And I’ve never felt better in my own skin. I don’t see the flaws I used to. I don’t look in the mirror and hate myself for being too short, too curvy, too unconventional. Now, I’m able to celebrate my differences.
And that’s all thanks to Tate.
The thought of seeing him waiting for me at the altar fills me with butterflies. When he proposed two months ago, I never expected the wedding to come together so fast. But these incredible days we’ve spent together, planning our big day and paving out our future, have gone so quickly. I guess time really does fly when you’re having fun. When you’re living your best life and falling deeper in love every single day.
I’m so damn lucky.
There’s a knock on my door. It must be my dad, ready to drive me over to the church. When I open the door for him, his eyes fill up with tears.
“You look beautiful, darling,” he says, wiping his eyes. “Tate is going to love this.”
I grin. My dad has bonded with Tate a lot these past few months, and he totally supports us. They’re like best buddies now, and dad has been itching to walk me down the aisle for weeks. I link my arm through his and let him lead me out to the car. Knowing that I have my family’s blessing for this day only makes it better. And with our first unborn child growing inside me, I love that I get to share this day with our baby too.
The church is beautiful. There is a flower arch at the church door to greet me. My mother waits there too, ready to be my one and only bridesmaid. In all honesty, I didn’t invite many people to the wedding. I don’t have many people I love and trust. But having both my parents walking me down the aisle is all I need. Especially when Tate is waiting for me at the altar.
“Are you ready, sweetheart?” Mom asks as she collects my train. I smile and nod.
“I’ve never been more ready for anything.”
We stand ready at the church doors and wait for the music to begin playing. I take a deep breath and step into the church once the music starts, letting my dad lead me inside. I keep my eyes lowered for a moment, preparing myself for the moment when I see my love for the first time today.
And then I look up.
My heart swells with love.
There he is, handsome and tall in his tuxedo. He’s smiling too, taking in every inch of me as I glide down the aisle. I barely notice the guests as I walk toward Tate. He’s the only thing on my mind today. He’s the only thing on my mind most days…
And I know he feels the same way I do. His eyes are hungry as he watches me. He’s waited so long to see me in my wedding dress, and I feel ecstatic knowing that I’ve made him happy. It feels good to look at him and know that he thinks I’m the most beautiful woman in the room. Before him, I never would have imagined how that could feel. I always thought I’d be second best to everyone else, always left on the sidelines. But Tate’s gaze is all I need to push aside my past worries. Looking at him now, I know I’m perfect in his eyes.
“Wow,” he says as I step up to meet him at the altar, my parents standing back to watch me shine. “You look beautiful every day but today…just wow.”
I beam from ear to ear.
That’s the only thing I needed to hear. I join hands with him and his thumb brushes across the knuckle of my ring finger. Two months from the day we met, he still gives me shivers as strong as the day we met. He makes me feel so special, turns me on, and shows me love like no one else.
I get lost in his eyes, barely registering what’s happening around us. If our guests are crying or taking pictures none of it really matters. Because today is about me and him. It’s about the future we’re going to share together. It’s about a love so strong that nothing will tear it apart. Our vows, our declarations of love are for us, sealing our bond with the promise of forever. That’s why we were desperate to get married so quickly. Why are we standing here before we’ve even known one another for a year. We know what we want, and we’re about to take it.
And when we do, all of our dreams will continue to come true.
EXTENDED EPILOGUE
FOUR YEARS LATER…
Tate
There’s always a moment of quiet each morning before our house explodes with noise. A moment where Macy and I are still half asleep, wrapped up in one another’s arms, stuck in someplace between peaceful and turned on. I wake each morning to her beautiful naked body beside me and, all at once, I want to make love to her, but also to hold her tight, and never let her go.