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“No, of course not,” she hastened to assure me, “I got someone else to go.”
I reached for the dress and took it from her hands. “Thank you so much for this.”
She waved her hand dismissively. “No thanks needed. I’m just happy to see my two best friends getting married,” she clapped, doing a small happy dance. I still marveled in the differences in Rowan since she’d been with Trenton. Gone was the quiet girl only focused on school and creating a better life for her son and sister. She was so full of life now. “Now,” she held up a finger warningly, “don’t try to hijack my honeymoon. I’m not sharing that with you,” she laughed.
“Deal,” I agreed, laughing too.
Lily and Olivia left Rowan and I alone while she helped me into the dress.
Rowan grabbed some lip-gloss off a table and swiped it on my lips. “You look beautiful, Tate.” She fixed a piece of hair back in place and put her hands on my shoulders. “It’s time to get you married.”
I soon found myself standing where we’d waited earlier before walking down the aisle.
I turned to Rowan, grabbing her arm. “Can you grab Jude’s grandpa and my dad?”
“Of course,” she smiled, and headed outside to get them.
When they stepped inside I pulled them away from the others so we could have the semblance of privacy.
“I’m sure by now you’ve probably figured out that Jude and I are getting married—” My dad opened up his mouth to speak, and I knew from the steep set of his brows he was going to try to talk me out of this. “No, dad. This is what I want. Nothing you can say will change my mind.” I squared my shoulders and took a breath. “I know it’s customary for the father to walk the bride down the aisle, and while I want you to do that, dad, I also want Jerry to be by my side.” I turned to face Jude’s grandpa and tears pricked my eyes. “You’ve become a huge part of my life and it doesn’t seem right to celebrate this day without making you a bigger part of it. So, I’m hoping you’ll walk me down the aisle as well.”
“You know I’d do anything for you, Tatum,” he reached out to hug me. Wetness stung my shoulders and I realized he was crying. I was relieved that he’d called me Tatum. A part of me was afraid today would be one of his unfortunate bad days, and he wouldn’t remember Jude and I getting married.
Once everything was straightened out, Rowan stood as my bridesmaid and Trent was at her side.
“Oh,” she shoved a bunch of Twizzlers tied together into my hand. “Jude told me to give you this as your bouquet. He said you’d understand.” Lowering her voice, she said, “One day you really have to explain this whole Twizzler thing to me.”
I laughed as I stared at the red candy in my hands. Only Jude. I was surprised he hadn’t glued gummy bears onto the Twizzlers.
“You ready?” Rowan asked.
I nodded and she signaled to someone outside the doors.
Music started up and my heart lurched as my stomach dropped.
This was it.
The first day of the rest of my life.
Time seemed to speed up as Jerry and my dad walked me down the aisle and towards Jude who stood waiting for me.
He grinned proudly with his hands clasped together. His brown hair was gelled messily and stubble adorned his cheeks and chin. His brown eyes shimmered with happiness and I kept thinking mine.
When we reached him he held out his hand for mine. I took it and my dad and Jerry drifted away to sit.
I’d been so focused on Jude that I hadn’t realized that the crowd attending our wedding was much smaller than Trent and Row’s. Everyone that had attended their ceremony must’ve been down on the grounds at the reception already.
I was glad for that.
This way it was only our friends and family, making it seem more like our own wedding—and not someone else’s, which was exactly what it was.
Jude took both of my hands in his. He couldn’t seem to stop grinning and neither could I.
The minister or preacher or whatever he was began his lengthy speech.
My heart thumped against my chest so hard I was surprised it didn’t break free and fall to the ground.
Then, before I knew it, it came time for the vows.
