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“I know,” I whisper as I lock eyes with Holley again.
The truth is, Garrett has no fucking idea. But I hope he will. One day I hope he’ll get to experience this kind of love with a woman who actually deserves him.
Holley’s eyes find mine, a smile on her face and a shrug to let me know that she’s more than aware that I noticed the trip.
She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my entire life.
In a lacy white gown that sits just off her shoulders and hugs the curves of her figure, hair down in waves around her shoulders, and makeup that highlights the jade of her eyes, she clearly chose each aspect of her look with me in mind. But the truth is, I can barely see any of it.
Because Holley’s gorgeous looks are one in a billion, but her personality—the way she makes me feel—is one in a trillion.
She’s everything to me.
Her dad stops their approach at the foot of the altar, and I walk down the three short steps to meet them. Phil’s head shines in the fading afternoon sunlight, and matching moisture reflects in his eyes.
I imagine he has to be feeling about the way I’d feel if I were the one giving away my only daughter. It doesn’t matter that she’s almost thirty-four years old, to him, she’ll always be his baby.
“Who gives this woman to be married to this man?” the reverend asks from his spot up the steps.
Phil doesn’t disappoint with his answer. “She gives herself.” He turns to give Holley a kiss on the cheek and whispers the rest. “But she does it with my blessing.”
I reach out to shake his hand, and he takes it firmly. There’s emotion in his throat, of that much I’m sure, so I don’t put him in the position of having to say anything else.
Neither one of us really needs to speak, though. You can see everything you need to right in our eyes.
We both love Holley more than anything in the world, and we’ll both go to the ends of it to make sure she feels it.
“Shall we, Jake from the Ocean?” Holley asks when my eyes meet hers again. I nod and take her hand to step up onto the platform, but before helping her up, I tell her the truth.
“I was drowning,” I admit softly, making her chin jerk back slightly. “And you saved me. It just wasn’t in the ocean.”
“Jake,” Holley whispers.
“You were exactly what I never knew I needed, Holley. And I can’t wait to marry you.”
She laughs lightly and looks around at everyone who’s waiting for us to do just that. “I guess we should probably get on with it then, huh?”
“Yes!” Phil interjects loudly. “For God’s sake, don’t make me break out the pickles at a wedding.”
Everyone laughs, but I only have ears for Holley. It’s still the best sound I’ve ever heard.
“I love you, Holl.”
“I love you too, Jake.”THE END
