“I think it was Kallie and Olivia,” I say, and she gets tears in her eyes. One slips out and starts to roll down her face. “No tears on our wedding day.” I lean in now and kiss her on the lips, something that I have been dreaming about forever.
“It’s just a little bit,” she starts to say. “I don’t deserve all this.”
I take her cheek in my hand. “You deserve everything.” I’m about to kiss her again when I hear the sound of clinking glasses and look up to see Jacob standing in the middle of the dance floor with his own glass of champagne.
“If I can have everyone’s attention,” he says, and we both look over at Jacob. “Time for the best man’s speech.” He looks at us. “Usually, you are given time to prepare a speech, but it’s just like these two to just YOLO everything.” Everyone laughs, and I look around to see a handful of people who have attended, and I also note the people who attended are the only ones I would want at my wedding. There will be no drama; there will be no one trying to one-up. Or no one making sure we follow all the rules at a wedding. It’s perfect, and it’s us. “Savannah and Beau, you are my two oldest and dearest friends, and I couldn’t be happier for you like I am now.” He holds up his glass of champagne. “To your happily ever after.”
Everyone picks up their glass and holds them with a smile. “To happily ever after.” I clink my glass with Savannah and take a sip.
“We need to say something,” I say, and she looks like a deer caught in a headlight. “Okay, fine, I’ll say something. You stand beside me looking beautiful,” I say, and we get up, walking to the dance floor.
“If I can have everyone’s attention,” I say, and they stop, looking over at us. “Before the food comes out, and the party starts. I …” I slip my hand into Savannah’s. “We just want to thank you all for coming this evening on such short notice.” Everyone laughs. “Ethan”—I turn to look at him—“thank you for allowing me to marry your mom.” He smiles and nods at me.
“You’re welcome, Uncle Beau,” he says loudly, making everyone laugh.
“Kallie and Olivia, who pulled off this amazing wedding in the short time. For Charlotte and Cristine for organizing all the food.” I look over, and they all just look at us with love. “And to each and every one of you who showed up today to be a part of this day. And to my wife.” I look over at her. “Thank you for making me the luckiest guy around.”
Everyone cheers, and Savannah looks down almost as if she’s shy. “Time for the first dance,” Casey says, going over to the small DJ booth they have set up.
“We are going to dance?” Savannah asks from beside me, looking around. “What song?”
“I have no idea,” I say, finishing my champagne and walking to the table to put down the empty glass. She follows me, downing the champagne. “We’ve danced before.”
“But not in a wedding dress and suit and all this,” she says nervously, looking around.
“Relax,” I say softly, “It’ll be okay. Just pretend it’s only you and me. Just look at me.” I turn and lead her to the dance floor.
I put one hand around her waist and pull her to me. When I hold up my other hand, she puts her hand in it, and I bring it to my chest. “The music hasn’t started yet.” She looks at me and then smiles. “Shouldn’t we wait for the music?” It’s right then that the music comes on, and I throw my head back and laugh when the first beat comes out. “What song is this?”
““Die a Happy Man,”” I say, leaning in and kissing her. Then I sing the words to her.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Savannah
Can someone’s face crack from smiling too much? I wonder to myself after all the guests have left our wedding reception. Married. I’m married to Beau. I look down at my left hand and take in my massive ring, my heart filling so big I think it might burst. “If you don’t like it, we can exchange it.” I hear his voice and look up at Beau.
His jacket is tossed somewhere. “No, it’s just a little bit too much?”
He shrugs his shoulders, walking to the little makeshift bar that they set up. I look around, and it is just the way I thought my wedding reception would be. I mean, when I thought about it, which wasn’t often, I wanted this, and I wanted him. He hands me a bottle of beer and sits down on one of the chairs. “Did you have fun?” He takes a long pull of his beer.