“I didn’t,” I clarified. I stopped, and he turned to face me. “I did it for me.”
I was unprepared for the way my dad’s eyes filled with tears while he studied me. “I’m so damned proud of you.”
Life hadn’t played out the way I planned or the idyllic way most people assumed it had, but I wouldn’t change a damned thing if it meant I ended up here every time. “I’m proud of me too,” I said, my eyes starting to water. “I needed to remind myself that there’s no shame in being caught in that situation. It wasn’t my fault. I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“No, you didn’t.”
“And I want to help others know that, too,” I declared, swallowing back my tears and standing tall.
He blotted his eyes with a handkerchief and matched my stance with a smile. “Damn, you’d make a good politician. I’m glad I’m not running against you.”
“Ha. I wouldn’t waste my time on Senate. It’s presidency or nothing.”
“That’s my girl.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
With one last smile, we looked over to the wedding coordinator, who looked one second away from performing smoke signals to get our attention.
“We better get going,” Dad said. “I can only imagine Austin thinks you actually ran.”
I laughed but started walking. “It’ll be good for him to sweat a bit.”
It was all talk because as soon as we reached the top of the aisle, I met his eyes just like I had years ago, and it took everything I had not to run down the aisle into his arms.
Halfway down the aisle, seeing all the love and support around us, I couldn’t hold back the tears anymore. They slid down my cheek, and I did my best to blot them away. As soon as Austin took me from my father, he kissed each cheek, making them disappear for me.
I loved this man.
I loved my husband.
I loved my best friend.
And I couldn’t wait to spend the rest of my life laughing with him.
A whole future flashed before my eyes while we listened to the pastor start the ceremony, but one memory from the past pushed its way to the front.
Holding his gaze, I mouthed the same words I said when this all started.
Wanna fuck?
He snorted, causing the pastor to stumble over the words, which made me snort. But I wasn’t laughing anymore when, unlike that first time, he mouthed back, hell yes.
The rest of the ceremony blurred together with more tears and promises of forever. By the end, I was a ball of emotion, ready to explode. When the pastor claimed Austin could kiss his bride, he delivered a chaste peck and had me tossed over his shoulder, heading down the aisle before we were even presented as Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell.
Catcalls and my mom’s embarrassed face were the last things I saw and heard before Austin rushed us inside so he could make good on his promise.
When we came stumbling out, no one commented on our rustled appearance. They greeted us with open arms and a beautiful reception.
In between dances, the girls pulled me off to the makeshift bar.
“For you,” Nova said, passing me a shot of vodka.
Vera poured a shot of tequila and passed it to Nova. “This is for you, Naughty Nova.”
I joined in, pouring a glass of champagne for Vera. “And for you, my dear.”
We raised our glasses, looking back at our men talking around one of the tables. “To the lucky men in our lives,” I declared.
“And to the alcohol that brought us all together.”