I sigh. “You can say it. You wish they’d bash each other’s heads and pass out.”
She snorts, then laughs. “Something like that.”
“They can’t do that. Somebody needs to walk down the aisle with Elizabeth,” Aunt Ceinlys says.
“My dad or uncle would be more than thrilled to do it,” Ming Ming says.
True. So would Tolyan or Uncle Salazar. Even though my parents are being difficult—as usual—I smile anyway. I have amazing people who I can call family.
And soon, I’m going to be the wife of the love of my life.
* * *
Dominic
If I’d had it my way, Liza and I would’ve married months ago. Most likely eloped. But Kristen told me I was being selfish and insensitive. “All women dream of their perfect wedding. It’s not like Liza’s going to do this more than once. Give her the wedding she deserves.”
She’s right. I have no intention of letting Liza marry more than once. We’re going to do it once and do it right. And I’m going to give her the greatest wedding in the world.
After all, it only took five months. In the grand scheme of things, that’s nothing. Her mom even helped with the planning—mostly via criticism—but only because Liza told her it was that or her Aunt Ceinlys was going to do it. Apparently Geraldine has a thing against Ceinlys. I like Ceinlys, of course, precisely because she’s a nice woman and because Geraldine hates her. Geraldine still pisses me off—that snotty attitude and tone of voice. I’m tempted to get a pet roach just to repel that horrible bitch.
“Chill, man. You look like you’re getting cold feet,” Antoine says, looking very best-mannish in a tux.
I snort. “You couldn’t drag me from this ceremony if you tied my ankles to a truck.”
“So stop fidgeting.”
“I’m not fidgeting,” I say, shifting my weight. Is it my fault I keep feeling like this is a dream, and I’m going to open my eyes in any minute and find myself alone and desolate in my bedroom?
“The bride’s here. I saw her arrive,” Antoine says, having correctly guessed the cause of my nerves. “Even her parents are behaving as civilly as possible.”
“Right.”
“She’s never leaving you, man. You can tie her to a Boeing triple-seven headed to the opposite end of the planet, and she’s still going to find a way back.”
Like I’d ever let that Boeing take off.
“It’s time,” Blake says, sticking his head in. Elizabeth’s oldest brother has been helping as well, since her parents are worthless.
I go to the gorgeous beach set-up for the ceremony. The sunlight sparkles like sapphire confetti on the Pacific. We initially wanted a small, quiet ceremony, but somehow have ended up with over three hundred guests and thousands of letters and cards wishing us well from people all over the world whose lives Liza has touched and improved. I’ve always known she’s the most amazing woman on the planet, but seeing those envelopes piled high and watching her personally respond and send small, thoughtful gifts to the children who wrote her showed me again what a special woman I’m marrying—and what a lucky bastard I am.
When the quartet starts “Wedding March” and Liza walks down the aisle toward me, my heart is so full of love and peace that I can’t breathe. When we hold each other’s hands and recite our vows, I know this is just the beginning.
Chapter Forty-Five
Elizabeth
“Come on… Just a little hint.”
“Nope. You gotta wait.”
I pout. Ever since Dominic put me on his jet—well, our jet—he’s been completely secretive about where we’re headed. He blindfolded me as we landed, then put a noise-canceling headset over my ears, then finally let me take the set off when we were in a car, although the black strip of cloth over my eyes remained.
“I feel like I’m being abducted.”
“Sorry.”
He doesn’t sound sorry. “If you give me a hint about your surprise, I’ll give you a hint about my surprise…”