Page 134 of Game Changer
“Are things really okay with you and Steve?”
“Yeah.It’s weird, but we weren’t best buds before all this.We’re both professionals.”
“Okay.”I pout, still unhappy about what people are saying and thinking about us.“You’re right, I know.We can’t pay attention to this stuff.”
I knew that when I was dating and engaged to Steve.But I never really gave people anything to gossip about; I’m just a midwestern school teacher who loves kids and trivia.Then I did a crazy thing.I guess I deserve the backlash for that.
“Ignore it,” he says.“All that matters is us.”
My eyes fall on the framed photo sitting on a shelf in his living room.The first time I came here after we got together, I nearly cried seeing it.It’s one of the photos he took on the whale watching cruise, but it’s of me, rosy cheeked, bright eyed, beaming a smile of pure joy directly at him, the ocean glinting behind me.The fact that he had printed that image, framed it, and put it up in his condo brought me near to tears again.It nearly matches the photo I took of him, capturing his happiness as he took pictures that day.I had it on my phone and kept looking at it.After I’d decided not to date anymore, I got a print made of it, just a small one, and I too had framed it and set it in my bedroom, a bittersweet reminder of the summer I learned what love really is, in case I never found it again.
Now our pictures sit side by side, as do we.Hopefully for the rest of our lives.
Epilogue
Molly
I’m not wearing a princess dress.There are no beads, no layers of tulle.My dress isn’t even white; it’s ivory.It’s plain satin, fitted to my body, spaghetti straps leaving my shoulders bare, and the trumpet shape hugs my butt.
Because Jax loves my butt.
This time, the wedding is small, family and close friends.Okay, Jax has a sizeable family, but still, there are only about thirty-five people here.We’re at the Tarragona Resort, where we stayed almost exactly a year ago.I pause before walking across the terrace toward Jax, the Pacific Ocean shimmering behind him.He’s dressed casually—narrow beige pants, a white shirt open at the collar, and a dark jacket.
I let Jax pick the music for me to walk down the aisle.When it starts, I drop my head forward, trying not to laugh.Led Zeppelin?Oh.My.God.
I walk alone, this time.Nobody has to give me away.I’m giving myself to Jax.
I catch Jax’s eye as I walk and listen to “All My Love.”Okay, it’s a pretty good song.We’re both grinning like crazy.
Unplanned, he comes to meet me, picks me up and swings me around, laying a big smooch on my mouth.Well, we didn’t want this wedding to be traditional.
Everyone claps and cheers for us.
I’m so happy I can’t stop my feet from dancing the rest of the way down the aisle toward the officiant, who’s also smiling.As we stop in front of him, Jax turns to me and holds out his fist.We do our secret good-luck trivia handshake, still beaming at each other.This arouses more chuckles in our audience.
The ceremony is short and sweet, including the vows we each wrote.Then we’re husband and wife.
A pop and a hissing sound comes from behind Jax, and his best man, Brian Erhardt, hands him a can of Budweiser.To my surprise, Grace places one in my hand also and I can’t stop laughing as Jax holds his beer up to toast me.I tap the cold aluminum against his and take a gulp of the fizzy lager.Then he leans over and kisses me again, long and lingering.
Our friends and family clap and cheer again.
Grace takes my beer and hands me back my bouquet, a small arrangement of white roses and eucalyptus.Jax clasps my other hand and smiles at me as we turn to walk back down the aisle together.
The music starts, another Jax choice and again, I’m dying.It’s Gary Glitter’s “Rock and Roll Part II.”How many times have we heard this song in hockey arenas?We both start bopping to the rhythm, then half-dance down the aisle.It’s an appropriately triumphant, celebratory tune.When the band yells “Hey!”all the guests also yell “Hey!”
Joy bubbles up inside me as effervescent as the beer I just drank as we sign the legal documents, then mingle with our guests, exchanging hugs and kisses and smiles.
We’ve been here in California for a couple of weeks, following the Aces’ deep playoff run.They lost to the Condors, who went on to play St.Louis in the final.Sadly, the Condors lost, but they’ve come a long way in the last couple of seasons under new leadership.
Last weekend, we attended Taylor and JP’s wedding.Everly and Wyatt are now engaged too, so there’ll be another Wynn family wedding soon.Tomorrow, we fly to Winnipeg, where we’ll rent a car and drive to Clear Lake for our honeymoon.I can’t wait.
We eat a lovely dinner in a small private dining room, then dance a little.Our first dance song was my pick, Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together.”
“Good choice.”Jax smiles into my eyes, then twirls me.
“Thanks.”
“Having fun?”
