Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 20595 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 103(@200wpm)___ 82(@250wpm)___ 69(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 20595 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 103(@200wpm)___ 82(@250wpm)___ 69(@300wpm)
Nick stands next to me as my best man. I had to come up with six additional groomsmen, so I enlisted the help of Nora and five of our closest cousins. The bridesmaids, Hope, Jinny, Scarlet, & Sassy, make their way down the aisle and stand off to the side. Rose, the maid of honor, enters, and I feel Nick tense up beside me. He is head over heels in love with this girl, but she won’t give him the time of day. I turn to tell him that everything will be okay, but that thought gets lost when the pianist begins to play “Turn Me On” by Alessa G. I can’t help grinning, remembering the strip tease she did for me in her hotel room in Kansas City. She was so nervous doing it, her blush reaching her belly, but fuck it was hot as hell. The fact that she chose this song does something to me. I turn and look over to the doorway and see her. She’s on her father’s arm, but to be honest, I don’t see anything but her. She’s gorgeous in her white dress. She looks like a princess from a fairytale, complete with little flowers in her hair. I don’t know how I got so lucky; I just know that I am. I’m not going to lie; I’m crying. As she walks toward me, I can see that she is too. Then her hand is in mine, and Evan begins the ceremony. I am not a big churchgoer, but Cheryl is, so I’ve been going with her. Evan isn’t as pushy as some pastors.
“Friends, family, I am honored to be presiding over the wedding of Nolan James Pike and Cheryl Monreau Bow. They have written their own vows. Cheryl?”
“Nolan. I never thought we’d get here. When I first spoke to you, you woke something up inside of me. When we met, that undefinable something grew. The more time I spent with you, the more I loved you. Every night, I prayed that God would give you to me, and when He did, I vowed never to forsake Him. Just as I will never forsake you. I’ll be forever faithful, and I will love you until my dying breath. There is no one else for me. You are my king. I can’t wait to be your wife.
“Nolan?” Evan asks when Cheryl doesn’t say anything else.
“Cheryl, I always knew we’d get here. One way or another, I knew I would do whatever it took to make you my wife. I moved across the country after meeting you. I did everything I could think of to put myself in your path. You might think God gave me to you, but he made us for each other. You are my queen. My heart. My soul. My oxygen. I need you more than anything else in the world. Being your husband will be my greatest accomplishment. I love you.
“The rings?” Evan asks, thrusting the Bible toward Nick first, then Rose. They each set the ring they are holding on to the Bible. “Thank you. In the Song Of Solomon chapter eight, verses six and seven, we are told to place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, its jealousy as enduring as the grave. Love flashes like fire, the brightest kind of flame. I agree that true love burns bright, like the love of Nolan and Cheryl. We are here to bear witness to this union and the love they share. Nolan, repeat after me. Cheryl, please accept this ring as a token of my true, pure love for you. With this I give you my heart and my soul. They are yours always and forever.”
“Cheryl, please accept this ring as a token of my true, pure love for you. With this I give you my heart and my soul. They are yours always and forever,” I eagerly repeat, sliding her wedding band on her finger.
“Cheryl, repeat after me. Nolan, please accept this ring as a token of my true, pure love for you. With this, I give you my heart and my soul. They are yours always and forever.
“Nolan, please accept this ring as a token of my true, pure love for you. With this, I give you my heart and my soul. They are yours always and forever,” she says as she puts my wedding band on me. I am not big on jewelry, I don’t even wear a watch, but I will never take this off. This is the moment I’ve been waiting for since the second I heard her voice.
“Excellent. By the power of God Almighty and the great state of Maine, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.” I do. I fucking kiss my wife, and nothing has ever felt better. “Ladies and gentlemen, presenting, for the very first time, Mr. and Mrs. Nolan Pike.” The room erupts into applause, but still, I’m kissing her.