by Toni Aleo
“Yeah, just missing my dad.”
Just as I thought. “He’s here,” I say, tapping his chest.
“You’re right, but Amelia gutted me.”
I nod. “Yeah, that was rough.”
“She’s right, though. I remember when he said that, and it’s true. I want to give Sofia everything.”
And I want to give Amelia everything. “That’s great, man.”
“You and my sister are disgustingly in love, by the way.”
I snort as I nod my head. “Yeah. She’s incredible.”
“She is,” he agrees, taking a deep breath. “She’s really happy with you.”
“I am with her, too.”
A large grin takes up his face. “Guess you two will be next.”
He laughs, but I just look at him. I didn’t plan this, nor did I feel this was the time, but I reach into my pocket, pulling out the little blue box. I hand it to him, and he takes it with his brow arched. “What’s this?” he asks as he opens it to see the ring I know Amelia will love. It’s a rope-style band with a large one-and-a-half-carat diamond. “Well hell, you know I can’t marry you. I’m marrying Sofia.”
I roll my eyes as I take it back from him, tucking it into my pocket. “I bought it yesterday.”
“It’s great. I think she’ll love it.”
“Is it okay?” I ask, and he nods.
“I told you she’ll love it.”
I shake my head. “No. I mean, is it okay if I ask Amelia to marry me?”
“Oh,” he says, and he looks away. I don’t know what he is thinking, and my heart nearly falls out of my chest as I wait for the answer. “You think she’ll say yes?”
“I hope so,” I say, a nervous laugh escaping my lips. “I want her to.”
“It hasn’t been that long.”
“I know, but I want to spend the rest of my life with her.”
He grips my shoulder as his eyes meet mine. Such compassion and love are visible in them as he stares me down. “Man, you’ve awakened that girl. She’s my sister again, and I can’t even think of a better person for her.”
“Really?”
“Really. And you know what? I hope she says yes.”
“You don’t think she will?”
He shrugs. “I want her to.”
My heart jumps up into my throat, making it really hard to breathe.
I hadn’t even considered that she might say no.
“Me too.”
Chapter Thirty-One
Amelia
Sofia looks like a bohemian princess.
Her hair is up in a beautiful bun with braids encircling it and white flowers adding to the elegance. Her white chiffon dress is long-sleeved, but it cuts down low, showing a serious gap of skin between her breasts. The curve of her breasts provides the somewhat modest dress a bit of sexiness. The gown drapes down her body, not hugging her but still showing off her figure. The sleeves billow at her wrists as she stands with her hands in Ryan’s.
From where I am standing, I can only see Ryan, and the look on his face is blissful. Tears gather in his eyes as Sofia speaks. “I’ll never love anyone the way I love you. I found you early. So early, and you were so patient with me. You went at my speed, but you never gave up on me, even when I wanted to get rid of you.”
Ryan smirks. You were mine, he mouths, and a sob breaks free from Sofia.
Thank God for waterproof mascara.
I dab at my eyes as my gaze falls on Chandler. God, he is beautiful. In a fitted black tux, he’s wearing a red tie and vest that match my dress. His hair is brushed to the side, and thankfully, Ryan had a barber come in today to trim Chandler’s beard. His mom has complained every minute for the last two days. She really doesn’t like it, but I adore it. He looks so sexy. So perfect.
And he’s all mine.
“You were all my firsts, and I want you to be all my lasts. I love you, Ryan James, and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you.”
Ryan squeezes her hands as a stray tear runs down his sweet face. His suit matches Chandler’s, but unlike my boyfriend, Ryan’s vest and tie are white. His hair is brushed back, and his face is clean-shaven. He looks so handsome, and together he and Sofia are awe-inspiring. There isn’t a dry eye in the house. Everyone is just as in love with them as they are with each other.
“I wanted the perfect girl. You vaulted into my life, and I couldn’t get you out of my mind if I tried. You didn’t want to love me at first, but you fell just as hard as I did.” His voice breaks and he looks down, shaking his head. When he looks up again, the tears are falling in rivers, so of course, I’m basically a ball of tears. “My dad would have loved you. He would have known you were the perfect girl just for me. I knew it with one look. My sister loves you, and my mom adores you. Anyone who meets you is drawn to you because you are absolutely incredible. You are my game changer, my perfect ten, and you complete me. I love you, Sofia, and I promise to make you the happiest woman on earth until my last breath.”
“You have to let me die first,” she says then, and he laughs.
“What?”
“I don’t want to live without you. I’m selfish.”
Ryan’s eyes gloss over before he pulls her in close. “You are, yet I still love you.”
When he drops his mouth to hers, everyone gushes, but then the preacher throws up his hands. “Guys, I haven’t gotten there yet.”
They pull apart, both red-faced and full of tears as everyone laughs loudly. My gaze meets Chandler’s, and his lips curve up at the side. As the preacher does his thing, my heart tries to explode in my chest as I hold Chandler’s gaze. All I can hear in my head is Chandler telling me he would knock Ryan and Sofia off the altar and marry me. His eyes are so dark with that shine of gold as they look into mine. I don’t dare look away, not even when Sofia and Ryan share their first kiss as husband and wife.
Chandler wants me. He loves me, and I absolutely feel the same for him.
Sofia turns to me, tears streaming down her face, and I hand her bouquet to her. She takes it, the biggest grin on her face, before she clasps Ryan’s hand, and they head down the aisle. Chandler holds out his hand to me, and I step toward him, taking it. He folds it into his arm and covers it with his other hand before we walk together down the aisle, both of us sporting wide grins.
“Is it bad,” he says in my ear, “that through that whole thing, I was wanting to suck your tits?”
I’m not shocked. I saw his eyes on them the entire ceremony. “In my defense, it’s cold in here.”
“They’re so hard.”
I giggle as I look up at him. “Maybe it’s ’cause I want you to suck them.”
He leans in, kissing my nose. “I love you.”
“Right back atcha, stud.” He chuckles as we’re escorted out to the spot where pictures will be taken. Since it is so chilly out, Sofia had thick white Sherpa coats made for the two of us. I’m thankful since my dress is completely backless and thin as all hell. When we get outside, it’s snowing, and I swoon at the thought of the pictures. We take some shots of the wedding party and then some with our family and Sofia’s mom. When it’s time for Ryan and Sophia’s pictures, everyone else heads onto the terrace for the reception.
It’s absolutely stunning.
There are bright white lights strung across the top of the clear tent. The tables are adorned with huge red poinsettias and white roses. Everything is decorated in beautiful deep reds, golds, and whites. Up behind the wedding party table are wooden stumps that have gold candles on top of them. Above that is a huge R&S made from poinsettias and white roses. It’s all so breathtaking. I find myself wanting a fairy-tale wedding like this. I didn’t have one with Drew, and now I’m glad.
I look across the floor to where Chandler is talking with some of the guys from college who flew in for the wedding. He’s laughing and joking, his face so magnificent. In one of his hands is my Sherpa coat, and in the other is my bouquet. I thought he would be embarrassed to
carry them around, but he’s not. He still stands tall, manly, and gorgeous.
When I feel a hand on my back, I turn to find Shelli. “Beautiful wedding.”
“It was,” I say softly, bringing my wineglass to my lips. “I’m surprised you came alone.”
She snorts. “Who was I supposed to come with?”
“Nico would have flown in.”
She rolls her eyes. “I broke that off.”
My jaw drops as I look over at her. “Seriously?”
“Yeah. I’m about to go back into show mode, and I don’t have time to entertain him. We had some fun. It’s all good. He isn’t heartbroken, I swear.”
I shake my head. “You two were good together.”
“No, we weren’t,” she insists. “We were hot for each other. You and that guy are good together.” She points her beer toward Chandler. “Y’all are the talk of the wedding.”
I cock my head in confusion. “How so? Ryan and Sofia are gorgeous.”
“Well, duh. But the way y’all look at each other could set the room on fire.”
At that moment, Chandler looks over his shoulder and sends me a grin. His eyes sparkle under the lights, and warmth spreads through me. He isn’t looking at anyone else but me.
“He wants to marry me.”
She grins. “Clearly. I’m surprised he hasn’t asked.”
I shrug. “It scares me.”
“Why?”
“I don’t want to fuck up again.”
“Then don’t. Follow your heart.”
“My heart leads to him,” I say, glancing up at her.
Shelli nods. “Well then, I think you have your answer.”
Before I can respond, my aunt Elli comes up beside me. “Lord almighty, that boy is totally in love with you.” She wraps her arms around my arm. “Like completely.”
My mom laughs. “You should have seen them at the house, all over each other. Reminds me of James and me or even you and Shea.”
Elli grins. “He’s so handsome.”
“He sure is,” Mom agrees. “And so kind.”
“Right? He pulled my chair out for me and poured me a glass of wine,” Elli gushes with the widest grin on her face.
My mom nods, grinning too. “He’s made me breakfast the whole time he’s been here. Yes, he burned the eggs and the toast, but he tried. It’s the thought that counts, and he wasn’t even upset when I remade everything.”
I snort at that, shaking my head. “He can’t cook for nothing.”
“But he sure does love you.”
Elli nods her head. “So much.”
“He’s basically obsessed,” Shelli adds. “In a good way. Like in a ‘you’re his world’ way.”
We all sigh at the same time as we watch him laugh with his friends.
“So, you’re next?” Elli asks, and I laugh.
“Please, I just got out of a marriage.”
“Over a year ago,” Shelli says with a dirty look. “He’s long gone. And in all honesty, you should have married Chandler in the first place.”
I shake my head at her to go with my side-eye. “No, we had to go through all that crap to find each other.”
“The best kind of love happens that way,” Mom says, kissing my temple. “You look beautiful, Amelia.”
I grin back at her. “Thanks, Mom.”
“Are you sure you’re not going to move back?”
I shake my head to my aunt Elli’s question. “Nope, I love it where I am. Plus, Chandler is there.”
“He’s coming up as a free agent, ya know,” she says, and I laugh.
“If he wants to go, I’ll follow.”
Wow, I didn’t even think that through before I said it. I just automatically know I’ll follow him anywhere.
“It’s a plan, then,” Elli says, and then she and my mom high-five.
They’re trouble for sure.
“And here they are, Mr. and Mrs. Ryan James Justice.”
Everyone turns as Ryan and Sofia enter the reception. They walk to the middle of the floor, and the acoustic version of “There Goes My Everything” by Kane Brown starts. My brother takes his bride in his arms, and they sway slowly to the music, their heads close. The photographer moves around them, snapping pictures as everyone watches, all in awe of their beauty.
Sofia looks like a princess, and Ryan is her gallant prince. I feel someone watching me, and when I look toward Chandler, I find it’s him. His eyes are soft as he holds my stuff in his hands, watching me instead of Ryan and Sofia. He can’t come to me since he’d have to walk across the dance floor, but I know he wants to. When the song ends, everyone claps, hoots, and hollers as Ryan and Sofia kiss deeply.
“And now we have a request by Chandler Moon, with the approval of the bride and groom. He said this song was for his queen.”
My shoulders fall in complete shock as his lips tip up. Of course, my mom and Aunt Elli are gushing, while Shelli acts like she is gagging.
“Gawd, the love in here is making me sick.”
Chandler puts my stuff on a table and starts across the floor as I hand my mom my glass. I meet him halfway as I hear the start of “Say You Won’t Let Go.” He takes me in his arms, his hands slipping into the open back of my dress as he holds me close. He drops his forehead to mine as our noses rub against each other.
“I guess this is our song,” I whisper against his lips, and he smiles.
“It’s a good song.”
“It is,” I say, sliding my hands down his chest and folding them behind his back. “How long are we gonna last here?”
He scoffs. “I’m thinking maybe just through this song.”
“I love the way you think, Moon.”
“Well, Justice, with how freaking hot you are in that dress, I have no choice but to take it right off you.”
We grin at each other as my heart swells in my chest. “Good thing I want the same thing.”
“Panties?”
I give him a dry look. “Duh…can’t wear them with this dress.”
“So, nothing?”
“Nothing,” I whisper slowly against his lips, and I feel him go completely hard.
“I think you killed me.”
I snicker. “You’re fine.”
“I’m anything but fine with you around.”
I feel people watching us, but I don’t care. Not when I’m in his beautiful topaz gaze. I move my hands up to his face and stroke a thumb along his beard. “I want to tell you something.”
His eyes burn into mine. “Okay?”
“I’m gonna blame my sentimental thoughts on the fact that we’re at a wedding.”
“I think it’s safe to say those thoughts can happen with this wedding. It’s really nice.”
“Right?” I ask as my thumb glides along his lips. “But I was thinking, and with everything that has happened on this trip, I’ve come to realize something.”
He leans his nose into mine. “What’s that?”
My heart is in my throat as I gaze into his eyes. “I was trying so hard to find myself, and along the way, I found you. At first, that made me nervous. But now, I know you make me better, Chandler. I hope you realize that.”
His eyes soften as he holds me closer. I love when he does that. I feel like he’s trying to mold our bodies together into one. “You make me better too. I love you, Amelia.”
My lips curve. “I love you.”
He captures my mouth with his. Our kiss is deep and meaningful as we sway to the music. I move my hands down his chest and then into his jacket for warmth. On the way, though, I feel something hard in his jacket pocket. I quirk my brow. “What’s that?”
He pauses. “What?”
I knock my knuckles on the hard object. I’m guessing it must be his phone. “That.”
“Oh,” he says softly, and a flush fills his cheeks. “That’s your ring.”
I raise my eyebrow. “My what?”
“Your engagement ring.”
I blink as he stares deep into
my eyes. “I thought it was your phone.”
He grins. “No, that’s in my back pocket.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah.”
My heart has kicked up in speed, and my mouth goes dry as I gaze up at him. “So, what are you doing with it?”
“Well, right now, nothing.”
“Oh. Okay.”
“Because I’m scared you’ll say no.”
“What?”
“Yeah,” he says slowly. “Let’s blame the wedding for my spark of confidence. But I want you to know that when I found you, I knew there was nothing else I wanted in my life other than to make you happy.”
Emotion clogs my throat as I stay trapped in his gaze. “Really?”
“Really,” he promises as a grin pulls at his lips. “I wanted to make you smile. I wanted to make you laugh. I wanted to hear you say you love me. Now, all I want is for you to say you’ll marry me and make me the happiest man on earth.”
I bite my lip. “Really?”
He laughs. “Totally.”
Tears fill my eyes as my heart nearly blows up in my chest. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Say yes,” he says almost immediately.
“Yes,” I whisper, and his eyes light up. “But I want a long engagement. I want you to be sure you want me.”
He scoffs as he shakes his head. “Amelia, I’ve been sure about you since the moment I saw you.”
“That’s ’cause you saw the tits.”
He laughs hard as he leans into me. “No, I saw your eyes. They’re the window to the soul I love.”
“Wow, you aren’t letting up.”
He shakes his head with a confident grin. “Nope.” He moves his thumb along my bottom lip, pulling it down a bit. “Can I ask you?”
“Here?”
“Here.”
“Now?”
“Right now.”
I blink. “Are you going to get down on one knee?”
“Duh, I’m a gentleman.”
My lips curve. “Not in bed.”
“No, not there,” he says, nipping at my lip. He pulls back from me, and slowly, he falls to one knee as he reaches into his pocket. I hear my mom cry out as he opens the box to a stunning diamond. “I bought this for you the other day. I showed it to Ryan last night and asked if I could ask you. He said he hopes you say yes.”
