Page 41 of Jingle Bell Flock
“Hey, yourself.” I crossed to him, my hands finding his waist automatically as my eyes drank him in. “You look …”
“You too.” His fingers brushed over my lapels. “Navy blue.”
“Your favorite.”
For a moment, we just stood there, holding each other in the quiet barn, the sounds of guests arriving and Stella’s brother Colin and his band filtering in from outside.
“I can’t believe we’re actually doing this,” Harrison whispered.
“Having second thoughts?”
“God, no.” He looked up at me, his eyes bright. “I just … I can’t believe we almost didn’t get this. That we wasted so much time.”
I cupped his face in my hands. “We’re here now. That’s what matters.”
“Yeah.” He leaned into my touch. “We’re here now.”
“Ready?” I asked.
He smiled that full, genuine smile that still made my chest tight every time I saw it. “Been ready.”
I stood at the altar with Charlie to my right in the officiant’s space. Stella caught my eye from the back, giving me a thumbs-up. Bristol Rhew, the librarian Harrison had become close with these past several months, was in the third row, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue even though nothing had happened yet.
Then the music started—something instrumental and pretty that Harrison had picked—and Jemma appeared at the top of the aisle. She was wearing a flowing dress in some shade of dusty blue that probably had a fancy name I didn’t know, with a crown of flowers in her hair. Very soft and romantic, and a little bit bohemian. When she reached me, she kissed my cheek and stood on my left.
Then Gavin, with Maggie and Lilah’s arms linked through his, started down the aisle, leading them to the front row, where we’d reserved seats for our family—both blood and found.
Next, Eli appeared with Sugarplum on a lead, a wreath of flowers around her neck, and a small basket attached to her back containing our rings. Eli looked so serious, so focused on his job, that I almost laughed. Almost.
They made it halfway before Sugarplum lunged toward a basket of wildflowers hanging from one of the chairs that lined the aisle. Eli caught her just in time, redirecting her toward the aisle while the guests laughed. By the time they reached the altar, Eli was red-faced but triumphant.
“Good job,” I whispered as he handed Sugarplum’s lead to Jemma and took his place beside Gavin in the front row.
That was when Harrison appeared.
He walked alone—his family wasn’t invited, and he didn’t need anyone to give him away. His eyes found mine immediately, and he smiled that smile that had been mine since we were sixteen years old, even when I’d been too stupid to claim it.
When he reached me, I took his hands.
Charlie cleared his throat. “We’re gathered here today to witness Jeremy and Harrison make promises to each other. Promises of forever, of love, of partnership. They’ve written their own vows, so I’m going to let them speak.”
He nodded at me. “Jeremy?”
I’d practiced this moment. Stood in front of my bathroom mirror at five o’clock in the morning running through the words. But now, looking at Harrison, everything I’d planned to say flew out of my head.
So I spoke from the heart instead and hoped I’d remember it later.
“Harrison,” I began, my voice shaking. “I loved you when we were kids, and I love you now. I’ll love you when we’re ninety.” My throat grew tight, but I pushed through. “I’m sorry it took me seventeen years to come back to you, but I’m not going anywhere ever again. You’re my first love and my last love. You’re home. You’ve always been my home.”
Harrison’s eyes were shining with tears, his hands trembling in mine.
“I promise to chase these damn goats with you,” I continued, getting a laugh from the crowd. “To eat your carbonara even when you insist on using guanciale instead of pancetta. To take photos of you until you’re sick of seeing yourself throughmy lens. To love you openly, proudly, and without apology. Forever.”
“Forever,” Harrison repeated, his voice barely a whisper.
Charlie nodded at him. “And Harrison?”
Harrison took a breath, steadying himself. When he spoke, his voice was clear and true.
