Page 27 of Healing Bonds

“Don’t be scared, sis! It’s your big day. You’ve been waiting for this moment for the last six years.” Mia, the youngest of my sisters, held my hand and squeezed it. Her green eyes shone with love.

“It’s time to become my sister, Ames. None of this being scared crap. It’s unlike you. Where’s the wild bitch I fell in love with?” Celine, in all her pregnant glory, bounced on her flats, pure excitement radiating off of every orifice of her body. I swore, I thought she was more excited about today than me and Ryan were.

“Pa is waiting for you outside, sweets. Smile, my beautiful girl. Your life is only beginning,” my mother told me.

The pink door swung open, and Celine led the way as my matron of honor. Ace was waiting for her and pulled her into him for a long kiss, earning a sigh from my sisters as they stared wistfully at the two of them. My three sisters were being escorteddown the aisle by some of Ryan’s friends from the Army, all dressed in uniform, white gloves adorning their hands.

My ma and Ryan’s mother quietly snuck off and took their seats next to Mr. Wilson, and the wedding march began.

Ryan was already waiting at the altar, standing next to the priest, where a big American Flag flew proudly in the soft evening wind. He looked sinfully handsome in his military dress uniform, his clean-shaven face glowing in the sunlight.

He couldn’t see me from my hiding spot in the archway of the door to my bridal suite, but I could see him. His blue eyes were searching the processional line for me.

Ace and Celine walked down the aisle next, followed by Alissa and her groomsman, and then Jamie, and lastly Mia.

The familiar ache of nerves filled my stomach as I stepped out of my hiding spot. All eyes immediately landed on me. I sucked in a harsh breath when I missed my first step, fearing taking a hard fall in front of all of these people, but my Pa’s firm grip tightened around my waist. “You look stunnin’, darlin’.” His voice was filled with a raw mix of happiness and sadness, like he was happy for me but also sad that I was truly growing up. The thought of seeing my old man tearing up pulled at my heartstrings.

“Please, don’t let me fall,” I whispered, my voice shaking with nerves. His grip tightened more.

“Never, my darlin’ girl,” he promised.

My gaze swept over all the full chairs. There were so many eyes on me, so many whispers, so much judgement.

In a sudden moment, my eyes locked on Ryan, and the world faded away. It was just him and me on this gorgeous beach, about to promise each other eternal love. And that was all I needed to continue walking into my future with him.

Pa and I walked slowly down the aisle, along the stone pathway I designed a few weeks ago. Ryan’s eyes filled withtears as they swept over me, and a crooked grin appeared on my favorite pair of lips—his lips.

This was really happening. We were about to be husband and wife. I was about to carry his last name.

I didn’t remember all of the steps that I took, but somehow, I just knew it was twenty-two, and then suddenly, he was holding my hand, pulling me to him in a quick, gentle embrace. His spicy cologne washed over me, and I was instantly reminded of the first time I met him.

How crazy I had been at twenty-one, how intimidated I was by my best friend’s sexy brother, and now, I was going tomarryhim. Spend the rest of my life with him. It still felt a little unreal.

“I love you,” he whispered, his lips barely moving as the priest told everyone to sit. I could only see him, see the absolute love and adoration shining in his eyes for me. “You’re beautiful,” he mouthed. I fought the giggle that threatened to burst from my lips.

This was really happening. I was finally going to completely belong to him.

I couldn’t hear the priest. My attention was solely on my handsome man—the man who was about to become my husband. Ryan’s blue eyes reflected the ocean on a calm day, and the setting sun behind us illuminated his whole face, making my heart soar. His eyes darted from me to the priest, a tiny smile twitching at his lips. I just wanted to kiss him already. I just wanted to be his wife.

His wife. I loved the sound of that.

Celine coughed my name under her breath, and I jumped in shock, swinging my head around to look at her in confusion. She handed me my vows with a big, fat, shit-eating grin. Damn evil bitch. Ryan covered his laugh with a cough.

“I didn’t want to forget anything,” I started, feeling a blush blossom on my cheeks as they burned. Ryan only grinned atme, so much love and adoration for me shining in his eyes that I almost forgot what I was supposed to be doing. I blinked, focusing back on the paper, which was shaking in my grasp. “There’s so many things that I love about you, Ryan Wilson, just so many that if I listed them all, we would be here until next week, and nobody wants to hear that.” Our families laughed, and then, silence rang once again, everyone waiting with bated breath for me to share my vows.

“I fell in love with you six years ago, sitting next to you on your bed after Celine’s surgery.” I heard someone sniffle, but I looked up from my paper to see Ryan listening intently to what I had to say. “You were talking about her and how much you loved her, how you only wanted the best for her, even though you had scared the love of her life away. Thankfully, I convinced him to come back.”

Ryan’s lips twitched. Laughter rand through the crowd again, but I didn’t look away from my carefully written words, afraid if I did, I’d lose my composure and cry. I didn’t want to ruin my makeup—at least, not yet.

“I fell in love with you the first time you kissed me, so gentle, so unsure if we were doing the right thing because we didn’t want to hurt Celine. But your sister turned out to be our biggest fan. Who would have thought, right?” I looked up and cleared my throat to stop the burning fire of emotion fighting its way out, threatening to spill from my eyes.

“Like I said, there are many things that I love about you, but here are just a few. I love how you raise me up, always boosting my confidence, cheering for me when I need it most. You’re always there rooting for me.” I swallowed past the ever-growing lump in my throat. “I love the way you hold me in your arms after a long day apart, and the extra squeeze you give me before letting me go. I love how you hold me every night when I drift off to sleep in your arms. I love the way you play with my hair, evenwhen you think I don’t notice.” I paused, feeling the first tear roll down my cheek. Ryan silently reached up to gently swipe it away.

“I love the way you give me butterfly kisses, thinking it won’t wake me up in the morning before you leave for work.” I drew in a shaky breath. “I love how safe and secure I feel when I’m with you. I love how confident you are in yourself and in us. But mostly, I love the man that you’ve turned into since I first met you. Every day, I see a new piece of your soul, and I fall even harder and even more in love with you. I want to spend the rest of my life getting to know every inch of your beautiful soul, Ryan Wilson.”

I looked up at him with blurry, tear-filled eyes and watched as a tear rolled down his cheek.

“To think I have to top that, spitfire.” He chuckled, his voice raw. He reached forward and swiped a tear off my hot cheek. Ace leaned forward to hand him a small paper, but he didn’t take it, just waved it away. “I have it all up here, man, but thanks.” He touched his head before grabbing both of my hands, the paper containing my vows falling to our feet.

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