Page 110 of Implode

“All in,” he repeats.

28

NIC

I stand beside Claire, waiting for our turn to walk down the rose-covered aisle. Harp music is playing, and I can feel my heart beating out of my chest. Today Graham is tying the knot, and I can’t be any happier for him to have found his person. He and Angie belong together, and watching their relationship develop from the start helped me see how love can change someone.

Graham has always been rigid and unyielding. When he sets his mind on something, there is no stopping him. So once he put his eyes on Angie, it was no surprise that she couldn’t resist his charm. She gets all the credit for helping Graham to soften. There is something about her that allows him to be his true self—flaws and all. I should know; Claire has done the equivalent thing for me. I know it is cliché to say that she has made me a better man, but it is one hundred percent true. She has breathed life back into me when I thought I would never love anyone again.

Claire fidgets and then slowly brings her bouquet of flowers up to her nose to smell. I can tell she is nervous based on how her left foot is tapping on the green grass. I want to pull her to me and kiss the hell out of her. I don’t give a damn who sees, and the only thing that stops me is that I am not selfish enough to take any focus away from my brother and his bride.

Today isn’t about us. It is about them.

Guests are lined up on elegant white chairs, waiting anxiously for the start of the ceremony. Trees are decorated with hanging flowers and glass crystals. It is late afternoon, and the golden light from the slowly setting sun casts a warm glow on everything in its path.

Every time I look at my girl, I feel like the air is being pulled from my lungs. She is that beautiful. How did I get so lucky for her to accept me into her heart? I vow to cherish the love she has to give to me. We fought hard to get to this place, and the journey leading us to this moment was not easy. I refuse to let Claire slip away by taking her for granted. Life is always full of curveballs, but every turn was worth the risk if it brought us to where we are now.

Penny and Collins are ahead of us, setting the tone and the pace for the start of the ceremony. The wedding planner is at our side, hidden behind a wall of greenery, giving us the nod to go.

“You ready, baby?” I ask, looking down at my angel of a girl. She is glowing in an elegant, long rose-gold dress with a satin bow that is embellished with little rhinestones. Her hair is twisted up and held together with a barrette that is covered in sparkling diamonds. Just when I think she could not be any more stunning, she smiles up at me. It’s that look in her eyes reflecting the love I have for her back at me that is enough to stop my heart.

“I’m ready,” she whispers. “Please don’t let me fall.”

“I’ll always be there to catch you, baby.” We link arms and I lead her down the aisle, where our family and friends are situated on both sides staring at us as we make our way to the altar at the end. We separate, Claire moving to stand beside Penny, and I move to stand between Collins and Graham, who is waiting for the first sighting of his bride.

Zander is playing the piano, while the harpist strums along. We listen to the melodic rendition of Andrea Bocelli’s “The Prayer,” sung by the vocalist, as we all anticipate Angie and her dad coming down the aisle. It is a dedication to her mom and twin brother who cannot be here in the physical sense today.

I look over at Claire across the way and give her a small smile. I don’t care who notices the exchange, because after today, I will be telling everyone I know that my heart is taken by the strongest woman I know. Claire is different from everyone else I ever dated or had a tryst with. She doesn’t put up with my shit and has no fear in telling me what’s on her mind. She is bold and snarky when necessary, but sweet and sophisticated as well. I’ve met my match.

Once the prelude song finishes, the instrumental version of Canon in D starts to play and the guests stand at attention, looking back up the aisle to see Angie and her dad make their appearance. If Disney needed another princess, I am sure Angie would meet the standard in her layered wedding dress. As she walks closer, with her eyes fixed only on Graham, I can tell that she is crying through her smile. Her pure white dress is made mostly of lace. Little flowers are sewn into the top sheer layer, adding dimension to an otherwise simple dress.

The officiant moves to stand between Graham and Angie, as her dad uncovers the veil from her face and places her hands into his son-in-law’s. Words are exchanged between the men and their mutual respect is evident on their faces. There was a time when neither Graham nor I believed her dad would be able to make it here today. Angie and her dad have battled their vices and are living proof that patience and dedication can triumph.

“Family and friends, we are gathered together to bear witness to this wonderful couple who are about to embark on the ultimate journey of a lifetime—marriage.” The officiant motions for us all to sit down. I take my seat in the front row, beside my dad. Claire fluffs Angie’s dress with the grace of a dancer and takes the bouquet from her hands before taking a seat herself.

Angie beams up at Graham as he smiles an encouraging smile to give her the confidence she needs to make this public declaration. “Today and every day after, I say ‘I do’ to you. I choose you today. I choose you tomorrow. And I choose you for forever. You are the piece of my heart that I did not know was missing. Thank you, Graham Xavier Hoffman, for loving me.”

I take my eyes off of Angie to look at my brother who is crying. Holy fuck. My heart sinks as he pulls out a tissue from his pocket and wipes at his eyes. There is so much emotion reflected back to his bride that I wonder if he will be able to recite his vows. I look over at my girl and see that she is fighting back the tears that I know she would easily shed if she had some privacy. I hate seeing her cry.

“My sweet Angie. You make it easy to love you. You are selfless and kind. Feisty and gentle. Your love is a gift, and I will spend the rest of my life treasuring it. You are all mine.”

“As you are mine,” she mouths.

“It is now time for the rings,” the officiant announces, taking the rings from a little box that he has on a podium. “Graham, repeat after me. With this ring, I thee wed.”

Graham echoes the words, and then slides the ring onto Angie’s finger. He kisses the ring and then places her hand over his heart. The custom-made diamond ring sparkles in the light from the setting sun.

Taking my hand out of my pocket, I turn my ring that I wear as a reminder of my once toxic desire to never get married. I have worn this ring since my heart was broken, vowing to myself that I would never make the kind of commitment I am witnessing today.

It seems silly wearing it now. So much has changed.

Sliding off the ring, I rotate it and then slip it back into my pocket. I glance over at my girl, who I catch watching me. I can only hope she realizes just how strong my love is for her. I’m never letting her go.

“And now it is your turn, Angie,” the officiant says softly.

“With this ring, I thee wed,” she says, sliding Graham’s band onto his finger. She kisses it and places his hand over her heart.

“By the state of Oregon, it is my pleasure to announce Mr. and Mrs. Graham Hoffman, our newly married husband and wife. Graham, you may…” The officiant pauses as Graham swoops in and kisses Angie with such ferocity that the entire bridal party rises and cheers them on. He spins her around as she lifts her feet off the ground.

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