Page 145 of Wedlocked

I left the bathroom and reached for Matty’s hand. “I’m ready.”

Forever, I’ll be happy.

25

Kruger

Bros.Don’t tell anyone this, but I’m starting to think Arsen had the right idea. He skipped over everything and went straight to the marriage. He didn’t even have to wear a bowtie.

Bro, why didn’t I think of that?

I mean, for real, if my bride took any longer, we were gonna have to apply for social security at the same time we filed the marriage certificate.

I glanced over my shoulder at Bennett Andrews. “She’ll be here,” I told him. “This isn’t one of those left-at-the-altar situations.”

“Brides arrive in their own time,” he replied as though he did this all the time.

“You’ve only been standing there for two minutes,” Arsen put in from right beside me.

“When P comes out, you better move down,” I told him.

“Who?” he wondered.

I rolled my eyes. “Keep rubbing it in that you’re already married.”

Arsen smiled, floating his fingers over the newly wrapped tattoo on his ring finger. Got P’s—I mean, A’s—name right there around his finger.

Everyone was outside on the massive deck of the chalet. The afternoon weather was a crisp thirty degrees with the sky slightly overcast. The freshly fallen snow from the night before made the landscape look untouched, and all the tree branches were freshly capped with white.

The portable heaters we rented were spaced out around the deck, putting out a surprising amount of heat. The string lights were on, and I stood waiting beneath a large evergreen arch filled with white flowers and lights.

Leading to the back door where I was willing Jess to appear was a white runner lined with flickering candles. We didn’t bother with chairs, opting to let everyone stand with us. I wasn’t putting on a show, know what I mean? I was locking down my bride, my happy-ever-after. Family wasn’t spectators. They were participants.

Since we didn’t have to have a bunch of useless chairs around, we opted for balloons. Large transparent ones wrapped with LED lights. To keep them anchored, we attached weights to the strings (also wrapped with lights) and positioned them around the deck. It was kinda cool, like floating lights.

Beneath the overhang, Arsen had his DJ equipment set up, music already playing through the speakers.

A few high-top tables also sat around, draped in white tablecloths with champagne on ice and glasses. The food was inside and would be served after I had an official wife.

Speaking of…What the ever-loving fu?—

Arsen slapped me on the back, cutting off my impatient thoughts. “It’s go time,” he said.

He started away, but I grabbed the sleeve of his jacket.

He turned back.

“Tell me I’m not going to be a shitty husband,” I said, suddenly panicked.

He smiled. “Bro, you are one hundred percent husband material.”

I nodded. “Hell yes, I am.”

He left me there to go switch the music, and I turned to focus on the door. The song changed, and the door opened. My breath caught, and I leaned forward, too anxious for a glimpse of the girl who’d been denying me all day long.

I groaned the second Rory stepped out. “Come on!” I complained.

Rory’s feet stuttered, and Ryan gave me a death glare.