I stare at the altar. Baylor stands on the left. Nick and Cairo stand behind Nico.
Nico is dressed in a cream tuxedo. A black bowtie makes it pop.
His hair is perfectly moussed. His curls are extra defined. Makes me want to run my fingers through his hair.
Dad and I halt at the stairs.
Nico steps in front of us.
“Nico, I’m giving you my daughter. Don’t let me down.”
“I won’t Tizáno.” He shakes his hand as he pulls him into a hug.
Dad kisses my cheek, then places my hand in Nico’s.
A zing of electricity zaps through my body.
“You look fucking breathtaking,” Nico whispers.
“Thank you.”
He guides me onto the altar.
Standing across from him, I take in the handsome man. Just when I think Nico can’t outdo himself.
His eyes sparkle under the sunny sky.
Nico’s beard is neatly trimmed. I want to caress his face for the rest of the day.
The ceremony gets underway. I’m present, but at the same time, I’m not. I’m marrying Nico Pitucco. The man I fell in love with when I was a teenager. The same man who broke my heart. My fingers curl around the bouquet over and over again. I peer around the lush yard like there’s somewhere I can go.
“Nicola Giovanni Pitucco, do you take Serenity Francessca Cichello to be your lawfully wedded wife?”
My eyes squeeze shut. His boot slams into my mother’s stomach again and again. My psyche is breaking at the wrong time.
Nico squeezes my hands. “Serenity, open your eyes. Look at me.”
“I can’t,” I mutter.
In this moment, it feels like it’s just me and Nico. His hands grip my face through the veil. “Look at me, baby.”
My heart leaps in my chest and slowly my eyes open.
“I’ve got you, Princess.”
I feel tears ready to break free. “Nico.”
“This is our day.”
“Nico, we don’t have to do this.”
“I do take Serenity Francessca Cichello to be my lawfully wedded wife. The only woman I’ve ever loved.”
The tears break free. “You love me?”
“Fuck yeah,” he growls. Nico takes his handkerchief and reaches under the veil and dabs my cheeks dry.
“Continue,” he orders the officiant.
