Page 48 of Happily Ever After
The cool breeze tousles my hair, and the colors in the sky are deepening as the sun slowly descends toward the horizon.
I look up at the house where Ella and Rhia will appear any minute now. Flickering torches light up their path, making for a long, informal aisle. Colorful rose petals are strewn on the ground, but the breeze has scattered them all over the beach, creating a sparse but vibrant tapestry of red, pink, and white against the golden sands.
The rhythmic sound of the waves lapping against the shore is soothing, as is the scent of salt in the air. It mingles with the faint aroma of the flowers on the arch.
Yes, this is perfect for us—intimate and special.
Beside me, Lex shifts his weight to press the play button on the stereo system he's set up. He catches my eye and grins, as the soft tune of Etta James'"At Last"drifts on the air.
This is the girls' cue.
My gaze returns to the stairs leading up to the house. The soft murmur of the ocean is drowned out by my racing heart.
There…
There she is, at the top of the stairs.
My love… my life.
Chapter Twenty
Aiden
Istare at my bride, completely mesmerized.
Ella is like an angel descending to earth—perfect, captivating.
Rhia walks beside her in a moss-green dress, a memorable picture of calm, grace, and unbridled excitement. But my focus is on my love.
She's ethereal and breathtaking in her simple white lace dress that falls to three-quarter length, with her blonde hair cascading down her shoulders in voluminous waves.
My breath catches in my throat.
She looks almost unreal against the backdrop of the setting sun… like I've dreamed her up.
I have to remind myself that I haven't.
She's real.
And so is her smile when our gazes meet. In that moment, everything else fades away.
Although the distance between us shrinks with each step she takes, it seems like we're already together. The rush of emotions is overwhelming—joy, excitement, a touch of nerves, but above all, an overwhelming sense of love.
We've overcome so much to be here today. I'm one hell of a lucky bastard to have my happily ever after with her. Especially after the day we've just had.
As Ella reaches me, she smiles, and it's like the world stops turning. A single tear escapes my eye, tracing a path down my cheek. She reaches up to swipe away the moist show of affection with her thumb and caresses my face.
Her eyes are watery too. "Your tear… it came from your right eye," she whispers, reminding me of the first time we exchanged random facts. I chuckle, and we both say softly and in perfect unison, "Happiness."
Tears from the right eye symbolize happiness. It couldn't be truer.
I take Ella's hand in mine, relishing the warmth of her skin, and lift it to my lips, placing a tender kiss on the finger that will hold my ring in only a few minutes… I can't wait.
Father Josef clears his throat, to bring our attention to him, but my Sunshine ignores him and touches her forehead to mine.
We both let out a shaky breath. "I love you, Ade," El whispers, her voice full of awe and love.
My heart is ready to explode with how perfect this moment is.
