Love Crushed

by Toshia Slade

  Everyone takes turns congratulating us, and we spend the rest of the day hanging out, eating food, and playing cornhole.

  ***

  We finally got the last of the guests out and on their way right at dark. No way was I moving the party indoors so they could stay longer. Every time I saw Tiffany smiling and showing her ring off, I would get hard and want to carry her off.

  As soon as the last person left, I scooped her up, carried her to our room, and took my time making love to her. Now we’re lying in bed, wrapped around each other, and I know it’s time to work on the next part of my plan.

  “What would you say if I told you I wanted to get married next month?” I lie on my back, looking up at the ceiling, and softly brush my fingers up and down her bare back.

  “Why so fast?” She props her head up on her hand and looks down at me.

  “I’m just ready to start our life, and I would like to take you away for a little while after we get married. I know once the baby gets here, it’s going to be crazy and harder to plan something. Plus I want that time alone with you. I know it’s fast, but we’ve known each other our whole lives, and I’ve loved you for half of mine.”

  “This is what you really want? You’re not rushing into it because you feel like it’s what you need to do?”

  “No, it’s really what I want. Unless you want a big wedding. That will take months to plan. If that’s the case, then we’ll wait.” I shrug. “I don’t know, we could wait until he’s grown, and he can stay with our parents while we go on a honeymoon.”

  “I’ve always dreamed of a small beach wedding. I don’t want anything big, and to be honest, I don’t want to fool with all the stress and headache that comes with planning a large ceremony. I would be happy with just our parents, Gabby, and Cam there. They’re the only ones that matter.”

  “You pick a date and a place, and it’s done. I would marry you tomorrow if I could.” I lean up and capture her lips in a soft kiss, not able to resist kissing her any longer.

  “Let me look into a few places and see what I can do.”

  My body relaxes, and I breathe a sigh of relief. “That was way easier than I thought it would be.”

  “You’ve shown me how good it is. I’m never looking back, so you’re stuck with me, stud.” She leans down and kisses my lips, then she breaks away on a squeal. “We’re really going to do this?”

  “Bet your sweet ass we are. Now. I think it’s time for more celebrating. Agreeing to be my wife and within a month all in one day. Best birthday ever.”

  She giggles, but it’s cut off on a moan when I lean up and pull a light pink nipple into my mouth, flicking it with my tongue.

  “Mmm, Josh. I want it fast this time.”

  And I don’t disappoint. We go at it for hours, until both of us fall onto the bed, thoroughly sated and exhausted.

  Twenty-Six

  *Tiffany*

  What was supposed to be a month turned into two weeks. We had to schedule it around my doctor appointment and find an officiant that was available. All I can say is, fate was on our side, and it was meant to be. Everything fell in place and worked out perfectly. Even what was supposed to be the daunting task of wedding dress shopping was a breeze.

  Gabby and I had gone shopping the week after Josh and I got engaged, and I spotted my dress as soon as we walked in the door. It was simple yet elegant and flowed in soft waves of silk, strapless and with the bustline outlined in crystal beads. Then the icing on the cake was that it fit like a glove, no alterations needed, and I walked out that day with my dress. For Gabby's maid of honor dress, we chose a bright coral strapless number that stopped right below the knees and was soft-flowing like mine.

  We also lucked out and found a beautiful five-bedroom house that sat right on Virginia Beach that was open for the week we wanted. Everyone was really accommodating and worked with me over the phone and the Internet to choose our flowers and plan everything.

  I was getting my wedding on the beach at sunset.

  Even though I’m seven months pregnant, everyone made us sleep in separate rooms last night. It’s the first night Josh and I have spent apart, and I’ve not seen him since midnight. All of us women loaded up early this morning to head off and get our hair and makeup done. I’m so ready for six o’clock to be here, and I was tempted to try to sneak off to see Josh, but I know the bloodhounds would have figured it out and stopped me.

  We’re finally back at the house and in the master bedroom, getting our dresses on and adding those last-minute touches. Only thirty more minutes until it’s time, and I can see him. I thought I would be nervous or having second thoughts about doing this so fast, but I’m not. I’m just ready to get down the aisle and say our vows.

  I broke down the day I asked Jeff—Josh’s dad—to give me away. It’s the only thing that’s bothered me about planning, the only thing that’s had me dreading this day. I’ve accepted the fact I won’t have a relationship with my dad ever again and that nothing will ever be the same between us.

  But when Jeff got misty eyed and said he would be honored to walk me down the aisle, I lost it. He and Sharon have always been like second parents to me, and he said I’ve always been a daughter to him and that he was lucky to have me in the family. It made me realize that I may not have my blood father, but I have so many people who love me and will always be there to support me and hold me through the dark times.

  Knock. Knock.

  “Is our girl ready?” Jeff peeks around the door and lets out a whistle. “Josh is one lucky guy, Tiff. You look amazing.” He comes over and kisses me on the forehead. “Are you ready, princess?”

  My eyes and throat burn, and not able to speak, I nod.

  Mom comes over, her eyes shiny with tears.

  “I’m so proud of you, baby.” She kisses my cheek and hugs me. “You’re going to make Josh one happy man. I’ll see you down there. I love you.”

  “Love you, too,” I choke out.

  “No crying now. You’ve been ready all day.”

  “I know. I just love him and you guys so much, and I realize how much I do have, even without him. I’m the lucky one.” I’ve stopped referring to him as Dad, so now it’s always just him. All the people who are important to us are here today. Both of Josh’s parents, my mom, Gabby, and Cam. We wanted to keep it really small.

  “We’re all lucky to have one another. Now dry it up, and go put that man out of his misery.”

  “We’ll be down right behind you. I would like to have a minute with Tiffany before we have to go down.”

  My mom nods and leaves Jeff and me.

  He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a pearl bracelet. After gently taking my hand in his, he clasps it on my wrist.

  “This was Sharon’s mother’s, and the day we got married, she gave it to Sharon to wear as her something borrowed. We wanted you to wear it, and Gabby will wear it on her wedding day as well.”

  It completes my jewelry set and brings a fresh wave of tears. My pink-and-black cowboy boots are my something old. The baby blue earrings my mom bought me are my something new and blue. Now, I have my something borrowed.

  “I don’t know what to say, Jeff. Y’all have always been so good to me. I love you guys as if you were my own parents. Thank you for always treating me so well and loving me. And most of all, for giving me away.”

  “We love you, too, and we’re the lucky ones. We got to watch you grow into a beautiful woman, and if we could have handpicked a wife for our son, it would have been you. You always keep him on his toes and make him work to be better and get what he wants. Now, let’s get you down there before he starts tearing the place apart. He’s been moody all day because we wouldn’t let him sneak off to see you.”

  I throw my head back and laugh.

  “I wanted to sneak off and see him, too, but with both the moms and Gabby up my ass, I couldn’t get away.”

  “You two are so much alike, sometimes it scares me. Whaddya say we go getcha married?
”

  “I’m so ready. Let’s go.” I grab my bouquet of light pink calla lilies and hook my arm through his.

  When we step onto the porch, Carrie Underwood begins to belt out the song I requested, “Look at Me.”

  My eyes lock on Josh. My heart rate picks up just as it does every time I see him, and my breath catches in my throat. He’s dressed in a suit with a silver vest, and a pink calla lily that matches mine is pinned to his jacket. The smile on his face is one I’ve never seen before—a mix of relief, love, and pure joy.

  I tug on Jeff’s arm to move him faster, and he chuckles.

  *Josh*

  As soon as the music starts, I glance at the porch, and there she is, walking down the steps, her arm hooked through my dad’s. My cheeks ache from the smile that stretches across my face. She’s beautiful. Tiffany is my every dream wrapped up in one. Her blond hair is pulled back, showing her light tan skin, and the tops of her full mounds are on display, making my mouth water and my cock tingle. It doesn’t help that she’s been teasing me for a week about what she bought to go under that sexy-as-hell dress. No matter how much I tried to persuade her to tell me, she wouldn’t relent.

  They make it down to me, and my dad kisses her on the cheek and whispers something in her ear. I take Tiffany’s hand in mine, and she hands her flowers to Gabby. Then we turn to face each other.

  “You’re absolutely breathtaking,” I say, giving her hands a squeeze.

  “Are you guys ready?”

  Tiffany and I both nod, and I mouth I love you, and she follows with an I love you, too.

  “We’re gathered here today to celebrate one of life's greatest moments, the joining of two souls. In this ceremony today, we will witness the joining of Joshua Lee Murphy and Tiffany Marie Johnson. If there is anyone present who has reason why this couple should not be united… we don’t want to hear it!”

  Everyone breaks out in laughter.

  “Who gives this woman to this man?”

  “I do,” her mother says.

  “Today we’ve come together to witness the joining of these two lives. For them, out of the routine of ordinary life, the extraordinary has happened. They met each other, became best friends, fell in love, and are finalizing it today. Romance is fun, but true love is something far more, and it is their desire to love each other for life, and that is what we’re celebrating here today. A good marriage must be created. In marriage, the little things are the big things. It is never being too old to hold hands, or remembering to say ‘I love you’ at least once a day. It is never going to sleep angry and standing together to face the world. It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways. It is having the capacity to forgive and forget. It is giving each other an atmosphere in which they can grow. It is a common search for the good and the beautiful. It is not only marrying the right person—it is being the right partner.

  “Josh, please repeat after me. I, Josh, take you, Tiffany, to be my wife, my partner for life, and my one true love. I will cherish our friendship and love you today, tomorrow, and always. I will trust and honor you. I will laugh and cry with you. Through the best and the worst, through the difficult and the easy. Whatever may come, I will always be there. As I have given you my hand to hold, so I give you my life and heart to keep.”

  I repeat my words after the officiant and get a little choked up along the way, especially when Tiffany starts crying.

  “Tiffany, now you repeat after me. I, Tiffany, take you, Josh, to be my husband, my partner for life, and my one true love. I will cherish our friendship and love you today, tomorrow, and always. I will trust and honor you. I will laugh and cry with you. Through the best and the worst, through the difficult and the easy. Whatever may come, I will always be there. As I have given you my hand to hold, so I give you my life and heart to keep.”

  Tiffany has to stop a few times to take a breath and work through the tears. I can hear her mom’s cries over the waves. I stroke my thumbs over the top of Tiffany’s hands and pray for the ceremony to hurry up so I can hold her.

  “Josh and Tiffany, I would ask that you always treat yourself and each other with respect, and remind yourselves often of what brought you together today. Give the highest priority to the tenderness, gentleness, and kindness that your marriage deserves. When frustration and difficulty assail your marriage—as they do every relationship at one time or another—focus on what still seems right between you, not only the part that seems wrong. This way, when clouds of trouble hide the sun in your lives, and you lose sight of it for a moment, you can remember that the sun is still there. And if each of you will take responsibility for the quality of your life together, it will be marked by abundance and happiness.

  “Josh, do you take Tiffany to be your wife? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect her, forsaking all others and holding only unto her forevermore?”

  "I do."

  “Tiffany, do you take Josh to be your husband? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect him, forsaking all others and holding only unto him forevermore?”

  "I do."

  “Now the ring exchange. The ring is a symbol of the unbroken circle of love. Love freely given has no beginning and no end, no giver and no receiver, for each is the giver and each is the receiver. May these rings always remind you of the vows you have taken today. Now repeat after me.”

  I turn to get Tiffany’s ring from Cam, and she does the same with Gabby.

  “I, Josh, take you, Tiffany, to be my wife. To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, in joy and sorrow, and I promise my love to you always. And with this ring, I take you as my wife, for as long as we both shall live.”

  I repeat the words after him while sliding the small silver band onto Tiffany’s finger.

  “I, Tiffany, take you, Josh, to be my husband. To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, in joy and sorrow, and I promise my love to you always. And with this ring, I take you as my husband, for as long as we both shall live.”

  Tiffany giggles through it while fighting to get the wide silver band around my finger. I shake my head and help her get it over my knuckle. Sorry, she mouths while wiping the tears off her cheeks.

  “To make your relationship work, it will take love. This is the core of your marriage and why you’re here today. It will take trust, to know that in your hearts, you truly want what is best for each other. It will take dedication, to stay open to one another—and to learn and grow together. It will take faith, to go forward together, without knowing exactly what the future may bring. And it will take commitment, to hold true to the journey you both have pledged to today. By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride.”

  Thank God. I grab Tiffany in my arms and dip her back as I dive in for the kiss I’ve been wanting for nineteen hours.

  Everyone whoops and hollers, cheering us on, until I take the kiss deeper and longer than is appropriate. What do they expect when I’ve been away from her for that long, and she’s finally my wife?

  “Let ’er breathe, son. You’ve got her for the rest of your life.” My dad’s deep laugh can be heard over the cheers, and everyone joins him.

  “I would like to introduce the happy couple, Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Murphy.”

  “Finally!” I shout while raising our hands in the air.

  I scoop Tiffany into my arms and make my way down the aisle, kissing her the whole time as everyone claps and cheers.

  *Tiffany*

  It was an hour before we got away from our mothers to eat, and then it was time for cutting the cake and the tossing of the garter and bouquet. I found the tosses hilarious since Cam and Gabby were the only ones who could catch them, and even though they’re already planning to get married, everyone insisted we do it anyway. I’m worn out and ready for bed. I know it’s my wedding night, and I’m supposed to enjoy it—and I have—but I’m ready to curl up and ge
t off my feet. I just want to be alone with Josh now. I had my fun, and now I’m ready for the calm, relaxing time.

  “You’re tired, aren’t you, Kitten?” Josh comes up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist.

  “I am. It’s been a long day, and this pregnant girl can’t hang like she used to. I need my sleep.” I lie back against him and soak in his warmth.

  He’s not been far from my side all night, always kissing and touching me.

  “How about we have our dance and then I take you to bed?” There’s a simmering heat to his eyes, but I know he’s talking about letting me sleep. That’s how Josh is. He would put every one of his needs below mine.

  “That sounds like heaven.”

  Josh motions to Cam to change the song and leads me to the makeshift dance floor. Josh said he wanted to choose our song, and he never would tell me what it was.

  Lee Brice’s “I Don’t Dance” starts to play, and I laugh as Josh pulls me into his arms and slowly moves from side to side.

  “I figured it’s what started it all, and the words still hold true, so it really meant something. I would do anything for you, Kitten, and I’ll spend the rest of my life making you happy. It’s now my life’s mission to put a smile on your face like you’ve worn all day.”

  “Shut up, Josh. You’re making me cry again. God, who knew you would be a closet sappy romantic? You’ve really got people fooled with that asshole attitude you throw around.” I grin at him and dab the tears from the corner of my eyes.

  “Only for you, baby. That’s just what you do to me. You have no clue how many times I’ve called myself a pussy when it comes to you.” He laughs. “But I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

  “I love you, more than the world, Josh. Thank you for loving me and giving me a life that you only hear about in fairy tales.”

  “I love you, too, Kitten. More than you’ll ever know. Now let’s say good-bye to everyone, and I’m taking you to bed. I’m sure they need to get to bed anyway. They’re leaving early in the morning so we can start our honeymoon.” He wiggles his eyebrows up and down.