Page 28 of Wild For You

I caught the moment through her lens—the curve of Michael's smile, the pride in Chase's stance—and something warm unfurled within. My guarded heart recognized this snapshot of redemption.

“Who would've thought,” I mused aloud, lowering the camera. “The power of a second chance, huh?”

“More like the power of a town that stands together,” Nico corrected, his gaze lingering on his brother's animated face.

21

Josie

Six months later…

I stood off to the side, partially concealed by a curtain of weeping willows, their tendrils swaying lightly, whispering secrets only nature could understand. Through the leaves, I watched as faces familiar and dear emerged into the clearing: aunts who had pinched at my cheeks when I was but a girl; childhood friends whose laughter had filled the summers of my youth; townspeople who'd seen me grow from a wild-haired child into the woman I was today.

“Look at them all, here for us,” I murmured, heart fluttering like the wings of the butterflies flitting among the gardenias. I clasped my hands together, feeling the delicate fabric of my wedding dress brush against my skin—a sensation almost as surreal as the moment itself.

“Josie!” called out a young man in a crisp suit, his arms waving enthusiastically as he caught sight of an old schoolmate. “You're really doing it, huh? Nico's one lucky guy.”

The corners of my lips curved upward, though he didn't see. It wasn't just a wedding; it was an affirmation, a brave step toward a life I often captured through my lens but never quite touched with my own fingers.

Love had caught me unaware, much like the first rays of dawn that steal across the horizon before the world awakens. Nico had arrived in Lawson Ridge like a storm cloud on a summer's day—dark, brooding, impossible to ignore. Yet beneath the thunder, there was a tenderness that called to me, a silent promise of rain that would nourish the parched earth of my guarded heart.

Today's the day. The day you let love in, completely.

The guests continued to stream in. Each smile, each nod in my direction, was a symbol of the community that had raised me, supported me, and now gathered to witness my union with the enigmatic man who reshaped my understanding of what it meant to be truly vulnerable, truly alive.

Here's to new beginningsand to the small town that's given me everything—even a chance at forever with Nico.

Molly came running over in her chiffon. “You're about to make the most beautiful bride in all of Lawson Ridge.” She reached out, her fingers lightly brushing against my trembling hands, steadying them.

“I don't know what I'd do without you, Molls,” I whispered, the words trembling like the leaves above.

“Hey, that's what best friends are for, right?” Molly winked. “Now, let's not keep your prince waiting.”

Just then, the guests' attention shifted as a new figure emerged, a tiny beacon of purity and youth. Haley Youngblood tiptoed into the limelight, her small frame draped in a white dress that cascaded down like a miniature waterfall. A crown of flowers sat atop her curly brown hair, each petal a testament to the innocence of childhood dreams.

“Look at her,” I said, heart swelling with affection. “She's like a little sprite, blessing us all with her magic.”

“Ooooh!” Haley cooed, twirling so her dress fanned out around her. Petals fluttered to the ground, a floral breadcrumb trail leading back to the realm of fairytales and make-believe.

Molly chuckled, leaning closer. “She's enchanting everyone, isn't she? Just like someone else I know.”

“Are we ready?” Molly asked, her voice a tender nudge toward the inevitable future awaiting me just down the aisle.

“Ready as I'll ever be.”

Molly and Michael walked down the aisle and took their rightful places and then the bridal march started. A gentle breeze played with the hem of my gown, as though the very earth itself was nudging me forward. With each step down the petal-strewn aisle, my heart felt lighter, almost buoyant, as if I were walking on air.

My gaze was firmly fixed ahead, where Nico stood, a solitary figure against the backdrop of our closest friends and family. His stance was strong, the lines of his suit sharp, but it was the softness in his eyes that captivated me completely—eyes that had seen my soul and called it home.

Nico shifted. Michael leaned in, murmuring something that made Nico nod, a chuckle escaping him, a brief moment of brotherly connection amidst the solemnity.

As I reached the altar, Nico extended his hand. “Hello, beautiful.”

“Hi,” I managed. My mind raced with thoughts of the future, the life we would build together, starting with the simple intertwining of our hands.

I looked up into Nico's eyes, and for a moment, the whimsy of the universe danced in the space between us—two souls colliding in a destiny penned by stardust and sealed with love.

The minister read his book and we were locked on each other. Nothing around us mattered in that moment. It was their day.

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