Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 21851 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 109(@200wpm)___ 87(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21851 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 109(@200wpm)___ 87(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
Mom presses a hand to her face for a second, her eyes filling with tears. “You look beautiful today.”
I blink at her, trying not to mess up the work Mackenzie is doing. “I’m so happy. I’m getting to marry the best man, and he loves me, Mom. He really loves me.”
She reaches for my hand and gives it a gentle squeeze. “And you’re going to have a wonderful marriage together.”
Grizz
I’m trying to chalk my cue stick, but I end up dropping the damn thing because my hands are shaking so badly. It’s not my fault. The most beautiful woman in the world agreed to marry me. In less than an hour, I’m going to stand before our family and friends and let them know she’s the only one for me.
I’m not nervous about the crowd or standing in front of everyone. I’ll proudly claim my woman. I just want everything to go right for her. It’s important to me that this moment goes perfectly.
Noah grabs the chalk holder from the floor and passes it back to me without a word. He’s always quiet, working behind the scenes to get stuff done. Like the way he arranged to make sure the pergola was built that I’m about to be married under.
“Did the Taylors talk to you about their plans yet?” I ask Greer. He’s still pissed off at me. He’s not mad that I wanted to date his sister, but he insists that I didn’t have to convince her to marry me so quickly.
She’s my soulmate though, and I’m ready to start our life together. I spent long enough convinced that I wasn’t worthy of her. But I know the truth now. The depression doesn’t make me any less worthy. If anything the thought of being married to Ginger only highlights the importance of taking care of myself even more. I want to be there for my wife. I want to walk with her through all the seasons of life together.
“What project?” Barrett asks as Zac sits in a corner strumming on his guitar. He’s making notes on a yellow pad. He writes a few words down then crosses everything out, sighs in frustration, only to start strumming again.
Before I can tell them anything, my phone dings. It’s a notification for us to get our asses to the front of the pergola where the preacher is.
Greer glances at his watch and nods to himself. He starts for the door so he can go to Ginger. He’s walking her down the aisle today. He pauses on the way out and crosses back to stand in front of me. “Always thought of you like a brother. Today just makes it official.” He reaches for me, giving me a quick hug.
After over a decade alone, I finally realized I have a family. It doesn’t look quite like I thought it would back when I was a lonely teen, but that doesn’t make it any less special.
Once Greer leaves, the guys and I walk to the pergola. I take my place next to the preacher who claps me on the back, exclaiming it’s a perfect day to get married.
The five minutes that I wait for my bride to appear are the longest ones of my life. My palms are sweaty by the time she finally steps down the end of the aisle.
The moment her gaze locks on mine, all of the air leaves my lungs. I can’t believe she’s mine. She taught me that love accepts where we are, as we are. With no conditions or limits.
Now I get to spend the rest of my life, giving her back that same love and acceptance. I’ll never stop loving, protecting, and cherishing my beautiful woman.
12
GRIZZ
“What did you order, wife?” I ask Ginger as I pull the truck to a stop in front of our cabin. There’s a nondescript brown cardboard box on the front porch. We’ve only been married all of six hours, but I’m already loving married life. Especially that part where I pulled her into the bathroom during the reception to give her an orgasm.
She finally pulls her gaze from that gold band around her finger. She hasn’t stopped staring at it since the moment I put it on. It’s engraved with four simple words. You belong to me.
She teared up when she read the inscription. She’s spent her life trying to find her place. She doesn’t have to wonder anymore. Her place is right beside me. It always will be.
“Maybe the new throw pillows arrived early,” she murmurs.
I insisted on the two of us living together as soon as possible. Her stuff has already been moved in, and we unpacked the last boxes two days ago.
She’s spent the past two weeks adding new touches to the place. I told her it’s no longer my cabin. It’s ours now, and she’s taken that to heart.