Cherished (Wanted 4)

“You know I’d do anything for you and the kids, right?”

She nodded her head. “Josh, is everything okay?”

I pushed her hair back and grinned. “Everything is perfect. It just scares me sometimes. I don’t ever want to lose you, Will, and Libby. I’ll do whatever it takes to make the three of you happy. Everything I do…it’s all for you.”

I watched as a single tear rolled down her face.

“Oh, Josh…you make me so happy every single second of the day. I’d be completely lost without you. I’ll love you forever.”

I laughed. “That’s a long time.”

She nodded her head and winked. “Yes, it is, but I think I’m up for the challenge.”

“You better be because I intend on making love to you as much as possible for the rest of our lives.”

She pushed me onto my back and crawled on top of me. As she slowly sat down on me, she smiled. “I’m going to hold you to that, Mr. Hayes. You’re my everything, Josh, and I love you so much.”

I pulled her body closer to me and placed my hands on the sides of her face as I looked into her beautiful blue eyes. I will love this girl forever with everything in my heart and soul.

“I love you more times infinity. I’ll forever be faithful to our love, princess.”

The Wedding—October Thirty-First

I stood there like an idiot, just watching everyone run around as they set up things for the wedding. I turned around and looked at our bedroom window. I smiled, imagining her getting ready. What will her dress look like? Is she going to wear her hair up or down? I took in a cleansing deep breath and blew it out as I felt someone slap my back. I turned to see Lark there.

“So, I believe it’s the best man’s responsibility to make sure the groom is at the wedding on time. I’ve got that covered. I also need to make sure he is dressed and ready to go.” He looked me up and down and smiled. “That’s covered. Now, I see what my real hurdle is going to be.”

I chuckled. “What’s your hurdle?”

“Keeping you away from the bride before the wedding,” he said with a wink.

I threw my head back and laughed. “That is going to be a hurdle because all I want to do is see her.”

“Tough shit. Come on, let’s go get a beer. I know a place where we can get away from all this wedding bullshit.”

He started to head down toward the barn. I looked at the tables that were being set up. Jessie was going to be so happy when she could see how everything was coming together. I glanced over and saw my mom talking to Jenny. The two of them planning this wedding was just what they both had needed. They worked amazingly well together, and Jenny had asked my mother if she’d ever thought of going into wedding planning. As of three weeks ago, they had become business partners, and this wedding was their first as partners.

I looked to my left and saw my father ordering around the guys who were setting up the bar and putting out the kegs. I chuckled and shook my head. Leave it to him to be in charge of the booze.

I turned the corner and walked into the barn. Jeff, Gunner, Josh, and Brad were all kicked back and sitting around a small table. Everyone, except Brad, had a beer in his hands.

“So, this is where my groomsmen have been, huh?” I walked around and grabbed a beer out of a—

Pumpkin?

“What in the fuck is this?” I asked as I sat down.

They all laughed.

Brad said, “This was Amanda’s job—carve out pumpkins for little mini ice chests.”

They all looked at me, but no one said a word.

“What?” I asked.

“You nervous?” Jeff took a drink of his beer.

“Pft, no. I’m not nervous at all,” I said, trying to keep my hands from shaking. They’d been shaking ever since I’d woken up this morning.