Page 19

Parker

2 Years Later

“Parker! Hurry the hell up or you’re going to be late!” Kendra’s voice cuts through the closed door, and I quickly glance at my watch, seeing she’s right.

“Shit,” I whisper. My hands find my curls, trying to tame them so they aren’t running wild. “Of fucking course I would be running late,” I tell myself.

“Dammit, Parker, we have to go!”

“Hold your horses,” I mutter, fluffing my hair one last time. I give myself a last glance in the mirror before deciding I finally look decent enough. I’m wearing an all-white tuxedo with a sky-blue bow tie. At first, I didn’t plan to wear all white, but when I saw this one on the mannequin, I fell in love and just had to get it.

Opening the door to the bathroom, I consider running back in and locking the door when Kendra rushes up to me. “Dammit, Parker. I swear to god if we’re late, Marcus will never forgive me. Are you finally ready?”

“Calm down, Kendra. We’re only a couple minutes late.”

“Do you hear yourself? Only a couple minutes? Parker, it’s your wedding! You can’t be late to your own goddamned wedding!”

“Fuck, you’re right. Come on, we’ve got to hurry.”

Kendra rolls her eyes, snatching up her purse from the bed. “Ya know, we weren’t late to my wedding.” She tells me hip checking me as she walks by.

“Yeah, because I was in charge and made sure we were all on time. Seems to me you’re slacking in your Matron of Honor duties.”

“Oh, whatever. Do you have the rings?”

Patting my pockets, I smile when I feel the ring tucked away. It seems like just yesterday that I proposed to Marcus.

My hands shake as I quickly drop the ring box into the Christmas stocking on the fireplace mantle. The scent of sugar cookies fills the air, and I glance around our apartment, loving how decorated we made it. Marcus told me he wasn’t a big holiday decorator, but my family was always the one that would go all out for Christmas. So, I knew I wanted our place to be that way. Warm, inviting, Christmas decorations all throughout.

“What are you doing?”

“Hmm?” I ask, turning around, my heart beating fast. Fuck, I hope he didn’t see me.

“I called for help, but you didn’t come. Are we going to frost the cookies or what?”

“Of course. Come on, let’s go.”

I follow Marcus into the kitchen, but not before glancing back toward the fireplace. By the end of the night, I’m hoping to have my ring on his finger.

“All right, so I’m going to do red frosting with sprinkles. What about you?” he asks, grabbing all the ingredients and placing them on the counter.

“I’m going to mix and match,” I tell him, sitting on the stool next to him.

I watch as he grabs a cookie off the tray and places it on his plate. He’s wearing his black bracelet again, and each time I see it, my heart soars. He put it on a few weeks after we returned from Aruba, and he’s worn it on his wrist every day since. I’ve always thought of it as a promise ring-type thing, so I’m itching to switch it out with the wedding band I bought him.

“What’s the plan after we decorate the cookies? We get to eat them, right? Please tell me I can eat them and we aren’t using them for decorations.”

“I’m not that mean, Marcus. We can do both.” I laugh, grabbing my cookie.

We spend the next few minutes frosting all the cookies I made earlier. Marcus’ are a mess, and there’s no coordination to what he’s doing, but he seems to be having fun. He places a few of them onto a plate, then grabs two glasses of milk.

“Come on, let’s go watch a movie.”

We watch The Grinch wrapped around one another, my hands getting clammy and my heart beating wild at the thought of what’s going to happen next. My chest tightens, and I close my eyes tightly.

“Fuck, no. Not right now.” I whisper once the credits to the movie roll.

“Parker? Are you having an attack?” he asks calmly, sitting us up so I can lean forward.

I shake my head no, but I’m honestly not sure if one is about to start. Squeezing my eyes shut, I count backward when I feel a dip on the couch. A soft acoustic guitar melody starts from the other side of the room, and I rest my head forward, listening to the soft sounds. He plays a few songs before moving back toward me.

“You okay?” he asks, running his hands through my curls.

“I’m more than okay. Thank you,” I tell him, grabbing his hand and clasping it. We stay that way for a few minutes, Marcus letting me catch my breath.

“What’s got you worked up?”

“Heh. Nothing bad, I promise. I have a surprise for you.” I stand up, shaking out my arms. Luckily, I didn’t have a full-blown attack, but it still sucks when it happens.

“I love surprises. Is it a naked surprise?” he jokes, knowing the easiest way for me to get over it is to not bring it up. It’s embarrassing sometimes when the thoughts hit so quickly, so I try not to bring too much attention to it when it happens.

“Well, it might end in a naked surprise,” I tease, grabbing his stocking off the hook. “I might have an early Christmas present for you.”

He grabs the stocking, laying it across his lap. “Ooh, I wonder what could be in here? Maybe some new lace panties you’re going to wear tonight?”

“Maybe if you’re lucky,” I reply cheekily.

“Can I open it?” I nod my head, waiting for him to reach his hand inside. I watch as he grips the box, his gaze flying to mine. “Parker?”

I kneel in front of him on one knee while he takes the small black box out of the stocking. I grab it from his hand, popping it open and turning it to face him.

“I love you so much. And I’ve wanted to do this for so long and I figured it’s finally time. There’s no one else I want to spend the rest of my life with. The man who is constantly supporting me in every obstacle I face in life. The only man who has ever had my heart and soul. I want to grow old with you, Marcus. Will you marry me?”

“Hell fucking yes, I will!” he tells me, leaning forward, claiming my lips.

“Parker, I swear to god, if Marcus gets mad at me because we’re late, I will riot,” Kendra says, interrupting my daydream.

“Okay, okay, let’s go.”

We head out of the hotel room and make our way to the elevator. When Marcus and I were planning our wedding, there was only one place we wanted to have it: back in Aruba at the same place where we found our way back to one another. We rush out of the hotel, making our way down the cobblestone pathway to the beach. Not much has changed since the last time we were here. It’s still as beautiful as ever, with the white sand surrounding the ice-blue water and a ton of trees on the outside of the resort.

The Jeep shuttle is waiting for us near the beach. Kendra and I hop on, the driver taking off automatically. We make it to Flamingo Cay in no time, Kendra and I rushing to make our way to the tents that are set up. When we were talking with the resort about where to host our ceremony, I only wanted to do it here. The beach where Kendra and Tim had their wedding was spectacular, but Flamingo Cay is where I see myself marrying Marcus.

We reach the tent, and Kendra stops me, placing her hand on my chest. “Okay, wait here. I’ll let everyone know we’re here and I’ll grab your dad.”

“Okay,” I whisper, the moment finally catching up with me. Holy shit, I’m going to marry my best friend.

Kendra returns in no time at all with my dad in tow. He smiles at me before wrapping me in a tight hug.

“You ready?” he asks, giving my shoulders one final squeeze.

“I’ve been ready.”

The bridal music starts playing with Kendra taking off first down the aisle. I lock my arm in my dad’s and wait for our cue to walk. “I can’t believe my baby boy is finally getting married.”

“Oh my god, Dad. Don’t make me cry.”

“It’s too late. I’m already crying.” I turn to look at my dad, seeing he has tears in his eyes. He blows out a breath, shaking his head. “But if I had to pick someone to give my son to, Marcus is a damn fine choice.”

“I happen to think he’s the lucky one to get me.”

“You’re right. He’s so damn lucky. Now come on, let’s get you married to your soulmate.”

Dad guides me down the aisle, my hold on him tight. My eyes scan the crowd, seeing all our friends and family who love us. Fiona and David are toward the front, Fiona dabbing at her eyes with a tissue. My mom is on the other side, bawling her eyes out, and I chuckle when I see Fiona quickly run across the aisle and encase my mom in a hug. Kendra and Tim are both perched on either side under the archway, staring at me with huge smiles on their faces.

And finally, there’s Marcus. He’s dressed nicely in a pitch-black tuxedo with a matching tie to my bowtie. His eyes are trained on me and only me. When we reach him, my dad takes my hand and places it in Marcus’, a spark flowing between us.

“It’s about time,” he whispers, grabbing my hand and pulling me up toward the officiant.

“I might have spent a bit too long getting ready,” I admit, turning to face him head-on.

“A little bit might not be accurate, considering you’re over thirty minutes late. Luckily, I’d wait forever for you.”

“You really would, wouldn’t you?” I ask, a tear sliding down my face.

“There’s no doubt, Parker. I’d wait an eternity for you.” He leans forward, kissing me on the lips.

“Thank goodness we no longer have to wait.”

We each repeat our vows to one another, Marcus’ grip on my hands never leaving. We take turns placing the rings on our fingers before Marcus grabs me around the waist, pulling me to him. I’d go through everything in my life all over again if it meant I ended up in this exact moment with him.

“I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

The End.