Page 102

Story: Body Lock

Her dress flowed like silk over her skin, finding all the curves and dips. The neck scooped down, stopping just before the center of her chest. And then her smile came, glowing and excited as she let Riley lead her to me.

His small feet skipped forward, the nerves vanishing as he had both of us with him. It also helped that he was only two, so his mind wandered a lot, and being scared didn't seem to faze him anymore.

Watching his feet, Riley took long extended strides, holding tightly onto Cadence. Our eyes met, hers thinning with her smile, and glossy. Mine stayed static, letting this picture get burned into my memory forever.

An ecstatic squeal reverberated around us, and both of us knew instantly what that sound meant. But before she could get a strong hold of Riley's hand again, he had yanked himself free. His screech heightened in pitch, his short legs making a mad dash.

Bending down, I held my arms out, ready for him to jump inside and hug me.

At the last second, he made a quick turn, leaping for his favorite thing in the world.

Which wasn't me, or Cadence... Nope.

I should've know he'd spot it from a mile away, but the whole morning had been so chaotic that I honestly forgot completely.

It had rained briefly early this morning. A sign of good luck on your wedding day I heard, and something I had to repeat to Cadence a few times so she'd calm down.

And as his feet crashed into the center of the puddle, the world around us burst into loud laughs. Everyone was snapping pictures, our photographer included, as our toddler son lavished himself in the puddle.

Flicking my eyes up to meet Cadence, her lips that had perched to the side turned up, and her laugh played the song of my soul.

Her blue eyes sparkled, head rolling as she watched our child drench his suit. Calling him to her, Riley stopped his pounding feet, and reluctantly left his puddle.

Mia grabbed him, hitching him to her hip as Cadence took my hand and stood in front of me. Her eyes were shining, cheeks rosy and swelling, ready to shed so many tears.

But they weren't tears I wanted to save her from.

These were tears for us, for happiness, for becoming one.

And after today, she would no longer have to carry the name of her father. Her past had been tucked behind bars, her life now free of anything that could hold her back.

Today she would become Mrs. Cadence Delligatti.

She was already my life, my love, my everything.

But now she was my wife.