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“Okay.” Shrugging, I gave up. Not my circus, not my monkeys. Looking beyond Nate to Chase, I reached over and patted him on the chest. “Don’t worry, boot. You’ll have more decorations on your blues after our deployment.”
Chase laughed. “Good. I feel like such a newb standing here with you guys with all those ribbons on your chests.”
“You gotta earn these ribbons,” Paul said with a wink. “But you’ll get there.”
I was glad Paul and Chase had gotten close enough for him to stand up here. Shelby had Aria as her maid of honor and Layla and Lyndi as her bridesmaids, so he needed another Marine to match it up. Since we were pretty new to Beaufort, he apparently hadn’t made any other friends that he was willing to put up here. Which was fine with me. I liked to keep my circle small. Besides, Paul had been a recruiter in Hawaii when Chase joined the Marines, so it made sense.
Before we could continue ribbing our young friend, the soft music shifted into the classic wedding march, and we all straightened. I nodded at Paul. “It’s showtime.”
His lips twitched into a ghost of a smile as he stared at the door of the B&B with a hawklike focus. A flower girl dressed in white came into view, and the crowd in the chairs let out soft sighs andaahsas they turned to grin at her. Sara, the wedding photographer Aria hired since Lyndi was in the wedding, made her way over to take pictures.
Behind her, Lyndi came into view in a pale-gold dress that seemed to shimmer slightly more than sparkle. Layla came out next in a different gown of the same color, reaching the middle of the aisle as Lyndi found her place at the altar with us. But all of that was seen thanks to my peripheral vision because I couldn’t tear my eyes away from Aria.
Her blonde hair hung over her shoulders in large curls. Her lips were dusted with a soft red, not bright and vibrant like I often saw her wear, but muted and natural. It made them look so incredibly soft and kissable, even from this distance. My gaze slid over her petite frame, her soft curves making her version of the dress look like it had been tailored with the sole intention of torturing me.
And then our eyes met, and all of the air left my lungs in a searingwhoosh. The image of her walking down the aisle toward me was all I could see, but in my mind’s eye, it wasn’t pale gold that graced her body. It was white. I’d never once in my life allowed myself to imagine making Aria my bride. It had been too painful. Too impossible. But I saw it now. And suddenly, the only thing I wanted in the world was something I thought I could never have.
Aria’s misty gaze didn’t leave mine until she found her place across the aisle. My body hummed with the need to push Paul out of the way and reach for her, bringing her to the middle of the arch and telling Ms. Hattie that there was a change of plans. But that would have to wait. Because Paul stiffened beside me then, his own gaze finding Shelby.
My eyes flicked to the bride, as much as I didn’t want to look away from Aria. Shelby wore a simple and elegant gown. The top made a heart shape across her chest, and it hugged her slim form, accentuating her slight curves before angling outward like a mermaid’s tail at the bottom. She moved down the aisle with all the grace of a ballerina on her proud father’s arm.
Paul sniffed, squaring his shoulders in an effort to hold back the tears that were pooling in his eyes. In a different setting, I would have made fun of him for being so emo. But not here. Not today. I couldn’t. Not after the way my heart had seized up when I’d watched Aria come down the aisle. For Paul, I imagined that feeling was about a hundred times more intense since this wasn’t a daydream for him. It was reality. His bride stood before him, ready to pledge her life to him for the rest of her days. I couldn’t be happier for him if I tried. But I also couldn’t wait until it was my turn.
Shelby let out a breathy laugh when her father left her side after shaking Paul’s hand. The couple turned to face each other, probably unable to look away if a bomb went off behind them. Ms. Hattie grinned at them like a proud parent herself, opening the book in her hand to begin.
The ceremony was sweet and quick, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house when they both teared up during the sickness and health section of their vows. With Shelby’s heart condition, that promise was more tangible for them than it was for most couples when they said those words.
When they shared their first kiss as husband and wife, the crowd cheered and the mood instantly went from relaxed and peaceful to elation. The new Mr. and Mrs. Bristol danced down the aisle as their guests waved and took pictures. I stepped to the middle, holding out my arm for Aria to take. She smiled radiantly up at me, and my arm burned from her touch, even through the thick wool of my uniform.
“You look as drop-dead gorgeous in those blues as I thought you would, Will Paxton,” she said as we walked down the aisle behind the bride and groom.
“I could say the same thing about you,” I replied, patting the hand on my arm. “But does that mean you don’t want me to change out of my blues for the reception?”
We’d reached the end of the aisle and she turned to me. “Is that what Paul’s doing?”
I chuckled. “Nope. Shelby’s not letting him.”
“Good. Because I would have been really sad if you did.”
“Yeah, well, lucky for you, I only wear this thing once a year at the ball, so I don’t mind too much.”
Her eyes sparkled. “Oooh, I just realized I’ll get to be your date for the ball this year.”
“Next year. Deployment, remember?”
“Ah, dang it. I’m definitely not excited about that aspect of military wife life.” Aria pursed her lips like she wanted to take back the words, her eyes widening. “Er, girlfriend life.”
Unbelievable happiness filled my chest as I stared down at her. But before I could tell her how I couldn’t wait until she was my wife, she dashed off, wedding planner mode having replaced bridesmaid mode like the flick of a switch.
“Okay, everyone,” she said to the bridal party as we stood in a loose circle off to the side of the house. “The guests are headed to the cocktail hour, but we need to take photos.”
“Ah, we’re missing the cocktail hour?” Nate asked. “Bummer.”
“There’s an open bar at the reception, cuz. I got you,” Paul replied with a wink.
“My man,” he replied.
“You’re only missing half of it, Nate, don’t worry,” Aria told him with a chuckle. “Sara’s going to get all of the bridal party and family photos first, then we can go join the rest of the guests while she shoots Shelby and Paul alone. Then we’ll meet back up with them to do the grand entrance to the reception when they’re finished.”
