Jasmine smiles as tears appear in her eyes once again; I lean in and cup her cheek, wiping them away with my thumbs. “I love you, baby,” I whisper, leaning in and kissing her.
I finally pull away and turn to Hawke, opening my palm and gesturing for the ring. Hawke just raises his eyebrows and whispers, “What?”
“The ring, man, give me Jasmine’s ring.” I move closer to him, elbowing him in the ribs. Hawke laughs and finally grabs the velvet-covered black box out of his breast pocket, handing it to me. I open the box and hand it back to Hawke, Jasmine’s ring now in my hand. It’s a white-gold piece, diamonds encrusting its surface.
I place it on Jasmine’s wedding finger at her knuckle. “I, Quellentine Owen, take you, Jasmine Marques, to have and to hold from this day forward.” Jasmine’s hand trembles in mine as I place the ring on her finger gently. She looks up at me smiling, and I can’t help but smile back.
“Jasmine?” the celebrant says, looking at her. “Are you ready?”
She nods and takes my hands in hers. I squeeze them, giving her the strength to go on.
She takes a deep breath and bites on that luscious bottom lip, and I notice its quivering. My baby’s a little emotional too.