Carter laughed, then said, “Anything you want. I’ll always give it to you, long as it’s within my power.”
Taking the microphone from him, I walked to the center of the stage and waited for Carter to take his seat.
Then I brought the microphone up and said, “I don’t know if I can beat all of that. Honestly, I don’t think I want to. Because it was perfect. Totally Carter.”
Everyone laughed.
Then I locked eyes with Tatum and said, “Tonight, we are missing someone crucial to our story. Carter spoke about his best friend. What y’all don’t know is that Granger is the onewho threw Carter off the rig so he could come back to me. Not knowing that he wouldn’t have enough time to get off himself.”
“There’s more to the story. Something that I was told, something that I’ve held close to my heart ever since I met Granger.” Then I looked at Carter and said, “Sin, I’m going to have to share one of your secrets. Okay?” At his nod and wink, I continued.
“Carter had a bad day at work. His umbilical line had gotten kinked. That night, I received a call from Granger. He told me what had happened, and then he watched as Carter had texted with someone. He knew that Carter was texting me. He told me that in the fourteen years he has worked right alongside him, he’d seen him chuckle. But never, not once, has he heard him laugh. And he’s seen him smile but never seen him smile like he did when he talked to me.”
I swallowed, recalling that conversation, then I said, “Here’s to Granger. We wouldn’t be here without him.”
All around the space, glasses or bottles were held up, “To Granger.”
Then I looked at Talia and said, “I love you. Made you a promise, sorry I broke it.”
She laughed, then called out, “So worth it.”
Then I looked back at Carter. “To my heart, to the man I’ve had on a pedestal ever since I was seven years old, skinned my knee, and you broke the sound barrier by how fast you got to me. There have only been six years of my life where you weren’t a part of it in one way or another. I know that the man above planned things like he did, so I would treasure you, more than I did yesterday, more than I do today, and more than I will tomorrow.”
He smiled.
“Like I said, I can’t top Carter’s speech, and no, I still don’t want to, but I’ve been holding onto another piece of information. Wonder why I’ve only been drinking water tonight?” I asked, and then I waited.
Heads tilted.
Eyes searched.
But it was Misty and my mother who stood up and asked, “Are you serious?”
I nodded.
Then they both cried.
Carter got it soon after that, and I watched as his face transformed into a blinding smile, then he was up, walking to me.
I handed the microphone off to Stella, who took it and said, “Congratulations.”
The moment Carter reached me, he hauled me into his arms and then kissed the daylights out of me.
And then... he carried me out of the reception, but not before calling out, “We love all of you.”
Hoots and hollers followed after as he carried me to his truck, and then he took us home.
I was in his arms once I was free of the truck, he kicked the door closed, and then our lips never separated until we were behind our closed front door.
I had him out of his tux, and he had me out of my dress.
Clothes followed us to our bedroom.
Hands roamed.
Kisses were shared.
Tongues danced rhythms that only the two of us understood.
