Page 124 of Faking It with Mr. Uptight

The rest of the bridal party soon joined us, filling the room with laughter and joyful chaos as we began getting dressed and ready.

My sister Sam bringing in a tray of mimosas, because "a woman needs a little bubbly on her wedding day." My ladies lined up with make-up brushes and curling irons to pamper me, happy chaos unfolding all around.

When Sam hadn’t arrived with Mom and Dad, I was worried she wouldn’t make it here at all, but she’d arrived yesterday morning. And I tried not to hold it against her. She made it after all.

I couldn’t stop smiling. Every few minutes my eyes would dart over to the garment bag and between the clock, counting down the minutes.

Finally, after what felt like both a blink and an eternity, it was time. My mom helped me into the simple yet elegant lace gown, smiling proudly as she secured the final buttons along the back. I was a vision in white, although the woman gazing back at me in the mirror hardly looked like myself—her face was absolutely aglow with joy.

I had certainly not been this happy when I was going to marry Brent. This is how it was supposed to be.

The music swelled outside, a lilting melody drifting in through the open window. My bridesmaids lined up behind me, Hailey squeezing my hand excitedly as we prepared to make our way down to the garden courtyard where the ceremony would take place. This was it, the moment I had been waiting for.

As I took one last deep, steadying breath, all I could picture was Jake's bright blue eyes, crinkled at the corners from the huge smile I knew he would be wearing. That was all I needed to feel calm, to feel centered and present in this singular moment. I was marrying my best friend, my partner, my great love today. Everything else faded away until there was just that.

Ready to become his wife, I stepped forward and out into the sunlight. My father took my arm, giving my hand a squeeze and murmuring, "You look beautiful, sweet pea."

"Thank you, Dad," I whispered, leaning over to kiss his cheek.

As the doors to the courtyard swung open, revealing the smiling, tearful faces of friends and family seated beneath the flower-laden arbor, I felt a surge of pure joy rise within me. And then, there he was—Jake, resplendent in a tuxedo, his chestnut hair gleaming in the sunlight. His eyes met mine, and in that moment, nothing else existed except the two of us, and the love we shared.

I walked slowly down the aisle, feeling as though I were floating on a cloud of happiness. My bridesmaids' giggles and hushed whispers melted away, until the only sound was the music swelling around us.

As we reached the front of the aisle, my dad kissed me on the cheek and handed me off to Jake. He took my hands in his, and leaned close, his voice soft and low.

"You look breathtaking," he murmured, his gaze drinking me in. "I can't believe you're about to become my wife."

I grinned up at him, squeezing his hands. "Well, get used to it, Mr. Kingsbury. You're stuck with me now."

As we turned to face the minister, the crowd laughed and cheered. Hailey was wiping a happy tear away as she beamed up at us.

But I barely registered any of it, all my attention focused on the man standing beside me, his hands warm and strong around mine. The minister cleared his throat, a broad smile on his face as he began to speak.

"Friends and family, we are gathered here today to celebrate the union of these two souls in holy matrimony..."

His words flowed over me, a soothing river of love and devotion. But as the moment arrived for us to exchange vows, Jake's grip on my hands tightened, his blue eyes boring into mine with an intensity that made my heart stutter in my chest.

"Molly," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "I promise to love you, to honor you, to cherish you, to spend every day for the rest of my life by your side. You are the sun that lights up my world, the wind beneath my wings...and most importantly, the one who finally got me to like Abba."

The crowd burst into laughter at that, and I playfully swatted his arm as he grinned unrepentantly. Leaving it to Jake to get a few good-natured jokes in, even during our vows.

"You are the beat of my heart," he continued warmly. "Without you, I am incomplete, a man adrift. I promise to never take you for granted, to never stop working to make you happy, and to always remember that you are the best thing that has ever happened to me. Although I may need you to remind me of that occasionally when I inevitably do something boneheaded."

More laughs rippled through the crowd, putting me fully at ease. This was so quintessentially of the new Jake—wanting to share laughter and joy with our loved ones, even in the most sacred of moments.

"You are the love of my life, Molly Sinclair," he said, his eyes shining with sincerity. "And I am the luckiest man alive to have you as my wife...even if it means being subjected to Dancing Queen on a semi-regular basis."

I couldn't help but throw my head back with full-bellied laughter at that, tears of mirth streaming down my cheeks.

"Jake," I began, stroking his arm affectionately. "I promise to love, honor, and cherish you always. To be your partner through whatever life throws our way, especially when it comes to reading flat pack instructions."

The guests howled with delight at that, Jake ducking his head sheepishly even as a proud grin tugged at his lips.

"Or average Tuesdays filled with nothing more than loads of laundry and choosing which mediocre sitcom to put on for background noise. You are my best friend, my happy heart, and the light that guides me through every challenge..."

I continued pouring out all the love and gratitude and sheer joy I felt in that moment, finding the perfect balance of sincerity and playfulness with Jake's help. Because that's just who we were—two people who took our love and commitment just as seriously as we took laughter and enjoying each other's company.

By the time I'd declared Jake the love of my life, and placed that ring on his finger, making him officially my husband, the entire courtyard was aglow with smiles and cheers of approval. Jake leaned down and kissed me, and I tasted the pure, radiant happiness on his lips, knowing he could taste the same joyful elation on mine.

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