Page 140 of Average Joe

Applause filled the air. Supporting my ass, Joe turned so I could see the source over his shoulder. Mom and Dylan stood with cameras aimed our way, and Grant held a box of tissues at the ready.

Joe slapped my butt twice, then pulled back to look me in the eye. “Alrighty then. Go with your mother.” He kissed me again. “I’ll see you in a few hours.”

My feet hit the wood like lead weights, but my arms remained locked around his neck, forcing him to bend forward. “What? You propose, then send me away? Seriously? Can’t I revel in this moment for—”

Joe silenced my rant with a kiss that left me boneless. “Just go.” He laughed, peeling my arms away.

* * *

Joe

While Marley and her mother were upstairs doing whatever ladies do to prepare for their big day, Dylan greeted our guests, sending the women to the third floor and the men to the second.

Pulling off a surprise wedding had been a challenge, but (thank you, Jesus, for Marley’s amazing mom) Lori had taken the reins and made my job easy.

Four hours after I’d proposed, Marley walked down the makeshift aisle arm and arm with her son, in the backyard of her mother’s home, with Lake Willow as our background.

There was a moment when she glided my way, wearing an angelic, body-hugging white dress, that I feared we’d have to call off the ceremony because my throat closed tight, the scenery blurred, and I swayed in my shiny loafers.

Frank gripped my arm, whispered, “Breathe, Joe. Just fucking breathe.”

Con slapped my back, forcing my lungs to work again.

My bride-to-be came closer, and Con whispered, “Holy shit. Will you look at her? Joe, you lucky bastard.”

Lucky was an understatement.

Seemed like years before Marley reached us. Lilly and Lori stood by her side.

Con and Frank stood by mine.

My mother and Alejandro joined Grant, Cynthia, Dylan and his “not girlfriend,” along with Marco, Ginger, and Bruce under the shade of a willow tree.

At one point, I looked up and could swear I saw Alice’s face in the clouds.

I married my girl.

Marley got her small wedding. I got my white-dress moment.

We partied until sunrise the following day, then all spent a lazy weekend together in Whisper Springs.

Marley and I honeymooned for two weeks in Spain and then two in Italy, vowing to visit my mom at least once a year.

When we returned home, Marley started classes at WSU, and what a fucking sexy student she made.

We settled into our new normal as Mr. and Mrs. Kaine, with our furry babies, Ginger and Bruce, and made a new home and a new future, together, in our average little corner of heaven.

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