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“I had no idea, but our friends are all here, so yeah, this is a good start. Just tell me there will be beer and barbecue later.”
I looked up at him with a serious expression. “There will be beer and barbecue later.” And dancing. And cake.
The game was just like old times, lots of good-natured ribbing, shit talk and even a few stolen bases. It was all in good fun and even though my team lost by one run, I wore a beaming smile. Even sweaty with a streak of dirt on my chin, I couldn’t remember being so happy after losing a game.
“Come to gloat?” Casey strolled across the field with a satisfied smile on his face, dirt all over his t-shirt and damp, sweaty hair.
“Gloat? Would I do that?”
“In a heartbeat.”
“Nah, I came for my kiss of victory.” He smacked his lips in my direction and I gripped his face and smacked a loud kiss to his mouth. “Mmm, better.”
“Much.” I did it again just because I could and tugged him towards the parking lot. “Let’s go get changed and join everyone on the green.”
“Why do we need to change? Is there a dress code now for a barbecue in the park?”
I smiled and shook my head, but I kept my mouth closed until we stood at the trunk of our car. “Because, as I told you, Casey, this day is special.” I popped the trunk and reached inside the first bag and handed him a black baseball t-shirt with the word Groom on the front in script and ‘Mr.’ on the back. “Get it now?”
He took the shirt and watched as I pulled out a matching white one for the bride. “Yeah, more of our Jack & Jill thing.”
My eyes rolled so hard I thought they might actually get stuck that way, and laughed. “Close. Our wedding. Today. Here. Now.”
He blinked comically, like one of those cartoon characters and I laughed again. “We’re getting married today?”
I grabbed his hand and we headed towards the field house to get changed into our wedding not-so-finery. “Yes. Today.”
“Okay.”
“We already did the big white dress with the church and the preacher. The separate parties, grown up for me and raunchy for you. It was beautiful and sophisticated and properly grownup.”
“But?” We made our way inside the field house, changing on opposite sides of the wall of lockers.
“But this wedding, today, is about us as we are. As we have always been. We started as friends when we were practically babies, and we were joined at the hip ever since. One day, things changed. We fell in love and started kissing and doing other things, but we were always friends. Supporting each other to achieve our dreams, even when it took us apart. That friendship, Casey, that’s why we’re still here and stronger than ever. I wanted this wedding to reflect that.”
It was quiet for a long moment after I finished talking and I wondered if I’d said too much. Did I overthink this? Was it all wrong for his position as a surgeon in a small town?
“Case?”
He stood there with a smoldering look on his face that threatened to make my knees give out. “I love you so damn much, Megan. That was beautiful, what you said. It was perfect.”
“It was?”
His deep chuckle sent goosebumps skittering up my skin as each step brought him closer to me. “It was. Let’s go get married.”
My heart soared with joy. I smiled up at this man who owned my heart, took his hand in mine and we made our way to where most of Jackson’s Ridge had come out to see us get married again. Teddy handed out drinks while Cal manned the grills that sizzled with meat. Hannah handed out baseball caps with Mr. & Mrs. Jackson emblazoned across the front.
“What is my dad doing?”
I laughed. “He got ordained to perform the ceremony today. It did no good to remind him that we were already married and this was just ceremonial. He wanted to do it right.”
Casey laughed in return. “Sounds like Dad.”
“Dr. Reynolds came back to celebrate with us too.” I pointed to the doctor, deep in conversation with Suzie and her brother Drew.
“You pulled all this together in just eleven days?” The awe in his voice sent a bolt of heat down my spine.
“Never underestimate the vanity of a pregnant woman.”
“Just think of how big your boobs will get.” Casey wiggled his eyebrows and I laughed. “I, for one, can’t wait.”
“Men,” I scoffed. “So easy.”
Casey laughed and wrapped an arm around me. “Just out of curiosity, what did you choose for the wedding cake?”
“Good question. I went with a croquembouche tower, okay two towers, and the cheesecake tower. And it’s the perfect dessert after barbeque on this warm, sunny and cloudless day. Has to be a sign of good things to come, doesn’t it?”
