Chapter 102
GEORGINA
One year later
“And now, it’s time for you both to exchange your vows,” Henn says. “At least, that’s what the template says we should do now.”
Everyone seated in rows on our patio chuckles. And I don’t blame them. For his first time officiating a wedding, Henn is absolutely killing it.
There was never any serious question that Henn would officiate our wedding, while Josh served as Reed’s best man, any more than there was a question that Alessandra would be my maid of honor and Kat my bridesmaid.
Or that Reed and I would get married here, on our patio, surrounded only by the people we love the most. Reed and I both knew long distance travel would be difficult for my father, thanks to some lasting side effects from chemo.
And also that Reed’s mother would never want to fly internationally, even if Reed were to arrange a luxurious private flight for her.
Plus, Eleanor hates hotels, so we knew she’d be most comfortable staying here, at our house, along with her favorite nurse, Tina.
And so, in the end, Reed and I agreed to get hitched here, exactly like this, rather than in some far-flung exotic locale. And we couldn’t be happier about it.
“Georgie?” Henn prompts. “Why don’t you say your vows first. Show Reed how it’s done.”
Nerves rocket through me. Not because I have any doubt about pledging myself to Reed forever.
But because I’m quite certain what I’ve come up with for vows won’t come close to expressing the depth of my love for Reed—the gorgeous, generous, enthralling man who’s become my world.
My breathing stilted, I pull a piece of paper out of my cleavage.
“Sorry,” I mumble, indicating the paper. “I didn’t want to mess this up.”
“You can’t mess it up,” Reed says soothingly, squeezing my hand. “No matter what you say, it will be perfect.”
I glance down at the paper. And then return to Reed’s chocolate eyes.
I clear my throat. “Reed, loving you feels like the most natural thing in the world—like breathing and blinking and smiling.” I smile.
“I never have to think about loving you, because I was born to do it. Designed to do it. But ‘love’ isn’t a big enough word for how I feel about you.
There’s really no word for it, actually.
No way for language to encapsulate the depth and endlessness of my devotion to you, any more than the word ‘infinite’ truly encapsulates the vastness of outer space.
Please know that I love you as deeply as a human being can love.
I adore you, with every drop of me. I admire and respect you.
And I like you. My vow to you today is to love you fiercely and faithfully, forever.
Until we’re old and gray. Which, in your case, will be in about three years. ”
Reed hoots with laughter, along with Henn and Josh. Plus, I can hear Alessandra and Kat guffawing behind my back, as well, along with everyone in our audience.
“Try the veal, I’m here all week,” I say, making Reed chuckle again. I crumple my paper and toss it behind me, and then grab both of Reed’s hands. “It boils down to this. My beloved Reed, I promise to be yours, in sickness and health. For richer or poorer—”
“Don’t jinx me, baby.”
Again, everyone laughs, including me.
“Reed Rivers, I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you, as your wife. I love you so much. I promise to give you, and only you, all of me. Forever.”
“Perfect.” He leans in and kisses me gently. “I love you so much.”
“I love you, too. So, so much.”
“That was so beautiful, Georgie,” Henn says. He smiles at his best friend. “Okay, buddy. You’re up. Make it good.”
“I’ll do my best.” A huge smile overtakes Reed’s face.
“To start, I feel the need to correct a few things I’ve said in the past—things that were true when I said them, but aren’t anymore.
I once told you I’m a believer in ‘going big or going home.’ But now that I love you the way I do, I’ve realized that’s not an either-or proposition.
Going home is going big, as long as I’m coming home to you. ”
I clamp my lips together to keep my chin from trembling.
“Another thing,” Reed says. “I once called you the ‘Ginger Rogers of Spin.’ But I’ve since realized that’s too limiting.
You’re the Ginger Rogers of Life. A badass at everything you do.
Far more so than me. From the outside, people might look at us and assume I’m the teacher here—that I’m some sort of Svengali.
But the truth is you’ve taught me far more than I’ve taught you.
You’ve taught me how to love, Georgie. You’ve taught me how to be happy. ”
Well, that does it. Tears spring in my eyes.
“You’re my partner,” he says, his chest heaving. But then, his mouth quirks up with a little half-smile. “My sparring partner, at times, yes. My partner in crime, for sure. But, always, my equal partner.”
My breathing hitches as I try not to sob.
He cups my cheek in his palm. “I thought I knew it all when I met you, Georgina Ricci. I thought I had the whole world figured out. But you came along and showed me what I was missing. You completed me and brought me pure joy. And for that, I’m so grateful.
My vow to you, my beloved Georgina, is that I’ll always love and protect you and take care of you.
You’ve got me, baby. All of me. And I promise, every day of my life, forever, to make sure I’m the Fred Astaire you rightly deserve. ”
Best. Wedding. Reception. Ever.
With a loud whoop, I throw my bridal bouquet up and behind my back.
And when I spin around to see where my flowers landed, I’m thrilled to discover it’s Zasu, the woman who mentored me during my internship at Rock ‘n’ Roll, who’s caught them.
It’s a perfect result, since Zasu is always telling me horror stories from her “hellacious” dating life.
Hopefully, those flowers will bring her a prince, the next time she swipes right on Tinder, rather than yet another frog.
Although, given that Tinder is Zasu’s primary vehicle for meeting men, I wouldn’t count on it.
As Zasu raises her flowers into the air, a loud cheer rises up inside the house—a telltale sign that yet another “super-group” has walked onstage to perform another “typical wedding song” for the party.
It’s the only wedding gift Reed and I requested: for Reed’s attending artists to get up onstage, at some point during the reception, in any combinations, and thrill our guests with their interpretations of classic party songs.
Tunes like Dancing Queen and Love Shack and Uptown Funk.
And that’s exactly what these musical geniuses have been doing all night long. And it’s been the best thing, ever.
The iconic piano intro to “I Will Survive” sounds from inside the house, followed by the smooth vocals of the one and only Dean Masterson of Red Card Riot singing the instantly recognizable first line.
“I have to dance to this one!” I shriek. I mean, come on. Dean Masterson is singing “I Will Survive”... at my wedding? My fourteen-year-old self would need smelling salts.
As if on cue, my new husband appears at my side, looking dapper in his perfectly tailored Armani tux, and leads me on his arm into the house.
As we walk toward the French doors on the opposite side of the large patio, I notice C-Bomb and Dax Morgan sitting on a bench together in a far corner, their body language relaxed and friendly. “Reed, look.” I gesture to the unlikely duo, and Reed and I share a huge smile.
Before tonight, we already knew the guys of 22 Goats and Red Card Riot had received our wedding invitations and decided to put their differences aside to party under one roof for the first time in years.
But knowing Dax and C-Bomb had finally decided to bury the hatchet, in our honor, and actually seeing them together, looking like old friends, laughing and smiling.
.. well, those are two different things.
“That happened because of you,” Reed says.
I scoff. “No. They’re here because celebrating with you was more important to them than hanging onto whatever originally pissed them off.”
Reed chuckles. “Silly Mrs. Rivers. What I meant is they’re all so shocked I landed a catch like you, they were dying to see for themselves if you actually went through with saying ‘I do.’”
I roll my eyes and he laughs.
Inside the house, we find Dean singing his heart out onstage, as expected, backed by some of the most recognizable musicians in the world, all of them looking like they’re having the time of their lives up there, making that campy song their own.
When we reach the dance floor, we’re welcomed enthusiastically by Josh and Kat—who looks svelte and gorgeous in her tight-fitting blue gown—and, also, by Henn and Hannah—who’s sporting an adorable baby bump these days.
Not surprisingly, Henn begins performing one of his patented “break dance moves,” making everyone around him laugh and egg him on.
And, soon, our little dance party in the middle of the floor is the place to be.
In rapid succession, we’re joined by the Fantastic Four: Keane, Maddy, Zander, and Aloha, who, in turn, are accompanied by Kat’s adorable parents, Thomas and Louise Morgan.
Soon, the next wave shows up: Reed’s sister, Dax, Colin and his date, and Alessandra and Fish, all of whom begin dancing like there’s no tomorrow.
Still dancing, Alessandra comes over to me and grabs my hands, and we do a joyful little jig that makes me feel like I’ve got a jetpack on my back.
As Reed predicted, Alessandra’s single, “Blindsided,” eventually rose as high as number eight on the charts and launched her in a big way.
So much so, Alessandra’s eventual album, which released four months ago, has already churned out three top twenty hits, including an adorable duet she co-wrote and recorded with Fish called “Smitten,” which recently hit number one on the Alternative Chart.
When I disengage from Alessandra, I prance over to Owen, who’s dancing with Zasu, and then my father, and Leonard and his wife, before returning to my husband to finish out the song.
As I dance, my eyes drift around the room, grazing over all the familiar, happy faces.
CeeCee and her husband, Francois. Professor Schiff and her date.
Bernie, my old boss from the bar, with his sweet wife.
Reed’s mom is dancing with Amalia and her nurse, Tina, and the orderly, Oscar, who made the trip, at our invitation and on Reed’s dime.
And, suddenly, it hits me like a ton of bricks what a truly magical thing a wedding is in a person’s life.
The one and only time—at least, when they’re alive to see it—when a person is surrounded by literally everyone who loves them, from every segment and phase of their life, all under one roof—and everyone is full of pure joy.
Feeling overcome with love and gratitude, I hurl myself at Reed, pull his face to mine by his sexy scruff, and kiss him fervently. “Happy wedding day, my gorgeous hunk of a husband!”
Reed laughs. “Oh, shit. I’m a husband?” He looks down at the metal band on his finger. “Wait. Is that what all that ring exchanging and ‘I do-ing’ meant? Someone should have told me!”
I giggle with glee and kiss his ring. “Sorry, Mr. Rivers. The deed is done, and you can’t take it back. I’m all yours, according to a legally binding contract. And you’re all mine. Don’t you know the first rule of negotiations? Careful what you ask for—you just might get it.”
Reed nuzzles my nose, a huge smile on his face. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. Happy wedding day, Cinderella.”
I swoon. “I knew you were my Prince Charming, the minute I met you.”
He laughs. “And this is the part of the fairytale where we get to ride off into the sunset and live happily ever after.”
I look into Reed’s sparkling, chocolate eyes. “There’s no need for us to ride off anywhere, my love. We’re already here.”