Holy shit, is that me?
Becca stands behind me, her eyes teary.
“Why are you the one crying?” I tease her.
“Because you’re my best friend and I’m just really happy for you. I love you so much, Loz. You deserve all the great things.”
She wraps her arms around me, careful not to crush my dress. Then she takes a deep breath and fans her face, while I giggle. I thought I’d be the one falling apart, not her.
“We have to go.” Annie sticks her head in the door, looking panicked. “Matt said they’re starting to freak out down there because the celebrant is on a time crunch.”
“Okay.” I nod and take one last look at myself in the mirror, then I walk out.I stand outside the small chapel and watch as Allie disappears inside, followed by Becca and then Annie. I’m shaking, I’m so nervous, and doing everything I can to remember to breathe so I don’t pass out halfway down.
“You look nervous.” I jump at the sound of Matt’s voice and turn to him and laugh. Nervous is an understatement. “You’ll be fine,” he adds, linking his arm through mine. “You can’t do any better than Luke.” He pauses for a moment. “Which could be taken as a good thing, or an insult.”
I shift anxiously on my feet, waiting to be given our cue. I peer through the door, freaking out a little bit when I see everyone.
“Laura, are you ready?”
I look back and see the coordinator nodding at me. I smile at her and nod, then squeeze Matt’s hand. Lifting the hem of my dress so I don’t trip, I make my way down the aisle, with Matt by my side. Dad would’ve loved this. I hate that he couldn’t be here to walk me down that aisle, but if it had to be anyone else, I’m glad it’s Matt. I swallow back tears, because I miss Dad so much. Only I can’t cry, because once I start, I won’t be able to stop.
Lifting my head, I smile when I see Luke standing at the end of the aisle, waiting for me. My whole body shakes. I don’t think I can do this. Then I lift my head and my eyes meet his. In that one, tiny moment, everything is perfect.
Nothing else matters, so long as I have him. Every step leads me closer to the one thing I’m certain of, my love for Luke. I stand next to him, my heart pounding when he wraps his hands around mine. Tiny shockwaves race up my arm, the same way they did that very first time he touched me—although that could have been the small, buzzing device I’d managed to lodge inside me. Either way, a tingle is a tingle. I look up into his eyes and smile.
“You look stunning,” he whispers, his eyes twinkling. “Did you get my present?”
I nod slightly. “Or at least, your daughter did.”
“What?” he asks, confused.
“She was wearing the shirt this morning,” I mutter. “She thought it was one of your shitty bands.” I bow my head and stifle a giggle.
“Oh no.” The color drains from his face. “How did you explain that?”
“With great difficulty, thanks to Becca,” I admit.
“Typical Becca.” He chuckles. “I got my own shock today too, and it’s sitting in the front row.”
I turn my head slightly, my eyes widening when I see the very proper looking woman who is sitting next to Matt.
“Your mom?” I ask softly. He nods, but I can’t work out whether this is a good thing, or not. “Holy shit.”
The celebrant clears his throat and raises his eyebrows at us, looking very unimpressed.
Matt makes a face as our guests chuckle.
“I think that was a subtle hint that we should probably stop talking now and get married.”
I nod and smile.
“Okay, but only so I get to kiss you.”
THE END