Forever Pucked (Pucked 4)

I run my thumb over her shaking hand and reach up to wipe away the tear slipping down her cheek.

“I will always love you, Violet. I won’t ever be perfect, and I’ll make mistakes, and I’ll definitely say things that will make you angry, but I promise to tell you every day, not just with words, but with actions, that you are the center of my universe. You’re the sun in my sky and the breath in my lungs. I promise to be yours for every second of this existence, and to cherish every moment of that love with you.”

Violet takes a deep, unsteady breath and sticks her finger in her cleavage. When she looks up, she’s panicked.

“I have them!” Charlene rushes over and hands Violet cue cards.

Violet puts her hand to her heart and heaves a sigh of relief. She looks down at them, then back up at me. “Maybe I should’ve gone first. Mine aren’t as nice as yours,” she whispers.

I skim her cheek with gentle fingers and follow a trail down to her chest where I rest my hand. “They’ll be perfect because they’re from here.”

“From my boob?”

I laugh. “From your heart, Violet.”

“Oh! Duh.” She rolls her eyes. “I’m so nervous.” After several more deep breaths, she nods. “Okay. I’m ready.” She glances down at the cards and then back up at me. “I, Violet Marie Hall, take you, Alex Robert Waters, to be my husband.” She looks up and bites her lip, like she likes the way that sounds as much as I do. “To have as the most important person in my life, to hold whenever we’re sleeping.” She pauses and looks up at me. “At least until you turn into a radioactive furnace, and then I have to take a break, but you always end up wrapped around me later, so…” She looks around, like she realizes she’s started rambling and consults her cue cards again. “I promise to love you, all of you, your best parts, and the other ones, too.”

Red blotches form on her chest and start spreading up her neck. I’m worried for her. Maybe we should’ve gone with the traditional vows.

She mutters, “Screw it,” and drops the cards on the floor. This could go really well or really badly. Thankfully it’s just our closest friends and family here, and Randy can edit the video he’s making if he needs to.

“I love you, Alex Waters. I think I started loving you when you sent me that silly stuffed beaver, or maybe even before that. Maybe it was the moment you smashed into the plexiglas and scared the crap out of me. But after that moment, you were always with me. And then we had… Well, anyway, after the night I met you, you stayed in my head, and then you started stalking my emails and my text messages. You tried so hard.

“I love so many things about you. But your perseverance and your tenacity, that’s how you won your way into my heart. I promise I’ll keep you there forever.

“I want all the things with you, Alex. I want the tears and the laughter, but more laughter than tears. I want the downs so I can appreciate the ups even more. I will try to be the best version of me, so I deserve the best version of you for the rest of my life.”

After a brief pause she finishes with, “The end.”

Everyone chuckles, and Violet’s face turns red.

We exchange rings. Violet drops mine and almost head-butts me in the dick trying to pick it up off the floor. Lance manages to get it for her, and she slips it on to my finger.

I can’t take my eyes off her as Lance rambles on with the rest of the ceremony, and then he pronounces us husband and wife.

Violet throws her arms around me, and I lift her off her feet to kiss her.

“I love you.”

“Forever,” she whispers.

-&-

After the ceremony, we go out to eat. I keep a close eye on the time, because we have a flight to catch. I can’t wait to surprise Violet with our honeymoon. It’s the one thing I’ve kept secret.

We’ve been drinking champagne most of the afternoon. Violet has such a low tolerance that we have to start switching out her drinks for non-alcoholic versions.

After our meal, we have exactly enough time to get back to the room, throw all our things into our bags, rush through goodbyes, and catch our limo to the airport.

“Where’re you taking me?” Violet’s changed into a pair of leggings and one of those long shirts that’s too short to be a dress because it barely skims the bottom of her ass.

“You’ll see when we get to the airport.”

“Are we gonna join the mile-high club?”

“No.”

She pouts.

“Do you really want the first time we have sex after we’re married to be in a bathroom on an airplane?”