Totally, Sweetly, Irrevocably(63)
She rolled her eyes. “You are such a disease, Crew.”
He wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed the top of her head. “Yeah, but you love me.”
She shoved him off, though she was laughing. “Dream on.”
“Well, you better love me. I’m about to save your ass.”
Dread filled her, making her stomach twist into a pretzel. “Why?”
“Your minister called in sick.”
“What?” Gina dropped down to the sofa behind her. “That does it. I’m cursed. I decided to get married and hell froze over and set off some chain reaction that is turning everything into a disaster.”
“Wow, dramatic much?” Jared asked.
She glared at him, and his grin grew wider. “Unless you’ve got something useful to say…”
“I told you you’ll love me. Would I say that if I couldn’t fix this?”
“Yes,” she said.
“I can marry you,” Jared said, with the look of someone who had just rescued a puppy from a burning building.
“Um, thanks. But I’ve already got a groom.”
“No. I mean I can marry the two of you. I’m an ordained minister.”
Nat and Gina both looked at him like he’d suddenly sprouted an extra arm and started slapping himself with it.
“Explain,” Nat said.
He shrugged. “It was one of those internet things. I…won’t go into the details of why I needed to become a minister, but let’s just say I was in a bit of a sticky situation and that was my get-out-of-jail-free card. Either way, I’m still an ordained minister with the legal power to perform weddings.”
“It’ll really be legal?”
“Under the broadly worded laws of our fair state, any minister of any religion can perform weddings. So yes. Totally legal. So…what do you say?”
Gina stood up and gave him a hug. He froze for a second, obviously surprised, before wrapping his arms around her. “Thank you,” she said, reaching up to kiss his cheek. “Now let’s get this show going before something else goes wrong.”
“After you.” He held the door open for the ladies and they headed for the roof.
Gina waited at the door while the others filed through and hurried to take their places. Her mom held her hand, beaming with pride. The music started up, the door opened, and Gina started the walk she’d never in a million years thought she’d take.
The rooftop had been transformed into an oasis of lush beauty. White twinkle lights created a canopy above their heads, and every available surface was covered with deep purple cloth and white flowers. An archway of white, purple, and yellow flowers was set up at the end of the white carpet aisle. On either side of her, the people she loved most stood and watched her walk up the aisle. Toward the man who mattered more to her than anyone else in the world.
Rick stood beside Jared, his gaze glued to her. The smile that lit his face when he finally caught a glimpse of her would stay ingrained in her memory forever. She had never imagined someone could look at her with such love. It filled her heart to overflowing.
When she reached him, he took her hand and pulled her close. “You take my breath away,” he whispered, giving her a gentle kiss on her temple.
“Hey now, you two. We haven’t gotten to that part yet,” Jared said, making the crowd laugh.
Gina shot him a warning look but knew it wasn’t at all threatening. She was too happy to really give it the oomph it needed. He winked at her and held out his arms like he was Moses about to part the Red Sea.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join this man and this woman in the bonds of holy matrimony. As I have only done this one other time before and don’t remember what else I’m supposed to say, let’s get right to it.”
Everyone laughed, and Gina shook her head. Jared was a piece of work but God help her, she loved him like the brother she never wanted.
“Vows?” he asked, looking at her.
She took a deep breath and looked into the eyes of the man she loved. “Rick, my whole life I thought I had everything figured out. I knew exactly what I wanted and how I wanted it. And then you came along and turned my world upside down.” The smile he gave her made her heart skip a beat, and she squeezed his hand tighter. “I promise to always have your back. And to try to show you every day how much you mean to me. I promise to support you in all your endeavors, like you’ve supported me, and at least attempt to understand your opinions, even when you are dead wrong, as you often are.”
Rick laughed, and the sound made her heart sing. “I promise to make you chocolate chip pancakes whenever you want. And to bandage your wounds. And to always keep my hair a ridiculous shade of color so you can pick me out of a crowd even when you are old and senile. I love you more than I thought possible. And I promise to keep loving you until my dying breath and long after.”