Chapter 31
Jesse
When those church doors open, my heart stops. Ella is standing there on her dad’s arm, but I barely notice him. It feels like the room just got smaller, closing in on us. Her. She’s all I see.
As the music continues to play, they start down the aisle. I don’t even try to stop myself from crying. She’s breathtaking, and that dress, holy—. My body floods with heat and my hands get shaky as all these emotions build. I feel a pat on my back, Cody. Then I feel a graze of another hand, Mason.
Once she reaches the end of the aisle, I take in more of her. Her hair is pulled half up and curled, short strands falling around the edges of her face. And did I mention the dress on her? Good grief, don’t even get me started. It’s beautiful, she makes it beautiful.
Our eyes lock in on each other and I feel paralyzed. I can’t move or breathe.
I’ve loved this girl since I was sixteen. I thought I lost her and was convinced I’d spend the rest of my life with regret, dreaming about what could’ve been, what I could’ve had if I had just fought for her. I don’t know what I did to deserve a second chance with her again.
The pastor talks and I’m half listening.
I’m caught up in Ella’s smile, her eyes—everything about her has me like a love-struck puppy.
I’m thinking about our future, it all starts flashing rapidly through my mind.
Today, tonight, tomorrow, a week from now, three months from now, four years from now.
I’m beyond excited to see what our life together brings.
When it comes time for our vows, Ella’s going first and I’m trying to prepare myself. I really didn’t want to cry like a complete baby but I’m already halfway there.
She unfolds the paper and clears her throat.
“Jesse, I have loved you for as long as I can remember. Even when life pulled us apart, I never stopped. I knew the moment we reconnected we were meant to find our way back to each other. You have always made me feel safe and seen. You’re patient with me even when I don’t deserve it.
” She pauses, blinking against the threatening tears.
A lump forms in my throat, and I squeeze my hands together harder, trying to ground my emotions. Her wet eyes look at me before continuing.
“I promise to love you and choose you every single day. To stand beside you and support you in everything we do.” She takes in one last breath and glances up at me again.
“I love you, Jesse Lee Jennings. I can’t wait to start the life we’ve always dreamed about together.
” She finishes with a smile and wipes her wet cheeks before folding the paper back up.
I didn’t write my vows. I told myself I was going to get up here and say whatever I felt at the moment.
I started to write them out but it turned into a three-page love letter, front and back.
Mom suggested I try to condense it, but I couldn’t.
So here we are, speaking straight from the heart instead.
I reach for Ella’s hands, squeezing them in mine. They’re sweaty and a little shaky as well. I try to ignore everyone around us and focus on her.
Letting out a breath, I look straight into her eyes. I’m definitely not going to be able to keep it together.
“Ella, you are the most amazing woman I have ever met. The best thing that’s ever happened to me.
Teenagers or not, you have always been my rock.
I knew I loved you then, and I for sure know it now.
I wish that life wouldn’t have gotten in the way like it did back then, but it’s also something to be thankful for.
I needed time to grow up and mature into the man I am today.
For you, Ella Kate. There’s absolutely nothing I wouldn’t do for you.
That will never change.” I let myself take another breath.
My voice feels thicker, and my ears feel clogged as tears build.
She squeezes my hands just before I continue.
“I promise to love you, on your good days and bad. That no matter what, I will always, always fight for you and us.”
Ella reaches up to wipe her eyes as I do the same.
The second we walk back down that aisle together and get out and away from everyone, I grab Ella, spin her around, and kiss her again. The only private kiss we’ll have until we get home tonight. This feeling of happiness is indescribable.
* * *
The reception is lively. Everyone seems to be having fun, eating, drinking, dancing. It’s not even 7 p.m. yet and I’m already itching to get out of here with her. We have things to do. Babies to make. Just kidding, we’re not trying to do that quite yet.
We talked about wanting to settle into married life together for a few months first. After all, it’ll be our first time living together. I’ve never lived with a woman. She lived with her ex, so she has more experience with that aspect, I guess, but I’m not worried about it. I think we’ll be great.
After we have our first dance, the DJ opens the floor up to all couples to join in. My parents are on one side of us and hers are on the other. Everyone else is distant relatives who I don’t even really know.
“Is Addison okay?” Ella whispers in my ear.
I look over to see her standing on the side of the dance floor, and she looks angry. Brantley is beside her drinking out of a red Solo cup. My gut tells me it’s not water. If he’s anything like I was at his age, he somehow managed to get a beer.
“She’s probably mad that he’s not out here dancing with her. Or that he’s drinking,” I whisper back to Ella.
“Well, maybe you could tell him he can’t? He’s not of age.”
I laugh, but she just gives me an eye before looking back at them.
“El, you really think—”
“Wait, I think Wesley’s intervening,” She cuts me off.
I look over. Wesley is talking to Brantley, while Addison is looking at Wes with hopeful eyes.
They go back and forth a few times before Wesley walks off.
Brantley says something seemingly rude to Addison and then walks the other direction.
Addison stands there looking even more upset. Yeah, I’m not letting that slide.
The song ends and I let go of Ella. “I gotta figure that out.” I kiss her forehead and make my way across the floor.
“Addie?” I call out, and she looks at me, her face lighting up a little. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah.” She bites her lip.
I tilt my head at her; she’s lying.
“Brantley’s drinking and I’m afraid he’s going to get drunk,” she says. Before I can say anything, Wesley stops beside me and enters the conversation.
“I told him to stop after one since he has to drive home tonight, but he insisted he can handle at least three more and still be fine,” Wes says.
“Oh, did he now?” My demeanor changes. I don’t like cocky, especially from a nineteen-year-old kid. “Too bad we don’t have any family members who are cops here.” I shrug before turning around to find Mason.
“Jesse …” Addison warns.
“Let him handle it, Addie,” I hear Wes tell her just before I’m through a crowd of people.
I stop beside Mason as he’s talking to some girl. Observing his red cheeks, I inspect further. He’s sweating profusely—his forehead is beaded with sweat and his shirt is wet under his arms. If I didn’t have something serious I wanted to talk to him about, I’d give him a hard time over it.
Their conversation is forced to stop as they turn their attention to me.
“Yeah?” Mason’s tone is sharp, but he forces a smile to cover his irritation toward me interrupting his attempt at picking up this girl.
“Brantley needs his ass handed to him; he’s drinking,” I tell him.
He straightens and looks beyond me for him.
“What is he, stupid?” he retorts, a sharper tone coming out, along with a head shake.
“Apparently.”
He apologizes to the girl and walks off. I don’t follow him; I find my way back to Ella. She’s still having fun on the dance floor. The DJ just turned on Shania Twain and she is all about it.
Within the hour, Ella is a full-on tease. A few glasses of wine and she’s whispering things in my ear that, as a man, I cannot handle in a public space. I’m done trying to hold back. I need her home, out of that dress, and in our bed hours ago.
Saying our quick goodbyes, we start down the driveway for our house. I didn’t really think about it, but my truck is blocked in and I’m not waiting a half hour to get it out just to drive a quarter mile down the driveway. I usually have a lot of patience but not today, not for that.
“These heels are killing me. Hold on.” She stops and reaches down to take them off.
“I’ll carry you,” I suggest and pick her up before she has a chance to argue. Her laugh is contagious, snort and all.
“Look at you and your muscles,” she teases, running a finger seductively down my bicep.
I can’t help but laugh at her. “How many glasses of wine did you have, sweetheart?”
“Not many. They only fill them halfway. Little, tiny bit, like this.” She shows me the measurement with her fingers.
“And how many of those ‘little, tiny bits’ did you have?”
“It doesn’t matter.” She grins and starts to kiss my neck.
When we get inside, I make sure to turn the outside lights off, lock the door, and kennel the dogs. I want no interruptions. None.
Walking back to our bedroom, I find Ella trying to get her dress off herself but struggling with the ties in the back.
“Hey, why are you starting without me?” I step in to help. The reality setting in, my heart starts to race more.
“I’m just trying to move things along so we can get down to it.”
“Well, I don’t want to rush.”
“I don’t either but this took me ten minutes to get into, so I feel like it’s going to take you twenty to get off.”
“You just say the word, baby, and I’ll have this dress off you in about three seconds.” My voice low and seductive in her ear, she giggles.
“Nooo, I don’t want to rip it.”
“I didn’t think so. Because who knows, if we’re blessed with a daughter, one day she can wear it.”
“Do you want a daughter?”
“Of course.”
“Really? I take you for a boy kinda guy.”
“Long as I get to make them with you, I don’t care.”
As I reach the end of the dress, Ella spins around to face me, takes a step back, and slips the lace sleeves off before slowly pulling the rest of it down her body and stepping out of it.
Revealing what she’s wearing underneath has me taking a hard swallow, and my body starts to heat up.
Her refusal to break eye contact makes all the blood in my body rush so much it almost aches. In the best way of course.
“Ella,” I choke out.
“You like?” she asks, running her hands over the white lace that barely covers her.
“Mm-hmm.” Proper words aren’t forming.
Gently cupping her face with my hand, I trace my thumb along her cheek before I kiss her softly.
The space between us closes when she presses her body against mine.
Her hands run up my back and settle in my hair.
My hands glide over her curves, down her sides, and stop at her waist as I deepen the kiss.
She pulls me toward her, guiding us to the bed.
My body comes down over hers and I leave a trail of sensual kisses along her neck.
Time stands still and the world around us blurs. It has me feeling like I’m living in a dream because there’s no way I got this lucky with the most perfect woman in the world that I finally get to call my wife.