Fight Me(75)

The kiss is intense and passionate as we both try to convey our feelings in that one, simple gesture. If I could kiss this man for the rest of my life, I would die happy and know that I was loved. I’m loved. I feel it in his kiss. The thought wraps around me like a warm blanket, enveloping me in its heat and tenderness.

“Excuse me, you two. I’m supposed to be getting married in a few minutes. Would you mind holding off on the dry humping until after the ceremony?” Maddox asks through the now open doorway with a smug smirk on his face.

“I was not dry humping her. I was just telling her how much I love her,” Jake says with a smile as he gazes down into my eyes.

“Well, it’s about damn time, man. And speaking of time, it’s almost time! Where are those flower thingies that we’re supposed to put on?”

“Oh! The boutonnieres! I’ve got to get those pinned on you guys before you go out. Come here,” I say as I tug Jake back in the room.

When the boutonnieres are in place and I’ve made sure that everyone is lined up in the foyer and ready to walk down the aisle of the church, I turn to head inside the quaint little church to find a seat. Before I can get inside though, Jake grabs my hand and brings it up to his mouth.

“I’ll see you in just a little bit, darlin’.”

“I’ll be here.”

“Good. I have a dance saved later just for you.”

“You better have all of them saved for me,” I reply with a coy smile.

“Every last one of them from here on out are yours.”

I smile at Jake and place a gentle kiss on his sweet lips before heading inside the church to find a seat. Nate escorts me to the front, a row behind where Mr. and Mrs. Stevens will be sitting. “Oh, I don’t have to sit up here. It’s for family,” I whisper in Nate’s ear.

“Mom gave me very specific instructions that you are to sit right here,” he says with a small smile and a wink.

I take my seat just as the slow, instrumental music starts up. All eyes turn to the back of the church as Maddox’s parents are escorted to their seats in the front row, followed by a beaming Mrs. Stevens. Moments later Maddox, Jake, and Aiden make their way up to the front of the church. Jake throws me that cocky half-smile that I love so much and a wink. I can’t help but smile ear to ear as I stare back at him. Jake Stevens. The man I love.

As the music changes to Canon in D, I turn back to watch Jessica and Holly make their entrance into the church and towards the front altar. Brooklyn comes in next in the most beautiful little white dress carrying a basket of rose petals. Her hair is pulled up on top of her head with little white flowers pinned in it. She looks every bit of the little princess she is.

Brooklyn takes one look at the audience in the church and starts to get a little shy under the scrutiny of the audience. She stops halfway down the aisle and looks as if she’s about to turn around and head back down the way she came. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Maddox walk down the steps in front of the altar and start to approach Brooklyn.

“Brooklyn,” Maddox whispers, squatting as he gets to the first pew.

Brooklyn turns back towards the front and sees Maddox standing there. Her entire face lights up with delight. “Daddy!” she exclaims and then takes off running towards him.

Maddox scoops her up in his arms and places a kiss on the top of her head. When they make it back up to the altar, the music changes again and everyone rises to stand. Maddox points down the aisle towards the back indicating for Brooklyn to watch the back door.

When Avery and her father walk inside the church, I can’t help but turn and watch for Maddox’s reaction. His face lights up like a toddler who just discovered a room full of presents on Christmas morning. He holds his new daughter in his arms as his future wife walks towards him.

I look up at Jake next and see him looking at me with those piercing blue eyes. He’s staring at me, his face carrying a sexy smile, eyes filled with desire, and I can see the love radiating from him. Tears fill my eyes again as I stare into Jake’s blue eyes and return his smile. I don’t question it or fight it. I just go with it because there is no one else in this world that I would rather be with. Love. Fight with.

And besides, a wise woman once told me that the fighting is only the first, small step. The making up afterwards is the best part.





Epilogue


Jake

I sit back and watch Avery and Maddox spin around the warmly lit dance floor. Tonight turned out to be one hell of a night. It doesn’t even bother me that I smiled for what felt like a thousand photos. The wedding was perfect, the dinner delicious, and now my girl is sitting next to me, snuggled under my arm, as we watch my sister and my best friend share their first dance as husband and wife.