Page 26 of Promise Yule Be Mine (Christmas Falls: Season 2)

26

NOVA

“ R eady?” Jenna asked me and squeezed my shoulders.

“As I’ll ever be,” I said and turned to Mom.

“You look amazing, sweetheart,” she said and cupped my face. “I’m so happy for you.”

“I’m happy for me too.”

Mom smirked. “Two down, five to go.”

“Is that what you’re thinking right now, Mom? About marrying off your other sons?”

Mom shrugged. “What? I’d like to get some peace and quiet at home before I die. And a gym. I’d like a gym too. Think we can get Rhett to marry Nikita?”

Jenna laughed. “They couldn’t be more different.”

“Pfft. Details,” Mom replied.

I groaned. “Can we focus please?”

“Right,” they both said and turned their attention to me.

“Ready?” Mom asked.

I nodded and Jenna opened the door and walked ahead, put her arm through Nikita’s who’d been waiting outside the room, and Mom and I walked behind them.

When everyone set their eyes on Jenna they were confused by her simple red A-dress that reached her knees, and then, with even more confusion, looked behind her at me.

I bit my cheek and soldiered on.

The events room of the museum had been transformed by the garlands and mistletoe and all the other seasonal flowers we’d put together the day before. Endless strings of fairy lights hanging from the ceiling gave everything a fairy tale ambience, only adding to the surreal feel of this moment.

Jenna and Nikita reached the front where her maid of honor, Meredith, and Jett, Kody and Nikita’s other friend waited, just as confused.

“You’re all dismissed,” Jenna said to both of them and everyone started whispering as my friend made everyone get in a semicircle around us leaving only us, herself, and Cookie and Milk standing in the middle.

We’d decided we didn’t need any groomsmen or groomsmaids. Nikita as the witness was more than enough. And even though I hadn’t wanted to be walked down the aisle, I’d done it for Mom.

Jenna took Kody’s hands and reached out to me as we approached.

“Look after him,” Mom told Kody and patted his hand.

“I plan to do just that for as long as I breathe.”

“Good answer,” she said and joined the others in the semicircle.

Jenna cleared her throat. “So this may be confusing,” she said, “but we are gathered here today to join Kody and Nova in matrimony.”

People exclaimed. Some gasped as if they’d had the shock of a lifetime. I kept my gaze on Kody. I asked him if he was okay with my eyes, and he gave the slightest nod. These people were his friends and he’d have some serious explaining to do, but if he wasn’t feeling nervous or ashamed then that was A-OK with me.

“We’ll explain later,” Kody said to everyone and turned back to me.

I took his hands in mine and glanced at Jenna as she made her speech. She’d gotten ordained just for us and if I was being honest, there was no one else I could imagine doing this. It was thanks to her devilish schemes that we’d gotten together. It was only right she was the one to make it official.

“Nova, do you take Kody to be your lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and in health, til death do you part.”

Til death do you part.

They were some pretty heavy words. Some very important words. And yet, I couldn’t imagine not living by them. Not living by this promise we were making before our friends and family. The promise we were making to each other.

“I do,” I said.

Kody smiled.

Jenna turned to him.

“Kody, do you take Nova, as your lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and in health, til death do you part?”

Kody squeezed my hands and took a deep breath. “I do. I promise to hold you and cherish you, to look after you and look out for you, to love you for the rest of my life. I love you, Nova. I’ve loved you from the moment I met you. You’re my supernova and I know that our love will only grow stronger and more wonderful as we grow older together.”

Jenna huffed.

“I didn’t say it was time for the vows,” she said. “But since you skipped ahead, what about you, Nova?”

“Yes,” I said. “Same.”

Jenna glared at me and I laughed.

“Fine. Kody, my love, you are one of a kind. My heart knew it belonged with you from day dot. I’ve been dreaming of my happily ever after with you since then and I’m so glad that today, we get to make it a reality. I know it may seem wild and unconventional to marry someone so soon, but I couldn’t imagine my life with anyone but you. I love you, Kody Campbell and I promise to love you forever and ever after.”

Some of the guests cooed.

Jenna wiped her eyes.

“You guys!” she said. “I now pronounce you husband and husband. You may kiss. With tongue.”

Everyone laughed, but we just followed orders and kissed with all the passion that had been building up all day.

We’d had to sleep apart and stay away from each other since yesterday so we didn’t jinx anything, and those hours apart had been torture.

Which was one of the many ways I knew I was making the right decision in marrying Kody.

Yes, maybe it was too soon, yes maybe we didn’t yet know everything about each other, but what we did know about one another we loved. It could only get bigger and deeper from hereon. I was sure of that.

Kody Campbell was my soulmate.