SadieEven with Dad glaring at Elijah as he walked me down the aisle, today was the happiest day of my life. I hadn’t even been upset that they’d had to do an emergency job on my dress so my stomach would fit in it. No one told me it could grow so quickly in the space of two weeks, but consider me informed.
As we got to where Elijah was standing, looking handsome in a pair of gray slacks and a white shirt with the top three buttons undone and the sleeves rolled up, Dad leaned into me. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
Smiling at him, I rose onto my tiptoes—glad I’d decided to wear heels under my dress—and kissed him on the cheek. “Yes, I’m sure. And, yes, I know what he told Wick.”
Shooting him another scowl, Dad sighed and kissed me on the forehead. “Your mom’s watching down on you with the biggest smile on her face. Laugh, love, and live, sweetheart.” And then he held my hand out to Elijah, gave my bump a rub, and went and took his place standing behind me.
“You look beautiful,” Elijah whispered just as Hurst started talking.
“Townsends, Rossis, Brits, and fellow countrymen,” he began, getting groans from the people sitting down. “I dunno, they didn’t cover that part online,” he shrugged. “We’re gathered here today to witness the holy matrimony of Elijah and Sadie. Both myself and Captain Tosh are honored to be the ones who bind them, even if we agree Sadie’s making a mistake.”
There was a chorus of gasps and chuckles from our guests as Elijah dropped his head back and groaned.
Then someone started laughing loudly, getting the middle finger from Elijah over his shoulder. “Fucking Samson. Remind me why he’s here?”
I knew this was going to be good. That’s why I’d suggested Hurst be the one to do it.
“Sadie, are you sure you want to marry Elijah?”
“I am.”
“But are you really sure?” Hurst pressed, mouthing after it, “I can save you.”
After reassuring him a second time, he exchanged a look and shrug with the captain and continued with the ceremony.
“Conducting this ceremony is an honor, especially when there’s a beautiful soul like Sadie Dahl involved. Which is why we’re so confused that she’s marrying Elijah.”
Elijah’s fingers spasmed around my hand as he growled, “Old man.”
When he got to the part where he asked if anyone had any opposition to the marriage, I lost my composure.
“If anyone feels that these two should not be joined by marriage, please speak now or forever hold your peace.” Waiting, he looked around the guests and pointed at someone. “Was that a hand?”
Whoever he’d singled out shouted back, “No.”
“Ah, okay.” Then, leaning on the plinth, he rested his chin on his hand. “It’s okay, we can wait while you muster up the courage.”
“I’m going to kill him,” Elijah hissed, but I was wiping tears of laughter from my cheeks, my belly jiggling so much that our daughter was kicking up a storm.
Grabbing his hand, I put it where the strongest ones were, calming him down instantly.
Still, the silence dragged on, with only the sound of people laughing breaking it.
After about ten minutes, he looked at the captain and sighed, shaking his head slowly. “I guess we should probably proceed, then.” And passed it over to him to finish.
By the time we’d said our vows, I knew there was absolutely no way that I was ever going to forget anything about today. Not just because I was memorizing all of it, but because everyone was recording it on their phones, too.
Behind him, I saw Elijah’s brothers move in closer as Captain Tosh said, “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride, if your brothers don’t get their first.”
I hadn’t been prepared, and when Jackson grabbed me out of Elijah’s arms and tipped me over his arm, as far as my belly would allow me to go, I burst out laughing, not expecting him to kiss me. But he did, a big fat smackeroo right on the nose, just as the others leaned in and kissed my cheeks and forehead noisily.
Once their point was made, the brothers put me back on my feet, and I saw a struggling Elijah being held back by my brother and some of his cousins.
“I’m going to tell him I saw your penis that time,” I threatened quietly so that Elijah didn’t hear.
Jackson went pale but still smiled smugly at me. “You wouldn’t dare, you love me too much.”
“You’re all dead,” he snapped over his shoulder as he pushed away from them and then pulled me in for the kiss everyone was waiting for—none of them more than me, though.
Finally, with a smug smile, he let me up for air, declaring, “Mine!”
And then he spun and jumped on Jackson, taking him down to the ground in a headlock.