Page 113 of Double or Nothing

Liz peeks through the double doors at the front of the aisle.

“We’re set.”

“So am I,” I reply.

The non-Elvis ordained minister we hired, standing in his place, cues the music. The woman on the piano off in the corner plays the classic “Here Comes the Bride,” and the church doors open.

I’m in awe of the woman standing before me. Never has there been a more beautiful bride. Never will there be again. Unless, of course, I decide to marry her over and over, which I just might have to do.

Kat stands in the doorway, her hair pulled back, a sparkling tiara on her head. The long, white dress fits her like a glove. She looks timeless and elegant and so fucking beautiful. How she transformed into a princess in less than an hour, I’ll never know, but she sure as hell pulled it off.

My eyes are glued to her as she makes her way down the aisle to me.

“There’s no backing out now,” Mac teases.

No way in hell would I back out. Hell, if I had this visual, I might never have left the first time.

“Who gives this woman to this man?” the ordained minister asks.

“I do,” Liz replies. “And if he ever hurts her again, I’m also the one who will kill him.”

“Okay,” the minister says slowly. “Sutton, please take Kat’s hand.”

As I reach for Kat’s hand, Liz gives me a look that could kill. The exact one that I’m certain she would use if I ever did anything to hurt her best friend again.

“I heard you, Liz. Loud and clear.”

Satisfied, Liz releases Kat’s hand before kissing each of our cheeks.

With my attention focused on my soon-to-be wife, and only my soon-to-be wife, I smile.

“You look gorgeous.”

“Are you sure about this, Sutton?”

“Are you?” I ask, needing to make sure the panic I hear in her voice is because of me, not her own fears.

“Yes, of course. I just—”

My finger presses against her lips to silence her before slowly moving to her neck.

“So, am I. Coming here was a gamble. Seeing you again was like placing a double-or-nothing wager. We were going to end up here, or we were done for good. Thank God we ended up here because there is no way I could have lost that bet. No way I could have lived another second without you.”

“Shall we begin?” the minister interjects.

It’s a resounding yes from everyone in the room, including our two best people.

The minister speaks, but I am so lost in Kat’s eyes, I barely hear what he says. I don’t care about the ceremony or the dinner Liz planned for after. All I want is to call Kat my wife.

“Do you, Sutton Cole, take Kathryn Keller to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

“Hell yeah, I do.”

Epilogue

Kat

It never gets old, watching him on stage, doing what he loves.

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