Page 371 of Saving Forever with the Hockey Captain

And finally...

Her.

Everything else disappears. There is only Annette.

She's wearing a dress I knew I would love. Her veil catches the morning light like a whisper.

The pearls at her neck shimmer softly.

Her arm rests gently through her father's.

And she's smiling. Not a nervous smile. Not a careful one. A peaceful one.

It’s the same smile she wears when she watches the sunrise, or laughs over lunch on the dock, or reaches for my hand without thinking. Home.

I don't realize that tears have filled my eyes until she laughs. Just a little. She mouths something across the chapel. Hi.

A laugh escapes me before I can stop it. I mouth the only answer that matters. Hi, beautiful.

She blushes. Even from halfway across the room, I can see it.

Someone near me sniffles loudly.

Probably my mother.

Possibly Coach.

Honestly...maybe all of us.

Annette never looks away. Neither do I.

She keeps walking toward me. Every step feels like another promise, like another answered prayer.

Every step brings the rest of my life closer.

Beside me, Toby quietly clears his throat.

Without taking my eyes off Annette, I whisper,

"I'm okay."

He smiles. "I know."

"No." I swallow hard. "I'm more than okay."

Annette reaches the front of the chapel.

Her father kisses her cheek, then watches as we continue.

***

She smiles at me. "So..."

Her voice is barely louder than a whisper. "You clean up pretty well, Captain."

I grin. "You noticed?"

"I always notice."