Page 182 of I Was Always Yours (RCA: Royal Crown Academy)

It takes exactly that amount of time to get me ready again. My mum’s eyes widen when she sees the state of my dress but mercifully, she keeps all comments to herself. I don’t think I could survive the embarrassment of talking about my quickie with her.

They steam my dress, reapply my lipstick, and touch up my eyeliner, and then I’m ready and clutching my dad’s forearm as I prepare to walk down the aisle.

“You sure about this, darling?” My dad asks me as the doors open, revealing the guests and the altar.

I don’t even take in the venue or the decorations and if both are the way I’d imagined them, because my eyes are stuck on Phoenix waiting for me at the end of the aisle.

Even from where I’m standing, I can make out his intense eyes trained unblinkingly on me.

I nod, answering my dad but never looking away from my soon to be husband. “He makes me happy, Dad.”

He grunts, acknowledging my answer as we begin the walk down to Phoenix. It feels interminable, way longer than I remember, and it takes everything in me not to power walk to the end.

“He better continue making you happy for the rest of his natural life. If he doesn’t, you let me know, darling. I’ll end that life prematurely.”

We’re less than ten paces from the altar and Phoenix’s eyes are wet with a sheen of tears as he stares at me. They don’t leave me as he tires of waiting and walks the rest of the way to meet us.

“You’re not going to have to, Dad.” I whisper to him. “Promise.”

And then Phoenix is in front of me, extending his hand towards my dad for him to officially hand me over. He hesitates and Phoenix’s eyes flash as a flinty look swells in his gaze.

“Dad,” I caution.

Finally, he releases me with a kiss on my cheek and Phoenix takes my hand possessively in his, walking us both back up to the officiant.

“You’re even more beautiful than I ever imagined.” He tells me, his voice throaty with emotion.

My heart is full to bursting as I smile up at him. I feel like my happiness shines on my skin, illuminating me as I stand at the altar and wait to marry the love of my life.

“Do you believe in fate?” I ask him.

“Obviously,” he replies. “I’m about to put a wedding band on your finger and marry you. If that’s not the clearest indication that fate exists and our destinies are preordained, I don’t know what is.”

We hold hands as the officiant recites the traditional ceremony script, my fingers squeezing Phoenix’s when the officiant asks him if he wants to marry me.

“I do.”

A tremulous breath falls raggedly from my mouth as he says the words, and then the officiant is turning towards me and asking me the same question.

“I do.”

Phoenix closes the gap between us and slams his mouth down on mine before the officiant can even say the words pronouncing us man and wife.

He kisses me and I fall into him and it’s perfect. Far better than the dreams I had of us together growing up because this time, it’s real.

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