I Plan on Forever (Never #3)

by Stefanie Jenkins

  It took everything in me to not FaceTime Dani this morning when we were texting. The moms had dropped off coffee, and it was heaven. Zach and I hadn’t stayed up too late, just sat out back with a bottle of whiskey in an attempt to wait up for Hunter and Bennett’s arrival—stupid traffic—but as the hours got later and they still hadn’t shown up, I decided to turn in for the night. However, being one of the few nights Dani and I had spent apart in our relationship, I tossed and turned, missing her. Luckily, the pillow and sheets still smelled like her from our time in bed yesterday morning.

  After finishing my coffee, catching up with my groomsmen, and a hot shower, it’s finally time to get my tux on. We have simple black tuxes, white shirts, and aqua ties.

  There is a knock on my bedroom door just as I’m finishing buttoning the last button on my vest.

  “Sure hope you’re not naked, man, because I’m not prepared for that shit today,” Zach yells dramatically as he pushes the bedroom door open with Hunter and Bennett on his heels.

  The asshole never lets it go.

  In Hunter’s hand is another bottle of whiskey, and Bennett has four glasses. Bennett sets the glasses down on the dresser and walks over to the mirror.

  He looks at himself, flexes his muscles a few times, and wiggles his eyebrows. “Damn, we look good.”

  Hunter is texting on his phone and looks up for just a moment to laugh when he sees his best friend checking his ass out in his tux. “Unbelievable—actually, no, that’s really believable.” He sets his phone down and goes back to pouring the shots before passing them out. “Everything okay with Blondie and the girls?”

  Hunter nods. “Yeah, Aria said it’s a beautifying war zone over there.”

  “I’m glad I’m here, then, and not home,” Zach scoffs. “Okay, let’s raise a toast to the man of the hour. The same man who did keg stands outside in winter in only boxer shorts.”

  “Not to mention, the same man who went apeshit over beignets, although they have nothing on Dani’s cinnamon rolls,” Hunter adds.

  “And shit, you can’t forget when you got so drunk before going on the ghost walk, and you thought my shadow was a real ghost coming after you,” Bennett laughs, and I stare at him.

  I roll my eyes. I love these guys, but I thought this was a toast, not a roast.

  “With all the crazy shit you have done, and yet we still love you. We wish you both all the happiness. There’s no one else out there for my sister.” Zach looks down at his feet.

  “Cheers!” we all say in unison before downing the shot.

  “Woo!” Bennett shouts, placing this glass back on the dresser, and we follow suit.

  “Thanks for letting us be a part of this special day for you and Dani.” Hunter slaps my shoulder and squeezes it.

  “Thanks for making the trip. It means a lot to both Dani and me.”

  “Yeah, well, it wouldn’t have been half-bad had we not sat in that fucking awful traffic. I don’t see why Blondie couldn’t just work her magic…” Bennett whispers the last word, taking a seat on the bed. “…and make us be here like that.” He snaps his fingers. “I hear we missed an epic speech last night.”

  Hunter’s phone rings, and he walks out of the room.

  “Hey, Bennett, can you go find my dad and ask him what time the limo is picking us up?” Zach asks.

  Bennett nods and rises to his feet, straightening his jacket.

  “Yeah, buddy, but if you wanted to have some alone time with MaiKy here, all you had to do was ask.” He winks before exiting the bedroom and closing the door slightly.

  Zach takes a seat on the bed where Bennett was sitting and folds his hands on his lap.

  “What’s on your mind?” I ask my best friend, looking at his reflection in the mirror as I mess with my tie.

  “Nah, it’s nothing. I’ve just been thinking about when you and I first met. When you sat next to me in class, we had no idea that years later, we would be standing at the altar six months apart from each other.”

  “It’s crazy, right?”

  He stands and walks over to me. “You nervous?”

  I shake my head, feeling calm, cool, and collected.

  He raises his eyebrows as if he doesn’t believe me. “Really?”

  “Nah, not even in the slightest. Were you nervous on your wedding day?”

  Zach looks in the mirror, checking out his appearance one last time. “Nope. I knew I was marrying the one for me. It seemed like it took forever, but we were finally going to be man and wife. I love Haylee with every part of me.”

  He winks, and I roll my eyes. Typical Zach Jacobs, ruining a good moment with a dick joke.

  Zach grabs his jacket off the bed and slides it on. With a slap to the back, he smiles. “Then let’s go get you hitched and make you officially my brother.”

  I nod. Let’s get my forever.

  When Zach and I turn to walk out of my bedroom, Hunter and Bennett are standing there with their arms around each other’s shoulders.

  Bennett wipes a fake tear away. “That was just so beautiful, don’t you think, Hunt?”

  Hunter places his hand on his chest. “Absolutely beautiful.”

  “Fuck off, the both of you.” I walk past them with only one thing on my mind: I’m ready to get married.

  I stand at the front of the church with Hunter and Bennett as I watch my best friend walk down the aisle toward me with my niece. Emme is so beautiful in her sparkly aqua dress and her brown curls pinned back. I’ve never seen that much hair on a one-year-old. One day, I hope to be half the man Zach is as a father. Once Zach reaches the end, he kisses his daughter’s cheek and hands her off to his mom, kissing her cheek as well, before he stalks to take his place next to me.

  He slaps a hand on my back. “Damn, I thought I had more time before I walked my daughter down the aisle.”

  I stifle back a laugh and hide it with a cough. The minister turns to look at me raising his eyebrows in question.

  I hold up my hands and mouth, “I’m okay,” before facing back toward the crowd to see my sister Lauren walking down the aisle next.

  She smiles before walking past me and takes her place. Not long after does Kate follow. Her pink streaks stand out through her braided hair. She sticks her tongue out at me, and I return the favor. I stare at my sisters and am amazed and in awe at the relationship they both have with my girl. I remember the first time I mentioned Dani to them; they told me to be careful and cautious because they were looking out for me, but I think fate had already begun its pull for Dani and me. They accepted her from the beginning when I first got her to join us for dinner, and now, they have weekly girls’ nights.

  Zach elbows me, pulling me back to reality, and whispers, “Dude, my wife is the hottest woman in this place.”

  I look up just in time to see the matron of honor begin to walk. It was only six months prior that our roles were reversed, and Dani and I were standing here as Haylee walked toward Zach, dressed in white.

  The smile that is on both my best friends’ faces doesn’t falter. It’s the same look they’ve shared since they began dating. That is true love right there. They are amazing together, but if they don’t stop eye-fucking right now, I think they may combust right in front of us. But that look also tells me that it might not be too long till we have a new niece or nephew. I wouldn’t put it past them to sneak off somewhere to have slutty wedding sex.

  I feel a tug on my elbow and turn to face Bennett leaning over Hunter and Zach. I look down to find him holding some tissues. I do not want to know where those came from. I raise my eyebrow in question as he pushes one toward me.

  “You know, for your man tears,” he says with a smug grin on his face.

  I shake my head, but take it from him anyway.

  When Haylee takes her place across from us, the sounds of “Pachelbel’s Canon in D” fade and the minister announces for everyone to please rise, and I know it’s time. It may have been less than twenty-four hours since I had her in my arms, b
ut that was long enough.

  When the first few notes begin to play of “How Long Will I Love You” by Ellie Goulding, I close my eyes for just a moment to catch my breath knowing this is it. When we were planning the wedding, Dani knew she didn’t want to be traditional when it came to picking the song to walk down the aisle to. We had originally picked another song, but the first time Dani heard this song on the radio, she said that she closed her eyes and saw a montage of a relationship like they do in the movies and instantly knew that this was the one.

  When I open my eyes, the door in the back of the church opens and there she is: my angel, my wife-to-be. She is absolutely stunning. Her arm is linked with Adam’s as she makes her way toward us, toward our forever. My eyes fill with tears, and I refuse to look back at Bennett, knowing he will be proud that he knew I would cry. I can’t help it.

  Her white dress drapes to the floor, covered in lace. Her long brown hair is curly and pinned back from her face. Her smile is genuine and all for me. The view of her in front of me takes my breath away. It’s as if I’m seeing her for the first time all over again. I’m pretty sure neither of us blinks once our eyes lock. I’m afraid that if I blink, this will all be a dream.

  I don’t know what I did to deserve her love, but I will cherish her for the rest of my life.

  Maybe I should wait for the wedding vows before thinking that.

  The closer she gets to the altar, the faster my heart begins to beat. It’s not in an anxious way, more so that it knows the other half of me is near and getting closer. Dani is the other half of me; she makes me be a better person and me, her.

  Emme lets out a loud shriek when her aunt and pop-pop come into view. Everyone laughs at her cuteness.

  “Look at that. She takes after her daddy, always stealing the show,” I mumble.

  Dani leans in, kissing her dad’s cheek before he releases her, and she takes my hand.

  “Hi.”

  “Hi.”

  “I see you didn’t have any trouble finding me,” I smirk.

  “Nope.” She shakes her head. “Hard to miss the best-looking guy in the room.”

  “You’re not so bad yourself.”

  “Oh, this old thing?” Dani sways side to side.

  The material at the bottom makes a swishing sound. The light catches the diamond that’s in the center of her necklace. It is gorgeous, just like her.

  A throat-clearing distracts our conversation. We turn to find the minister staring at us.

  “Is it okay to proceed?”

  Dani snorts, and we both nod.

  The minister continues with the ceremony. “We are gathered here today to celebrate one of life’s greatest moments—the joining of two hearts—and to give recognition to the worth and beauty of love which shall unite Danielle and Kyler in holy matrimony.”

  “Danielle and Kyler have decided to write their vows to each other. Danielle?”

  I nod to the minister that I’m ready. With Kyler’s hands in mine, I begin. It took forever to memorize them, but I am just speaking from the heart.

  “I, Danielle Kathryn Jacobs, take you, Kyler Christopher Lawson, to be my husband, my best friend, my forever. They say everything happens for a reason—the love we feel, the pain we endure, the memories we make. Everything in my life led me to one thing: you.”

  I ignore the sniffling around me of our family and friends and focus only on Kyler. We are in a room full of people, and all I see is him.

  “I love you for not only who you are, but who I am when I’m with you. You brought me out of the darkness into the light and showed me how to love again. You make me laugh and smile and feel alive.”

  Kyler curls his lips around his teeth, and I know he is trying to hold back his emotions.

  “Fate brought me home—to you. To your arms, your safety, your comfort, your love. You lift me when I am down, and you breathe air into my soul.”

  I release his hand for a moment to brush away the tear falling.

  Breathe. You’re almost done.

  “I promise to be there for you in good times and bad and to love you forever.”

  “I love you,” he mouths.

  I respond the same.

  “Well, damn, how am I supposed to follow that?” he jokes.

  That earns a laugh from the crowd.

  Readjusting his hands in mine, Kyler stands up straight trying to regain his composure. “Here it goes. I, Kyler Christopher Lawson, take you, Danielle Kathryn Jacobs, to be my wife, my best friend, and my forever. While my wedding vows may be short, my love for you is never-ending. Danielle, I promise always to love you, challenge you, and stand by you. I may not be able to fix all of your problems, but I promise that there is nothing we won’t face together, with my hand in yours.”

  He squeezes my hand, and I am ready to fall apart. Wow, I didn’t think I would be so emotional today.

  “You will never face this world alone. I promise that no matter what life brings us, I will always love you. I promise to make you laugh, because your laugh is my favorite sound in the world.”

  He winks, and I feel my cheeks warm because he once told me something else was his favorite sound in the world. I hope that no one else notices my blush. My smile widens, as does his.

  “I will spend every day in this lifetime, and the next, thanking you for giving me the most delicate and important thing in this world: your heart.”

  “Please present the rings,” the priest says, turning to Zach.

  Kyler also turns to face him as he reaches into this jacket pocket and pulls out the box holding both of our wedding rings. I’ve never been so thankful that my brother didn’t lose something. He hands them off to the minister.

  “Your wedding ring is a symbol of your promise to one another. The ring, an unbroken never-ending circle, is a symbol of committed, unending love.”

  I stare into Kyler’s eyes and squeeze his hands three times, symbolizing I love you.

  Kyler takes the ring from the minister.

  “Kyler, as you place this ring on Danielle’s finger, repeat after me. This ring symbolizes my love for you and the commitments we made today.”

  Both of us are fighting back the tears as he slides the band on my ring finger in front of my gorgeous engagement ring.

  “This ring symbolizes my love for you and the commitments we made today,” he recites.

  I repeat the same as I slide the wedding band on Kyler’s finger. My hand is shaking so much; I’m glad I didn’t drop the ring. Wow, that could’ve been embarrassing. I was so nervous I would after our neighbor Alley had told me the story of dropped rings from her wedding.

  I completely blank out on the rest of the words the minister says after we exchanged our rings. I have my eyes set on the prize, my husband. Would it be too inappropriate to jump in his arms and kiss him?

  “By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride.”

  My cheeks hurt so much from smiling, my now husband’s smile matching as he approaches. While I expect him to slam his mouth on mine, he slowly takes his time, savoring the taste of my lips. Everything around us stops; it’s as if Kyler and I are the only ones in the world. I wrap my arms around his neck and grip tighter as I feel myself falling backward, realizing he has me in a low dip.

  The crowd cheers around us, but all I feel is him. When he finally brings me back up, my head is swimming.

  “I love you,” he whispers in my ear before placing a quick kiss on my cheek.

  Words can’t even describe the love I feel for this man. It is almost overwhelming, but in the best possible way.

  It seems that it has been a long day of waiting—waiting to say I do, waiting to finally see my girl, and then waiting for what seems like a million photos to be taken. I could see the look in Dani’s eyes as each photo was taken that she was plotting where that photo would hang in our house. The grounds of the church make for a beautiful background for some of the shots.

  Now, the
fun can finally begin. The wedding reception is taking place in the hall located next to the church.

  The familiar sounds of Huey Lewis and the News’ “Power of Love” begins to play through the speakers as the DJ prepares to announce the wedding party’s entrance. We wanted to do something fun, and somehow, the girls convinced Dani that this was a must.

  Our parents are introduced first by the DJ, followed by the wedding party, and Dani and I will bring up the rear with our grand entrance.

  “Mother of the groom, Liz Lawson, and mother of the bride, Kelly Jacobs, escorted by the father of the bride, Adam Jacobs.”

  The room roars with cheers as we watch them hand jive their way in the center of the dance floor.

  “Bridesmaid Kate Lawson escorted by groomsman Bennett Monroe.”

  The crowd cheers as they tango dance their way into the room. When Bennett and Kate get to the center of the dance floor, they bust out a version of what I believe is supposed to be part of the “Thriller” dance but comes off more like Ray Lewis’s dance moves before a football game, but I can’t hold back my laughter when Bennett raises his head and howls.

  Really, dude? You can take the boy out of the bayou, but you can’t take the bayou out of the boy.

  “Bridesmaid Lauren Lawson escorted by groomsman Hunter St. James.”

  Hunter looks very nervous at first, and I can see him searching the crowd for Aria. Emme was getting tired and fussy, so Aria volunteered to hold her. I can tell when he finds her because his shoulders relax. Watching Hunter awkwardly move into the room is quite a sight, but he is at least doing it with a giant smile on his face. I’m so happy to have him, Bennett, and Aria here.

  “Matron of honor, Haylee Jacobs, escorted by best man, Zachary Jacobs.”

  Laughter erupts as Zach and Haylee take on the guitar solo on air guitar. Our best friends, ladies and gentlemen. It’s hard to hold back laughter though; everyone went a little over the top.

  “Are you ready for this?” I ask Dani while waiting for our cue.

  “With you? Always.”