Page 56 of Summer with my Bestie's Brother

“More than ready,” I reply, my eyes fixed on the aisle. “I can’t wait to see her.”

The music starts, and everyone turns to look at the entrance. Lauren appears, holding Charlie in her arms, and walks down the aisle with a wide smile. She winks at me before moving to sit next to my mom in the front row. The music changes, and my heart pounds in my chest as I see Chloe step into view. She looks breathtaking in her wedding dress. A true vision of beauty and grace. Our eyes meet, and she smiles, a radiant, heart-stopping smile that makes everything else fade away.

As she walks down the aisle, I can’t take my eyes off her. Each step brings her closer, and with each step, my heart swells with love and excitement. When she finally reaches me, she offers me her hand, and I feel a surge of emotion.

“You look amazing,” I whisper, my voice choked with emotion.

“So do you,” she replies, and her eyes shine with unshed tears.

The officiant begins the ceremony, but my focus is solely on Chloe. We exchange vows, promising to love and cherish each other for the rest of our lives. Our voices tremble with emotion, but our words are clear and strong. This is our forever. Our happily ever after.

When it’s time to exchange rings, my dad hands them to me with a wink. I slide the ring onto Chloe’s finger, feeling the significance of the moment. She does the same with my ring, her hands steady, despite the tears in her eyes.

“With this ring, I thee wed,” she says, her voice steady.

“With this ring, I thee wed,” I repeat, and my heart feels close to bursting.

The officiant smiles at us, his voice warm and full of joy. “By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

I don’t hesitate. I pull Chloe into my arms and kiss her. I don’t care who’s watching and ignore the roar of our friends and family. It’s just the two of us at that moment, bound together by love and commitment. When we finally pull apart, the applause and cheers of our friends and family bring us back to reality.

We turn to face them, hands clasped, grinning from ear to ear. Together, we walk back down the aisle. Lauren follows us with Charlie still in her arms, asleep and oblivious to the significance of the day.

The reception is a blur of laughter, dancing, and heartfelt toasts. Lauren gives a speech that has everyone in tears, recounting stories from our childhood and expressing her joy at seeing me so happy. My dad’s toast is filled with humor and heartfelt wishes for our future. Chloe and I share our first dance as husband and wife, swaying to the music, lost in each other’s eyes.

As the night progresses, I steal moments with Chloe away from the crowd. We find a quiet corner of the garden, the sounds of the party drifting softly in the background. I pull her close, wrapping my arms around her, and we stand there, savoring the feel of each other.

“This day has been perfect,” Chloe whispers as she rests her head against my chest.

“It has,” I agree, pressing a kiss to her hair. “I still can’t believe it. We’re married.”

She looks up at me, her eyes filled with love. “We are. And I wouldn’t change a thing. You, me, and Charlie, I couldn’t ask for more.”

We stay like that for a while, wrapped in each other’s arms, before returning to the party.

As the evening winds down, and the last of the guests have gone, Chloe and I find ourselves alone in the house with our son. We sit on the couch, her head on my shoulder, my arm around her, and Charlie sleeping in her arms. The house is quiet now, the only sound the ticking of the clock on the wall.

“I can’t believe it’s over,” Chloe says softly. “The day went by so fast.”

“I know,” I reply, feeling a mix of exhaustion and contentment. “But it was perfect.”

She lifts her head to look at me, her eyes sparkling with happiness. “It really was.”

I lean in and kiss her, a slow, lingering kiss that promises more to come. “I love you, Mrs. Thompson.”

She smiles against my lips. “I love you, too, Mr. Thompson.”

We stay there, wrapped in each other’s arms with our son, savoring the quiet and the promise of all the tomorrows to come. It’s the beginning of our forever, and I couldn’t be happier.

The End

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