Page 22 of Curvy Girl and the Firefighter Chief

Kane's steady hand lands on my shoulder. "People are waiting, Luke. You look fine. It's time."

I turn to face my team. "You sure about that?"

Max's grin widens. "Never seen you this nervous, Chief. Not even during that five-alarm fire last month."

"Relax Chief," Ashton runs a hand through his perfectly styled hair. "You're the second best-looking guy here. Right after me, of course."

Damon elbows him hard. "Not the time for your ego, man." He turns to me with a warm smile. "You look fantastic, Chief. We're all here for you."

"Hell yeah," Shane chimes in. "If you weren't about to marry the love of your life, you'd definitely be fighting off women in that suit."

"Enough," Kane's authoritative voice cuts through the banter. "It's time to go."

We exit the locker room and head toward the apparatus bay, now transformed into a wedding venue. The trucks have been moved outside, replaced by rows of white chairs and floral arrangements. As I walk down the aisle, our guests rise and applaud. I feel my face heat up at the attention, but I know it's worth it.

Taking my place at the altar, I nod to the priest and try to steady my breathing. Stella's upstairs in our room - the same room where we first made love - getting ready with Sadie, Jenna, and Patricia – Damon’s and Shane’s wives. Every second of waiting feels like an eternity.

Then, suddenly, the music changes, and everyone goes silent. My heart stops.

The bride is coming.

I think about how much has changed in twelve months. Sadie finally got her dance with Kane at the firefighter's ball, and they've been inseparable since.

My team has grown stronger, and our family is bigger, with everyone having a girlfriend now. And Stella... my beautiful Stella has brought light and love into every corner of my life.

She saved me just as much as I saved her that night, though she never believes it when I tell her. She gave me a reason to come home safe every night, gave me back the passion for life I'd lost somewhere along the way.

The doors open, and there she is.

My breath catches in my throat as I see her in white, walking toward me with that radiant smile I fell in love with. The lace dress beautifully highlights her curves, and her dark hair falls in soft waves around her face.

She looks like an angel, my angel, and I have to blink back tears.

Today, I'm not just gaining a wife - I'm completing our family. And as I watch her walk toward me, I know with absolute certainty that running into that burning house that night wasn't just luck or fate.

It was destiny.

I watch my beautiful bride approach, knowing in my soul that we were made for each other. The universe just had a peculiar sense of humor in how it brought us together. These past months have been transformative for both of us. Stella's found her true calling, illustrating romance novel covers with a passion that lights her up from within.

She's already completed a few covers, and the authors are so impressed they're spreading her name throughout the romance community. Seeing her flourish and her confidence grow makes my heart swell with pride.

But right now, all I can focus on is how breathtaking she looks in her flowing floral dress, that smile hitting me like a punch to the gut. She's only meters away now, and my throat feels too tight, words stuck somewhere between my racing heart and dry mouth.

Anxiety creeps in.

What if I mess this up? No, I can't - I love her too much.

We've been planning our future together, talking about having kids and traveling more if I can convince Kane to take over as Chief during our absences. He insists he's not leadershipmaterial, telling me to find someone else. But who? The question's been weighing on me.

I'm so lost in my thoughts that I barely register Stella taking her place beside me until she whispers, "Are you okay?"

"Just... just a bit nervous," I stammer, my voice rough with emotion.

"Me too," she admits softly. "But being close to you makes everything better."

"I love you so much," I manage to say.

"I love you too," she replies, her green eyes shining with tears.

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