Page 54

ALEXEI

one year later

We get to the Basilica before the priest does.

“I told you we didn’t have to leave the hotel yet.”

I make a face at Forrest. “I didn’t want to be late.”

“We’re almost an hour early.” He taps my arm and points across the street. “Want to go find a drink?”

“That’s not a bar, it’s a…” I squint. “Real estate office, I think.”

“No worries, I brought my own.” He pulls a flask from the inside of his suit jacket. “Cheers, bud.”

I laugh as he take a swig, then I accept it and tip back a small shot myself.

Why the fuck not? I’m getting married today.

As I hand the flask back, the door opens behind us, and we’re invited inside. Guests start to arrive ten minutes later, which I pointed out to Forrest.

He offers me another slug, which I decline.

We mill at the entrance for a while longer, but as the church starts to fill up, we’re led to a side chamber to wait for my bride.

As soon as we’re shown the private room, though, my bride sends me a text message.

Emery

Running late, I’m so sorry. It’s not me, I swear.

Alexei

Is it my daughters?

The little one, yes. I needed to nurse her again, but I’m putting on my dress now!

We can come help, we are at the Basilica

No! You can’t see me before the wedding!

I can’t see her before… I laugh and show the screen to her brother. “Can you imagine?”

Forrest gives me a wide-eyed look I recognize from his sister. “Oh yeah, buddy. You can’t see her.”

“But she has both of our children with her!”

“And she has two moms, and a nanny, and a bunch of friends.”

I frown.

Emery sends me a photo of baby Natalia, now sleeping her car seat.

And then another one of her big sister, dressed up in her flower girl dress.

Maybe you would be here faster if you stopped sending photos

That wasn’t me, that was Inessa

I love you so much. Please come here so I can marry you.

We’re leaving now! See you soon. I love you too. So much.

Forrest reads that over my shoulder. He slings his arm around me. “That’s very sweet.”

Emery

Late girls give the best blowjobs, though!

“And that’s too much information.” He pivots away from me as I double over laughing.

It’s not that long before there’s a knock at the door, though. It’s Camden, who was tasked with driving his sister and our kids here. He has Talia in his arms, and she looks extra small against her oversized uncle.

“Delivering the littlest flower girl to you,” he says.

I take my second daughter from him, nestling her against my chest before I shake his hand. “Is she nervous?”

“Talia?” He grins. “She’s fast asleep.”

I frown. “Emery.”

He claps me on the shoulder. “Bud, she’s the opposite of nervous. Literally dancing in the foyer. Get out there, and she’ll run down the aisle to you. She’s excited to marry you today, I promise.”

We file out to the front of the church.

Emery’s parents spared no expense on their only daughter’s wedding. There’s a string quartet, and fresh flowers, and a packed Basilica, probably the biggest cathedral in the entire state.

But I only have eyes for the woman hiding around the corner at the back of the church.

Our family comes down the aisle in a bit of a blur. My parents, her parents. Then her best friend from college, Cecilia.

And then Inessa, who looks so much older than her three years as she carefully walks and sprinkles flowers and keeps a steady pace the entire way.

The music changes.

I wipe my eyes.

Fuck.

No swearing at your wedding, Artyomov.

Fuuuck.

Her shadow falls at the entrance, and then she steps into view.

She’s wearing white. And if I didn’t know that her tits weren’t usually that round, she would look every inch a virginal bride.

Golden sunshine.

My sunshine.

She walks herself all the way to my side, and then reaches out and takes my hand.

I still can’t quite believe that a girl who had all the choices in the world chose to give me a second chance, but I couldn’t love her more than I do in this moment. With our girls beside us and our families watching on.

“Hi,” I whisper.

“Hi,” she says back.

“Let’s get married?”

“Oh yeah.” And then she beams a thousand kilowatt smile.

We exchange vows about our family first. And then Camden and his wife step forward and take the girls back to sit with them in the front row, and I take Emery’s hands in mine.

Her grip tightens around my fingers as the priest prompts us through our vows.

…to be my beloved… I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health… for all the days…

It’s a dream.

It’s incredible.

Then the priest intones, “May the Lord fill you both with his blessings. What God has joined, let no man divide. Amen.”

And Emery steps in close and cups my face.

I pull her in close and dip her back as we kiss each other to make it official.

The priest clears his throat when we finish. “There was another part to follow that, but… newlywed excitement has taken hold, it seems.”

Everyone laughs.

We kiss again.

And then he gets to say the other part, which is another blur. There’s paperwork to sign, and then the girls join us again for the walk back down the aisle as husband and wife.

But most importantly, as each other’s.

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