife.
I raised my eyebrow when she chose Beetlejuice, but I wasn’t all that surprised given she loved that movie franchise so much.
Within minutes, I paid. They separated us so we could change into clothes more fitting for the occasion. It was a whole package—the suit and dress rental, photographer, live music, and everything you could think of. This was Vegas, after all.
I took a breath as I joined Mr. Beetlejuice at the altar, waiting for Rosalie to walk down the aisle.
Tears welled in my eyes the moment the doors opened and she entered.
That white wedding dress was perfect—she was perfect.
I lifted my hand to wipe my tears away as she joined me at my side.
Our eyes locked for a moment before turning to our questionably whimsical officiant.
The officiant wove music and fanciful words together about love and the city. He glanced over at us with a devilish grin. “And now, I invite you both to share your vows… Silas, you may begin.”
Okay… here we go… breathe…
I swallowed hard, turning to Rosalie. “Rosalie…” I took her hands in mine, giving them a gentle squeeze.
“From the moment we met, it felt like the universe had always planned for us to be together.
You… your laughter can chase away any darkness…
and the love you have shown me… the love that I have for you is unconditional, and unyielding.
“ I paused for a moment, trying to pull myself together.
“I promise I will love you with all and everything I am until death do us part and even after.”
Tears glistened in Rosalie’s eyes, and for a moment I found myself lost in those big, beautiful greens of hers. She made me feel so complete.
“Your turn,” I whispered to her.
“Silas,” she began, taking a breath. Her voice trembled slightly.
“I never imagined I could ever find someone who understands me so completely. You really are everything to me. You showed me I’m worth loving when I thought I was unlovable…
and you… I love you, endlessly, more than anything.
I vow that my love for you will never change, that you will always be my everything. ”
Her words resonated deep within me.
She was so perfect, in every possible way.
“Now, Silas, do you take Rosalie to be your wife?” the officiant asked.
“I do,” I said without hesitation.
“And do you, Rosalie, take Silas to be your husband?”
She nodded. “I do.”
I smiled.
“Now, Silas and Rosalie, I pronounce you man and wife! Silas, you may kiss your bride!” the officiant declared.
I stepped forward, capturing Rosalie’s face in my hands. Her skin was so soft beneath my touch. My lips met hers, and a rush of warmth enveloped me. In that moment, the rest of the world faded away. It was just us—husband and wife.
I was married to fucking Rosalie Beaumont. Well, Rosalie Stanton now, given the whole necessity for new identities that is. My Rosalie, my forever. Fuck. If I was dreaming, I never wanted to wake up. We slowly pulled away, and I was breathless. Glowing with joy.
“We’re married,” I whispered, resting my forehead against hers.
“We are,” she smiled.
“Shall we go celebrate?”
Rosalie lifted her hand to wipe the tears from my eyes. “I think we shall.”
With that, I held Rosalie’s hand when we left the little white chapel. Married, we made our way into the city streets, celebrating our love that I knew would last forever.
This, her, this is all I ever wanted.