Page 76 of Recklessly in Love

Nate’s other brother, Dylan, officiates. He’s a musician, but apparently, anyone can become an officiant. When he calls the ceremony to order, Mia gives me a joyful but nervous smile. I squeeze her hand and push her toward the front of the crowd.

“Thank you all for coming today to share in uniting Nathan Edwards and Mia Anderson in marriage,” he begins.

Everyone quiets down, and Nate and Mia join hands in front of Dylan, eyes locked on each other, grins on both of their faces.

“Now, the bride and groom have elected to do their own additional vows privately after the ceremony, so everyone pay attention because this is going to go fast. Which is good because there’s Chantilly crème chiffon cake waiting for us,” he jokes. My mouth fills with saliva at the thought of one of Mia’s best cakes, so I don’t chuckle with everyone for fear of drooling all over my new lilac-colored tulle gown.

Dylan turns to Nate. “Do you, Nathan Edwards, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to live together in matrimony, to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, in sorrow and joy, to have and to hold, from this day forward, as long as you both shall live?”

“I do,” Nate says thickly.

Mia choke-sobs, and I hold a hand up to my mouth to stifle a similar noise. They’ve both already been through so much between Gran’s death, struggles with Mia’s parents, and opening their businesses. Not to mention all the recent drama.

Nate smiles down at her, but I can tell he’s about to lose it, too.

Now Dylan turns to Mia, and just the look on her face has me blinking back tears. Even as a sobbing mess, she’s beautiful and radiating joy. “Do you, Mia Anderson, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to live together in matrimony, to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, in sorrow and joy, to have and to hold, from this day forward, as long as you both shall live?”

Mia nods for a moment as she swallows another happy sob. “Yes.” Dylan looks at her with raised eyebrows. She’s only confused for a moment before she laughs and chokes out, “I do” around giggles.

I facepalm and shake my head, laughing. Only Mia would forget the one line she’s supposed to nail. Thankfully, Nate is chuckling, too.

Dylan smirks. “Nate and Mia will now exchange the rings they’ve chosen for each other as a symbol of their unending love.” He turns to Nate, who fishes a ring from his pants pocket. “As you place this ring on Mia’s finger, please repeat after me.” Mia offers her hand, which Nate takes, carefully sliding the simple band onto her finger next to her blindingly huge engagement ring. “With this ring, I thee wed and pledge you my love now and forever.”

And that’s the line that does Nate in. Tears pouring down his face, he manages in a thick, joy-filled voice, “With this ring, I thee wed and pledge you my love now and forever.”

Tears are pouring down Mia’s face, too, as her hand shakes in his. And I wish I’d brought a towel to mop these two up afterward. I brush away a few of my own tears, realizing I probably also need one. An elbow gently nudges me from the side, and Nate’s mom slips me a tissue. I gratefully accept it, hoping she has more of those on hand.

“You ready, Mia, or do you guys need a minute?” Dylan teases.

Mia laughs and shakes her head. “I’m so ready.” She takes Nate’s hand and reveals the ring she’d had tucked in her palm.

Dylan smiles patiently and prompts her, “With this ring, I thee wed and pledge you my love now and forever.”

Mia takes a shaky, deep breath and slides the ring onto Nate’s finger, looking lovingly up into his face. “With this ring, I thee wed and pledge you my love now and forever.” And I think the worst of the tears have passed for her because she’s far steadier than Nate was. Nate, however, continues to cry unabashedly.

I’m not usually one for emotional displays, but seeing Nate, a steady rock of a man, cry like this is getting to me. Almost as much as Mia’s tears are. I can feel Greg’s eyes on me, but I don’t look. If I do, I know I’ll see his love and concern there, and then I’ll lose it, too. We can’t have the whole wedding party be a blubbering mess.

Dylan grins at the happy couple and spreads his arms out. “By the authority vested in me by the State of Washington … I now pronounce you husband and wife!”

The small crowd, myself included, claps, hoots, and cheers as Nate leans in and kisses Mia sweetly. And I can’t help it; I lean into Greg and whisper in his ear. “You can bet your gorgeous ass if that were us, there’d be a whole lot more tongue.”

Greg chuckles and leans toward me. “And probably some groping.” He winks at me.

I grin and give him a “guilty as charged” shrug because we both know he means me.

Nate and Mia turn to us all and are passed around for hugs before Rae leads us back to the community center, where the reception is held. It’s full of laughter, love, and more pastries than even I can handle. The cake is out of this world, and I’m pretty sure I’m going to be ordering this on the regular just because it’s practically orgasmic. Light, fluffy, and buttery, the cake itself is bliss even without the decadent vanilla-flavored whipped heaven. But watching Mia and Nate’s joy is the cherry on top. It’s the perfect day for my best friend, and my heart is so full of happiness for her and Nate.

As the happy couple departs for their Hawaiian honeymoon – a nod to the trip Mia was forced to abandon, ultimately allowing them to meet in the first place – Greg pulls me aside. We walk hand in hand to the pond on one side of the community center, settling on a bench overlooking the tranquil water.

I smile to myself remembering ice skating last winter when Greg and I showed off for each other before our first real heavy-petting session in his office.

“Well, it seems like that went off without a hitch. That might be the first event here that has,” Greg teases, running his hand through the layers of tulle of my skirt.

I turn toward him with a smirk. “I’m glad. They deserved it. Though I half expected her parents to show up and start some shit.”

“God, I hadn’t even thought of that,” he admits. “I hope my parents don’t do that when we get married.”

A laugh spills out of me. “When we get married?” I tease. “I don’t remember you even asking.”

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