“Well, a few of my favorite parts were what led to this pocketful of polaroid pictures of my bride dressed in very sexy lingerie posed in positions I’d love to have her in later this evening,” I admit with nonchalance, though I nearly keeled over from lust and need for my wife each time one of the bridesmaids brought me another polaroid.
“Is that so? Who gave those to you?” she questions in a sugary sweet voice.
“McKenna, Alexa, and Dakota came around almost every hour, on the hour to hand them to me. You wouldn’t know who put them up to that, would you?”
She mock-gasps and feigns innocence. My Little Red is such a little liar.
“Well, whoever it was that put them up to it, I should thank them. And I’d also like to thank you for the gift you gave me with your letter earlier. I especially liked the engraving on the whiskey glass. What was it again? I believe you promised to always be by my side. Or on top of me. Or under me. Or on your knees in front of me. Apparently, wherever I need you to be,” I tease her as I pull her against my chest and cradle her head in my hands.
“All teasing aside, can you believe today? It was perfect,” I tell her as I stare down into her whiskey-flecked eyes that never fail to captivate me.
“It’s been everything and more than I could’ve ever dreamed growing up. And you’re the main reason why. Thank you for giving this to me. I’m not referring to the wedding in Paris, I mean this life we’ve started together. You’ve shown me that while it may be a risk to open my heart and love someone, it is more lonely and heartbreaking to close myself off and never have loved at all. You are my best friend, Bennett, and I can’t wait to live out our dreams together for the rest of our lives.” Scarlett’s words sink in and sear my soul like a hot brand I’ll proudly wear forever.
“What was your favorite part of the day today, my beautiful bride?” I ask her as I pull her closer to me.
A wide smile eclipses her face. “Besides seeing you at the end of the aisle, probably that as I walked down I saw Gunner standing beside you and heard Gemma’s voice guiding me to you.”
At the mention of that, a wide smile of my own mirrors hers. “She did so amazing and her rendition was so beautiful. Did you know she came up with that all on her own?”
Scar shakes her head. “I didn’t. She’s amazing. They both are. I can’t believe we get to officially adopt them when we get back.”
My chest expands just thinking about it. “I know. The only thing that would’ve made today better would’ve been to be able to celebrate them officially being ours. But that momentous occasion deserves a celebration all on its own.”
Nodding her head in agreement, Scar nudges her shoulder against my chest. “That, and perhaps if we would’ve had the Stanley Cup table instead of the cake table like you originally wanted.”
Throwing my head back, I let out an exaggerated sigh. “Ah, yes. But you know what, we made it to the third round which is the farthest our team has ever made it in franchise history. Next year we’ve got a few more pieces to move around and then the cup is ours. I can feel it.”
Scarlett hums in agreement and turns to look at me. “Well study up this season, Cap. Your apprenticeship starts next summer.”
“I can’t wait. That just means I’m one step closer to watching you live out your dreams, Red.”
“I’ve told you this before, but in case you forgot I’ll tell you again. This life we’re building together is my dream. I love you,” she tells me.
“I love you too. We went from temporary to eternal in less than a year’s time. Where do we go from here, my love?” I ask her as I tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear, rubbing the freckles on the lobe of her ear as I do.
Scarlett hums in contentment, her gaze locked with mine. “I don’t know, but I’ve got a sneaking suspicion that we’ve yet to even scratch the surface.”
I know she’s right. Each day feels exciting and new with Scarlett. I’m hopeful for our future and for the life we’ll continue to build beside each other.
“I love you forever and always, Little Red.” My voice is thick with emotion as I think of what our future has in store for us.
“Watch yourself, Benny Boy, I just might hold you to that.” Scarlett winks at me and a dazzling smile lights up her face.
I thank my lucky stars that I met this woman seven years ago. Call it fate, call it divine intervention, I’m just glad to call her mine for the rest of my life.
Jackson - July
The opening chords of “Feels Like Home” by Chantal Kreviazuk play, which is the first dance song Bennett told me he and Scarlett had picked out, but what I wasn’t anticipating was the voice that begins singing the lyrics.
I’m standing at the bar with my back to the stage, but I don’t need to look to know who is singing right now.
No, not as her melodic tone floods my system and wraps around me like a warm embrace—a voice I’d know anywhere, anytime, because it’s the voice that haunts me in my dreams.
Chills unwillingly work their way down my spine as the beautiful tone sinks into my very being.
But this can’t be right. I must be imagining things as I’ve often done over the past decade.Shecan’t be here. Not in Paris. Not at my big brother’s wedding. She’d never do that.
She wouldn’t, would she?
