“Yes.”
“Do you have something borrowed?”
“I borrowed Naomi’s emotional stability.” Naomi doesn’t even blink. “That doesn’t count. Here.” She says as she gives me a pair of beautiful, elegant earrings. “I need them back intact. They cost more than our trust funds together.”
“What?” She laughs, “It’s a joke.” We all laugh, and I realize something terrifying.
I’m happy.
Not performatively happy. Not ‘smile for the cameras’, or ‘be a Hayes’, ‘be fine’, happy.
Reallyhappy.
And that’s all because ofhim.
I get my makeup done while Rose narrates every step like she’s filming a documentary calledHow To Marry The CEO Of Your Dad’s Company.Naomi sits on my couch, sipping coffee, watching the chaos like she’s on a jury. “You’re quiet,” I tell her.
She shrugs. “I’m observing.”
“So, judging?”
“Always.” Elena leans over the back of the couch, her curls perfect, her eyes sparkling. “So,” she says, “are we excited?” I swallow. I think about Theo’s hands. Theo’s voice. Theo’s steady calm. Theo showed up for me in a hundred ways I didn’t know I needed. “I’m… yeah, I actually am,” I say.
That makes Rose tear up instantly. “Oh, my God.”
Harper sighs like she’s irritated by feelings. “Don’t start crying, please. We don’t have time to redo our makeup.” Naomi’s gaze softens. “Good,” she says quietly. “This is the right kind of environment I need to be in.” We all get ready together, and our dresses are perfect. I’m not a bridezilla, so I let them choose their own dresses.
Naomi is wearing a deep green dress with enough cleavage to set a boardroom on fire. Harper looks stunning in a burgundy dress. Rose always loved pink, so we settled on a dark one. And Elena is wearing a golden mustard dress that makes her look amazing.
I love these women.
A few hours later, we are all in a small rooftop garden, with warm lights, soft flowers, the city behind us like a quiet witness. With no spectacle, no press, and no performance.
Just us and the people we actually care about and love, besides my father and Susan.
Theo’s parents are here, his mom holding tissues like she’s already crying, his stepdad looking proud in that quiet, solid way. They’re warm, easy, and when his mom sees me, she grabs my hands and whispers, “You look beautiful, sweetheart,” like she’s known me forever. I blink fast and smile. “Thank you.”
Theo is waiting at the front.
And the second I see him, everything else blurs.
He’s in a dark suit, no tie, as I ordered and he agreed. Everything looks so simple, he looks so relaxed, so happy, sohimbehind closed doors.
I’m so glad people can finally see the man I fell in love with. His eyes lock onto mine, and I swear the whole city goes quiet. No more hums, no more traffic noise, just quiet. Rose squeezes my hand before she walks me forward. “Don’t run,” she whispers. “I’m not going to run,” I whisper back.
“You ran from commitment for twenty-six years.”
“That’s not—okay, yes.” Naomi steps closer on my other side, her voice low. “You’re okay.”
I nod, throat tight. “I’m okay.”
While I appreciate my father being here, I didn’t want him to walk me down the aisle. Not because of our work-in-progress relationship, but because I wanted to do it myself. I’ve been independent my whole life, and if I was going to enter into marriage head over heels in love, I wanted to do it on my own.
When I start to walk, Theo’s gaze never leaves myeyes. Not once. When I reach him, he takes my hands as if he’s been waiting his whole life to do it. And maybe he has. I see his eyes shining. I hope he doesn’t cry because I will lose it.
The ceremony is simple. Romantic, but not in a cheesy rom-com type of romantic. No dramatic speeches, no overdone metaphors.
When it was time to say our vows, I was calm, happy, and excited, and then Theo said, “I choose you, in this life, and in any other to come.” his voice broke slightly. And I’m gone. No more calm, cool, collected, I’m a mess, and when it’s my turn, my hands shake, but I don’t let go of him.
