Page 25 of Mine To Honor (Southern Wedding)

“Hey.” I hear someone say from the side and look over to see Markos coming toward us. “I’m just in time.” He smiles at me. “You look so beautiful.”

“Thank you,” I answer him, as Vivienne goes to him and kisses his lips.

“I took it upon myself to help you down the aisle,” Mark says nervously. “You don’t have to accept it.”

I smile at him, the pain in my chest feeling even more pressure. “Thank you,” is all I can say because the lump forms in my throat.

“It’s time,” Addison announces, and I hear music even louder now.

“Is that music for us?” I ask, but all she does is turn and walk into the venue.

“Shall we?” Mark offers me his arm and I slip my hand in his.

“On a scale of one to ten, how crazy is this plan?” I ask nervously when I hear the music stop.

“One thousand and fifty percent,” he jokes as the chords of a harp fill the room. “It’s time.”

He leads me, and when the doors open, it dawns on me that it’s “Here Comes the Bride” I hear. I gasp when I see the room filled with people. “Oh my God, this is not happening,” I say, but Mark just leans over.

“Smile, you’re on video and there is a photographer.” My eyes go big as I look down the aisle to see Levi standing there wearing a beige linen suit. His hands are on top of each other in front of him as he watches me walk down the aisle. I don’t even think I’m walking down the aisle, it’s more like I’m floating. I must be floating because I don’t think my feet are touching the floor. I blink away the tears, suddenly pissed I forgot the handkerchief in the room.

I don’t notice all the decorations around us. I can only focus on Levi, who is trying not to laugh at me. I hope he can tell from my stare that I’m about to freak out. When we get to the end of the aisle, he comes forward and shakes Mark’s hand before holding out his hand for me. I slide my hand in his and he leans in. “Breathe,” he whispers in my ear, right before he kisses me on the cheek. “Ten minutes and this is over.”

I look over and I glare at him for being calm, cool, and collected. “Smile for the camera,” he mumbles as he stands next to me.

“What the hell is all this?” I hiss at him as the guy in front of me starts talking about gathering today to witness the marriage of Levi and Eva.

“Surprise!” he says to me, his eyes filled with mischief, before looking back at the guy in front of me.

“Levi and Eva,” the man starts, “face each other holding hands.” I hand the bouquet to Addison, who stands beside me. “And repeat after me.”

“This is it,” I mumble under my breath, turning to put my hand in Levi’s. I don’t bother looking at all the people sitting here because I might just run out the back door. Also, I make a mental note to kick the shit out of Stefano for knowing all these people.

“Evangeline.” He uses my real name. “Repeat after me, I, Evangeline, take you, Levi, to be my husband.”

The lump in my throat grows so big I’m not sure I’m able to say anything. I blink faster and let out a big exhale before I look into his eyes. “I, Evangeline, take you, Levi, to be my husband.” My eyes never leave his as I finish repeating what he says, “To have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until parted by death.”

A lone tear escapes and Levi lets go of one hand to wipe the tear away. I hear the aw coming from somewhere, and if I was in my right mind, I would laugh at them. “Now, Levi,” the man says, “please repeat after me.”

Levi smirks and then his smirk leaves his face. “I, Levi, take you, Evangeline, to be my wife.” He smiles when he says the word, before finishing. “To have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until parted by death.”

I can’t help the smile that fills my face. “Now, do we have the rings?”

I look at Levi, my face filled with horror. “We forgot rings,” I tell him and he just shakes his head.

“I got them.” He turns to Stefano, who hands him the rings.

“This is why I’m marrying him.” I look over at the guy who is officiating the wedding.

He chuckles. “Levi, place the ring on her finger and repeat after me.”

My hand shakes in his as he holds the ring he is slipping on my finger. My eyes look down at his hand as he says the words, “I give you this ring as a sign of our love for and commitment to each other.” I look back up at him as he continues and the ring reaches the bottom of my finger. “I promise to support you, care for you, and stand alongside you for all of our days.”

All I can do is smile at him as he hands me his ring. I hold his hand in mine, and whereas mine was shaking, Levi’s is steady. I take the black band and place it on his finger, repeating what he said to me, “I give you this ring as a sign of our love for and commitment to each other. I promise to support you, care for you, and stand alongside you for all of our days.”Only when it’s at the bottom of his finger do I look up at him. He has his own tears in his eyes, no doubt regretting saying yes to my favor.

“You are lucky you didn’t put honor and obey in that.” I lean in to make him laugh.

“I thought about it.” He laughs. “But I figured I’d be pushing it.”

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