Page 104 of Offside Angel

He reads from some printed-out wedding ceremony guide he must have found online, but I don’t hear a word. Zane runs his thumbs over my knuckles, back and forth, and traces his eyes over every detail of my face. It’s impossible to think about anything when he’s looking at me like this.

Suddenly, Zane opens his mouth, and it takes me far too many seconds to realize that it’s time for vows.

Panic claws up my throat because I didn’t prepare anything. At some point in the chaos of this last week, we decided to do our own vows.

“I don't want someone else’s words in my mouth while I'm making my vows to you,” he said, and it sounded so damn good when he said it that it was all I could do to contain my drool and nod.

The problem is, I don’t have a single clue what I’m going to say. I never stopped long enough to plan something.

Zane steps close and drops his voice so only I can hear him. “I think this moment should just be for the two of us, don’t you think?”

My chest unclenches. Talking to Zane—I can handle that. “Just me and you.”

He wraps his arm around my waist and presses his lips to my cheek before they settle next to my ear. His voice is deep and steady.

“For a long time, I didn’t think I was capable of taking care of another person. I could barely take care of myself. How could I be any good for anyone else? Then I met you.” He kisses my cheekbone. “You made me feel good enough, Mira. You made me feel worthy. You taught me how to take care of my son and, every second we spent together, I realized more and more how much I wanted to take care of you, too. I just—” He laughs softly against my skin. “I love you, Mira. More than I thought I was capable of. It would be my honor to spend my life taking care of our family and putting you both first.”

I'm not sure I've stopped crying since Aiden walked me down the aisle, but it's a bona fide literal and emotional downpour now. Zane pulls back and, seeing how much I’m crying, immediately closes the gap again. He holds my face in his hands and brushes my tears away.

“I don’t know what to say,” I blubber, falling against his shoulder. I’m probably leaving makeup smears on the fabric, but I can’t bring myself to care. “I-I love you so much, Zane. I didn’t think I would have any of this. Love. Happiness. You. But—” I gesture to him with both hands. “You’re here and I never want to be without you. I promise I’ll love you and Aiden as long as I live. With everything I have.”

I can’t imagine my blubbery, on-the-fly vows are anything to write home about, but I look up to see that Zane is tearing up, too. His eyes are dark and glassy as he jerks me against him.

I fall into the kiss without any fight. I sink against his mouth, bend to his touch. When he tips me back and nips at my lower lip, I’m not sure why he isn’t taking this all the way to the ground to see this show all the way through to its inevitable conclusion.

When Zane sets me upright and pulls away, I’m dazed.

Then Daniel clears his throat, and I remember where exactly we are. “I swear I’m getting to that part of the ceremony next. If you all can just hang with me for another thirty seconds, this will be over.”

A laugh moves through the crowd and my cheeks heat. It only gets worse when I meet the intensity in Zane’s eyes.

For a second there, he was just as lost as I was.

“By the power vested in me by the great state of Arizona and the kind people over at BECOMEAMINISTERREALQUICK.COM, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Zane,” Daniel says warmly, stepping back, “now, you may kiss your bride.”

I expect Zane to grab me the way he did a second ago, but he reaches for my hand with practiced calm. Gently, he pulls me against him and cradles my cheek.

His lips settle over mine, patient and hungry and promising something much deeper the second we’re alone.

When he pulls away far too soon, the smile on his face is the most tender thing I’ve ever seen. His eyes sweep over me as he whispers, almost to himself, “My bride.”

40

MIRA

“Are you absolutely, positively, one hundred percent sure you all want to leave?” I spin in a circle as our friends clean up the reception before my very eyes.

Not even half an hour ago, Zane and I were having our first dance under the glow of the string lights above us. White flower petals covered the dance floor and Zane twirled and dipped me so smoothly I almost felt graceful. Halfway through it, Aiden escaped Daniel’s hold and ran across the dance floor. He threw his arms around our legs and Zane scooped him up so we could all dance together.

Nothing in my life has ever felt more right.

Now, Taylor, Jemma, and Rachelle are blowing out candles and clearing dishes. The hockey players are mostly eating leftover canapes and hiding wine bottles inside their jackets, but still, they’re making quick work of everything, each in their own way.

“It’s barely even eight o’clock.” The sun is setting behind the distant mountains, painting the sky in jewel tones.

“It’s past my bedtime.” Rachelle gives a fake yawn and points towards where Aiden and Gallagher are drooping in their chairs. “It’s past theirs, too.”

“Yeah, we laughed, we cried, we danced, we drank.” Taylor shrugs like there’s nothing left on the list of possible wedding verbs. “Now, it’s time for us to go.”

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