Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 85154 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85154 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
I look at Levi, my face filled with horror. “We forgot rings,” I tell him and he just shakes his head.
“I got them.” He turns to Stefano, who hands him the rings.
“This is why I’m marrying him.” I look over at the guy who is officiating the wedding.
He chuckles. “Levi, place the ring on her finger and repeat after me.”
My hand shakes in his as he holds the ring he is slipping on my finger. My eyes look down at his hand as he says the words, “I give you this ring as a sign of our love for and commitment to each other.” I look back up at him as he continues and the ring reaches the bottom of my finger. “I promise to support you, care for you, and stand alongside you for all of our days.”
All I can do is smile at him as he hands me his ring. I hold his hand in mine, and whereas mine was shaking, Levi’s is steady. I take the black band and place it on his finger, repeating what he said to me, “I give you this ring as a sign of our love for and commitment to each other. I promise to support you, care for you, and stand alongside you for all of our days.” Only when it’s at the bottom of his finger do I look up at him. He has his own tears in his eyes, no doubt regretting saying yes to my favor.
“You are lucky you didn’t put honor and obey in that.” I lean in to make him laugh.
“I thought about it.” He laughs. “But I figured I’d be pushing it.”
“Good call,” I agree while the man is declaring us husband and wife.
“You may now kiss your bride,” he invites and Levi steps forward.
“Your lips had better be clean,” I say right before he smiles and leans in and kisses my lips.
It’s very quick but long enough for the photographer to get the picture. The crowd is on their feet clapping for us.
“Well, husband,” I say, reaching up and wiping the gloss off his lips, “only three hundred and sixty-four days to go.”
He laughs when I say that, shaking his head and slipping his hand into mine, leaning sideways to me. “But who’s counting?” he replies.
Chapter Twelve
Levi
“Shall we?” I look down at her hand holding mine as we take our walk down the aisle. Everyone is on their feet. I look over at her and I swear on everything that I have she is the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen. When the doors opened and I saw her, my heart stopped in my chest. It felt hard to even breathe. Her eyes looked at all the people there like a deer in headlights. Until she saw me and it was like she calmed down.
When we finally make it into the reception space, there is a server there holding a silver tray with two glasses of champagne on it. I grab them both and hand one to Eva. “Shall we toast to our wedding?”
“You have a lot of explaining to do,” she accuses, and it looks like she’s about to say something else when the photographer comes over and starts taking pictures.
“Smile.” I put a big smile on my face as she glares at me, but at the same time planning my murder, it’s a beautiful sight. She finishes her champagne in four gulps before placing it on the silver tray. I add my empty glass to the tray also when the rest of the guests come out of the ceremony space.
“Congratulations,” Stefano says when he walks into the reception space, shaking my hand and then slapping my shoulder. “You pulled it off.” He turns toward Eva. “Were you surprised?” he asks as he bends to kiss her cheek.
“That’s an understatement,” she replies, still holding her bouquet in her hand. “I can’t believe we forgot the rings.” She puts her hand to her head and I see the ring I bought for her yesterday.
“I can’t believe you didn’t freak out about it,” Stefano states, shaking his head laughing, and it’s at that moment she looks down and sees the ring I slid on her finger. I glare at him for bringing it up. I mean, I know eventually she would have seen it, but I was hoping she would have had a couple more drinks in her before she did.
“What the fuck is this?” She looks down at her ring, her eyes huge before she looks up at me. “What is this?” She studies her hand for a second before looking back up at me.
“I think that’s what they call an engagement-slash-wedding band.” I put my hands in my pockets to stop them from reaching out to grab her hand and study the ring on it.