The blood coursing through my veins.
My very heart and soul.
I can’t live without her. Ineedher like a plant needs water and sunshine and soil. Oh my God. I love Kat and I always will, forever and ever, ’til the day I die—and, holy fuck, Kat deserves to hear me say it in front of God and everyone we love.Yes.Kat deserves to be the one gliding down the center aisle wearing a white dress—not to mention a shit-ton of diamonds, too.
I want Kat to be my bride.
Fuck my father.
Fuck the past.
Fuck being scared of what tragedy tomorrow might bring.
Whatever might happen tomorrow—whatever it is—I want Kat by my side to experience it with me, good or bad.
“Repeat after me, Sarah,” the officiant is saying.
I steal another look at Kat. She’s still watching Jonas and Sarah, completely unaware that my head and heart and body and soul are all exploding simultaneously like fireworks on the Fourth of July.
“Jonas, with this ring, I promise to be your faithful and loving wife...”Sarah is saying.
Yes, I want to declare my eternal love to Kat in front of our family and friends and God and I want her to take my name. I want to make a life with that demonic-devil-woman. I want to be her husband—herfamily. “This is my beautiful wife,” I want to say when I’m introducing Kat at a party. “Oh, you haven’t met my wife yet? Well, here she is—Katherine Faraday.”
Sarah slips a ring onto Jonas’ finger and he exhales a loud, shaky breath.
“And now it’s your turn, Jonas,” the officiant says. “Repeat after me.”
I look at Kat again to find her blue eyes trained on me.
“Sarah, with this ring, I promise to be your faithful and loving husband...”Jonas is saying.
My eyes are locked with Kat’s.
My chest is tight.
Jonas slides a sparkling ring onto Sarah’s shaking hand and she squeals with glee, making everyone in the audience chuckle, yet again.
“And now, by the authority of the state of Washington, I pronounce you husband and wife,” the officiant declares. “Jonas, you can nowofficiallykiss your lovely bride.”
Jonas swoops Sarah into his arms and plants a passionate kiss on her lips to raucous applause.
“Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you—for the very first time—Mr. and Mrs. Jonas Faraday.”
The place erupts with cheers.
I clap and cheer, too—of course—but I’m distracted.
My eyes are still locked onto Kat’s.
My heart is pounding in my ears.
There’s no doubt in my mind—I want to make that beautiful terrorist my wife.
Jonas and Sarah link arms and bound happily down the aisle together, waving and fist-pumping as they go, and Kat and I link arms and follow them, exactly as we were instructed to do during last night’s rehearsal. But tonight’s walk down the aisle with Kat feels completely different than last night’s dry run. Because tonight, for the first time in my entire life, I finally know what I need to be truly happy in this one and only life: I need to make Katherine Ulla Morgan mine, all mine.Forever.
Twenty-Eight
Josh
