“I can’t believe Mom and Tess pulled this off in a few weeks,” Ryker commented.
“Makes me wonder what they would’ve come up with if they had more time. But I’m sure I’ll find out as soon as one of you gets marr—”
“Don’t say it out loud,” Ryker said with a grin. “Might jinx me. Can’t believe you’re the first in the family to marry.”
I grinned back, silently agreeing with him. I hadn’t thought I’d be the first one either. I hadn’t envisioned marrying at all, period.
I looked around again. What did Josie think about everything? She’d been so adamant about not wanting this to feel like an actual wedding, yet looking around, I couldn’t imagine anything looking more like a wedding.
I was waiting in front of the officiant. When the music started, I looked up to the end of the red carpet, and nearly swallowed my tongue. She was wearing a wedding dress. Why hadn’t she told me that? Why hadn’t anyone? Had Josie felt she had to do this in order to keep up appearances?
I couldn’t say why this impacted me so much. Even through the short veil covering her face, I noticed that her eyes were a little glassy. I wanted to soothe her, to reassure her. With shock, I realized that there was some part of me longing for this to not be just for pretend. I mentally shook myself. I couldn’t get caught up in moments like this and mess everything up. Josie was here today to do me a favor, to help me out. I’d better not muddle things.
I wasn’t her forever guy. She was my best friend, and that was all she was ever going to be. She wasn’t going to fall for me. She hadn’t until now, so why would things change?
Her dad walked with her, beaming at the rest of the family on the way. Josie’s parents and siblings looked beyond happy, which brought along yet another wave of guilt.
I had to do something about all the guilt. And if I was feeling this way, I couldn’t even imagine how Josie felt.
She smiled at the crowd, a warm and genuine smile. Or maybe I just wished it so badly that I saw what I wanted.
“Take good care of her,” her dad said when they reached me.
“I will, sir. I promise.”
I planned to make good on my promise. The Christmas trip was a good start. Josie wasn’t one to easily accept things, but I wouldn’t back down. When I took her hand, kissing it, I was overwhelmed by emotion in a way I couldn’t explain or even comprehend.
Josie’s hand was shaking. I squeezed it lightly as we both turned to face the officiant.
He began the ceremony, greeting and welcoming everyone. I was too caught up in Josie to hear him, and yet, when he spoke about being together for better or for worse, I couldn’t block out his words.
I wanted to believe what he said, but more often than not, I met people who gave up when the going got rough. I glanced at Josie again, looking for any signs that she was as affected by this moment as I was.
When the officiant said, “You may kiss the bride,” blood rushed in my ears, pounding with ferocity. I lifted her veil slowly.
She was stunning. Her eyes were bright, her lips full and beckoning me. When I leaned in to kiss her, I could barely hold myself back. I felt a deep, desperate need to claim this woman as mine.
***
Josie
Up until now, I’d felt as if I was watching everything, myself included, as a movie. But when Hunter kissed me, I felt like a princess in a fairy tale, awoken from slumber by the prince’s kiss. Everything came into focus. Correction. Everything about him came into focus. His soft yet determined lips. The deep, lazy strokes of his tongue. His hand on my arm, touching my bare skin.
Someone cleared their throat.
“Easy there, we can all see you can’t wait to be alone,” Ryker said. Hunter smiled against my lips before pulling back, glaring at Ryker.
I blushed, but when Hunter took my hand, and we walked out arm in arm, I couldn’t help but grin from ear to ear.
“You look stunning, Josie,” he whispered as we lined up for pictures. In an even lower voice, he added, “You didn’t tell me you’d be wearing a white dress.”
“Thought I’d surprise you.”
“Did my cousins force your hand?”
I nudged him playfully. “Show a bit more faith in me, will ya? I liked this one, so I thought what the heck? Why waste the opportunity?”
We smiled and posed for the pics, and I tried not to allow my emotions to overwhelm me again.
It was a testament to Amelia’s and Tess’s organizational talent that the wedding looked as if they’d worked on it for months, rather than a few weeks.
I had attended plenty of weddings lately, what with half my friends tying the knot, and this one was right up there with the most elaborate ones I’d seen. I was happy I’d chosen a bridal gown. A cocktail dress wouldn’t have done all of this justice, and I didn’t need yet another reason to feel guilt toward Hunter’s family.
The ballroom was connected to the ceremony area by an archway with flowers. Hunter and I led the way, with the wedding party just behind us and the rest of the guests following suit.
The ballroom was simply beautiful. Understated elegance and more than a dash of romanticism. High ceiling supported by columns on the outskirts and a crystal chandelier hanging in the center. The room had two levels: the ground floor, and half a level higher, balconies with wrought iron railings. Twinkling lights were interspersed here and there, casting a warm glow throughout the room, highlighting the white freesias that served as centerpieces. The tables were arranged on the balconies. The ground floor was entirely used for dancing.
The next hour was a whirlwind as everyone congratulated us. By the time we finally sat at the bridal table, I couldn’t feel my toes. But my reprieve didn’t last long, because the DJ announced it was time for the first dance.
“Ready, Mrs. Josie Gallagher?” Hunter asked.
I laughed, taking his hand. There was a pep in my step as we headed toward the dance floor.
“You’re not going to get over the fact that I didn’t take your name anytime soon, are you?” I asked once he placed an arm around my waist. I was trying to distract myself, to focus on anything other than how close he was. It was to no avail; his presence was inescapable.
“I plan to make you feel guilty about it for a long time.”
“No chance. I have zero guilt about not further inflating your ego. You think you have too much swagger anyway.”
“Let me prove my swagger then, wife.”
I shuddered at the word. I’d never imagined Hunter would say that word to anyone, much less to me. I’d been looking forward to the dance this morning, but now my hormones were still in overdrive from the kiss earlier. Even the barest of touches set me on the edge, and I wasn’t sure I could dance with him and not give myself away.
When Hunter held me even tighter, I knew I didn’t stand a chance. He’d take one look at me and just know.
“Thank God you made me practice,” he muttered in my hair after twirling me once.
“See, listen to me. You’ll get far.”
He threw his head back, laughing. “Spoken like a true wife.”
“And your best friend,” I reminded him. He smiled wickedly.
“I’d say you’ve become more daring since you put on that first ring.”