Page 71 of The Game Changer

“Pretty good, the girls had a few moments during takeoff and landing that their ears bothered them, but nothing horrible.”

“Good to hear. I can’t wait to take Mason out on the water tomorrow, think he’ll want to try water skiing or surfing?”

“I’m sure he will. You know how much of a daredevil he is, and if Uncle John is taking him, he doesn’t often back down,” Cindi says.

“Good, I’ve got some free time in the morning that I can spend with him. How about I come get him after breakfast and bring him back before lunch?”

“That’s fine with me,” Cindi says, looking at Stephanie for her approval, as well.

“Fine with me. What time do we need to be at the rehearsal tomorrow?” she asks.

“Not until late afternoon,” Cindi answers for me. “I think the email that Jill sent said three thirty.”

“That sounds right to me,” I confirm.

“Jill doesn’t need you in the morning for anything?” Cindi asks.

“Not that she’s told me,” I tell my sister before taking another sip of my bourbon.

* * *

“Just breathe, man,” Beckett murmurs under his breath. “This feels all too familiar,” he tells me quietly. “I could have sworn that you told me the exact same thing when it was me in your position.”

“Yeah, I think I did. You were about to pass out,” I tell him as we wait for the wedding planner to finish giving instructions to the women in the wedding party. We’ve only been practicing for the actual service that takes place tomorrow evening at sunset for about ten minutes and I’m already ready for the real thing to be here.

I watch as my sister, nephew, and then Julia make it down the short aisle before finally my bride and her dad make their way toward me. The moment our eyes connect, I swear everything around me disappears. All I can hear is the waves crashing behind us, or is that the sound of my blood pulsing in my own ears? I swear, every step that Jill and her dad take get slower and slower as they make their way to the arch I’m standing at.

I step forward, meeting Jill and Beau a few feet from where the two of us will stand to exchange vows, pledging our lives to one another for the rest of time.

“Hi,” Jill greets me quietly as I reach out to take her hands in mine.

“I’m entrusting you with my only baby girl, you break her heart and I’ll find a way to make you pay,” Beau tells me, his words serious but loving at the same time. He knows I’d do anything for Jill, and the last thing I’d ever purposely do is break her heart.

“Of course,” I tell my soon to be father-in-law. Our relationship has blossomed over the past year as we’ve gotten to know one another better. I’d never have guessed that I’d have a standing golf date with my father-in-law, but we’ve done just that since this past summer, when he invited me out for a charity golf game. I shake his outstretched hand; his grip is firm as he pumps my hand twice before dropping it.

“Love you, Daddy,” Jill whispers to him as he places a kiss on her cheek then steps back and joins Diane in the first row of chairs set up in the sand a few feet away from where we stand.

I escort Jill the few feet until we’re under the archway that she wanted for us to stand under. It is beautifully covered in flowers that perfectly complement the beach setting that Jill dreamed of having for our wedding day. “I love you.” I mouth the words to her as we listen to the minister explain to us how things will go tomorrow.

Once we’ve walked through the ten-minute ceremony, I don’t care that this isn’t the real thing, I pull Jill until we’re flush against each other. I cup her face and bring my lips to hers. I dip her back as I deepen the kiss, realizing that our wedding party is all hooting around us as I kiss the fuck out of my fiancée.

“Wow,” she says when we break apart a moment later. I stand us both back up, rubbing my thumb along her kiss-swollen lips.

“You think that was impressive, just wait until I kiss you tomorrow,” I say only for her to hear.

“Please don’t make a spectacle out of it?” she pleads.

“I’ll keep it from spectacle level, but I will be kissing the fuck out of you. Then I’ll take you somewhere private so I can actually fuck you,” I whisper into her ear. I feel the slight tremor that slides down her body. My sign that she’s turned on just as much as I am.

“Let’s go eat,” she suggests with a smirk and I lead her down the sand aisle.

We join our guests at the rehearsal dinner. We mingle amongst everyone, the atmosphere very casual and laid back as the time passes.

“Remind me why you can’t just come to bed with me now?” I ask Jill as I pull her in for one last good-night kiss at the suite’s door.

“Because we’re keeping with tradition that you can’t see me before our ceremony,” she tells me as she presses her lips to mine.

“I don’t like that plan,” I pout. “How do you expect me to sleep tonight if you aren’t pressed up against me? How are you going to sleep without me making you come first?”

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