Chapter 28
LINCOLN
When the quiet strums of the harp start playing, Jules loops her shaky fingers around my arm. It’s a surprisingly tight grip. A tiny tremor runs through her forearm, betraying her tough-girl, take-no-shits exterior.
I take a deep breath, and then side by side, we step out into the yard.
We head through a garden toward the archway where our officiant awaits. Great-Grandma Lannister’s lawn was transformed overnight, with small white folding chairs decoratively arranged on either side of us.
There’s that distinct scent of spring in the air, but the sun is strong today, bringing a welcome warmth to our skin. The grass is vibrant and green, but the strategically arranged floral arrangements turn our wedding colors into an array of blues, oranges, and yellows.
It’s a perfect, unscripted backdrop for our perfectly unscripted life event.
Jules didn’t want to go back to the bridal suite to change. She was afraid she might chicken out again. So she’s still wearing her leather jacket and biker boots with her wedding gown.
Her style is far from traditional. Heck, nothing about my bride is traditional. For a moment I worry what our guests will think when they see her outfit. But then I glance over at Jules as we stroll down the aisle.
She’s perfect.
Jules is every bit herself. Nothing more. Nothing less.
And so damn beautiful. Uncompromisingly so. In a take-it-or-leave-it kind of way.
I’ll take it.
I’ll take Julissa Lannister and everything she is. Without hesitation. Having her arm looped through mine, I’m pretty sure I've hit the fake bride jackpot.
And as we amble down the path of fragrant flowers, I decide that this feels just right. There’s no-one else I’d rather be going on this crazy matrimonial adventure with.
Jules turns and catches me staring at her. I wink, and her nervous smile transforms into something radiant that takes my breath away. I struggle not to trip over my own feet.
My family is all here—my mom, my brothers, my nephew, and Cameron.
Cameron is in the front row next to Mom, trying to keep a straight face while his cousin jabs him in the ribs and yanks on his suspenders.
I’m sure both boys would rather be running around in the woods, but for now, the promise of cake is keeping them in their seats.
Jules’s side of the crowd definitely outnumbers mine.
I don’t even recognize half of these people.
Her great-grandma seems to have invited every living relative in their family tree.
Jules’s cousins, her half-sisters, her grandparents, some aunts and uncles, and a tall middle-aged man who’s sending daggers my way. I assume that’s her dirtbag dad.
Then Jules’s poor mom is sort of off on her own, standing in the front and trying not to be intimidated by the Lannister side of the family. My chest swells with pride when, at the very last moment, my mom stretches out a hand, coaxing Mei to join the Raines side of the gathering.
Once at the altar, my blushing bride’s eyes don’t leave mine throughout the entire ceremony. Jules and I effectively block out the noise together as we exchange our simple vows.
Orange and yellow butterflies flutter and swirl around us as we slide simple wedding bands onto each other’s ring fingers.
The metal is cool against my skin, a stark reminder of the contract we signed only a few weeks ago.
But the feeling of her delicate thumb brushing mine is anything but cold.
Her gentle touch sends electric sparks dancing across my palm.
When it’s time to kiss my bride, I brush my lips over hers, once and twice and again. I take my time, ignoring the cheers and whistles from our audience.
I hear Rocco shouting, "Get a room!" but I couldn't care less.
I get lost in the feel of my wife’s lips, fully aware that I’m not supposed to feel like this. This sensation that I feel all the way down to my bones was not in the cards.
God. Am I actually falling for this woman?
The first time I got married, the ceremony was just a stiff, formal event at a chapel in Chicago. It was followed by a wine-fueled blur of a weekend at some vineyard that was way overpriced.
Don’t get me wrong. I have never regretted marrying Cynthia. She is the mother of my child. It was the right thing to do without a doubt. But our wedding day was so vastly different than today.
Today just feels so…real.
Too real for a quick business transaction that went down in my home office on a random Monday afternoon a few weeks ago.
So real that I kind of want to make good on the promises Jules and I have exchanged at the altar here today. So real that I want to track down each copy of that marriage contract we signed and run it through a paper shredder.
So real that I think I might want to keep her when all this is over.