Page 54

“Sorry,” she mumbles, speed-walking down the aisle and sliding in next to Scotty. As she sits, the iPad screen flashes toward me, and I see Adley and her foster sister Briar smiling from the screen.

“Hey.” I wave, grateful as hell that Savannah has them. “Glad you could make it.”

“I wouldn't miss this for the world,” Adley says, her voice sweet through the speakers. I've only talked to her once over FaceTime before this, but I already feel protective of her, like she's my little sister too.

Madison clears her throat at the back of the room, motioning for Henry to join her. I can practically feel the tension radiating off Dash when she threads her arm through Henry's and flashes him a playful smile.

I lean toward my giant friend. “Relax, D. Henry's got nothing on you.”

He exhales sharply but doesn't argue.

To my surprise, Alex starts playing the wedding march on a tiny keyboard in the corner.

“When the fuck did he learn piano?” I ask Dash, genuinely confused, as Madison forces Henry into overly dramatic, pause-heavy steps while tossing plastic petals at our friends.

Several land on Scotty, who ignores them completely, and more hit Brooks, who picks them out of his beard with obvious disdain.

The guy doesn't say much, but his face clearly shows he's not entertained by her antics.

The room goes silent when Madison and Henry reach the front. She gives Dash a little wink before they take their seats in the front row.

Dash clears his throat, and I straighten my spine, adjusting my tie for the millionth time. My hands? Still shaking like fucking leaves.

When the doors at the back of the courthouse open, my breath catches in my throat and the rest of the world just… stops.

Savannah's heels click against the floor as she steps into the room, and for a moment, nothing else exists.

She's absolutely breathtaking in a short, simple white dress that hugs her curves perfectly.

Elegant. Effortless. I can't find words adequate enough to describe how beautiful she is.

She walks quickly down the aisle, eyes focused on the white roses in her hands while her dark, wavy hair partially hides her face.

Finally, she looks up, and some of the tension in her shoulders melts away when her green eyes lock onto mine.

Dash mutters something under his breath, but I don't hear him and don't give a shit what he said.

All I see is her. All I care about is her.

She's mine.

Now and forever.

Chloe stands, holding the iPad, and gasps fill the room from the girls watching through the screen.

I take a slow breath, clasping my hands together in a useless attempt to stop the trembling. My heart pounds harder with each step she takes toward me, but even through the haze of nerves, this feels absolutely right.

It might not be perfect, but it's ours. It's real, and it's happening right fucking now.

When she reaches me, I extend my hand, and she takes it without hesitation. I feel her fingers trembling slightly, so I squeeze gently, my way of telling her we're in this together.

“Hey, Pretty Girl,” I whisper, just for her.

She lets out a breathy laugh that's barely audible, but it settles something deep in my chest.

Erik clears his throat, and Savannah's head whips toward him. Her mouth falls open as she takes in his purple suit for the first time.

“If it's all right with you two, I think we should get this show on the road.”

I nod, squeezing Savannah's hand again.

“We're here today to witness Cade and Savannah say 'I do.'” He glances between us with that trademark grin.

Someone, definitely Scotty, snorts.

Erik continues, completely unbothered. “Now, I got ordained online when I was eighteen as a joke. Never thought that little piece of paper would actually matter, but I'm glad it does because there's no other couple I'd rather marry than these two.”

He looks at Savannah with a playful expression. “You know he's completely obsessed with you, right?”

The question breaks through her nerves for a second, but her grip tightens around mine, and I know that no matter what happens next, we're in this together.

Savannah responds with a laugh before looking directly at me. “Not as obsessed as I am.”

I thought it was low enough for only us to hear, but when Chloe, Madison, Adley and Briar coo, I realize our love for each other is out there wide in the open.

“All right, let's get this party started.”

The ceremony moves quickly, though Erik can't help himself from throwing in some commentary. He reads through the legal requirements with surprising efficiency, stumbling only slightly over some of the jargon, but then he grins at us.

“You know, marriage is a lot like hockey,” Erik says, clearly pleased with himself. “You've got to work as a team, defend each other's goals, and sometimes you end up in the penalty box together.”

I shake my head, trying not to laugh, while Savannah looks like she's not sure whether to be amused or horrified.

“And Cade,” Erik continues, “I hope you're ready to assist Savannah for the rest of your life, because this relationship is definitely going into overtime.”

“Get on with it!” Scotty yells from his seat, throwing his hands up in exasperation.

Erik chuckles but mercifully moves on, reading the actual vows we need to exchange. Each step is simple, almost mechanical, but none of that matters. This isn't about grand gestures or traditions, it's about us and securing the future we're fighting for.

When it comes time for vows, Savannah hesitates. I feel it in the way her fingers flex against mine, in the way her chest rises with a deep breath.

“I didn't prepare anything,” she admits quietly.

I smirk. “Neither did I.”

She bites her lip, then lets out a small, shaky laugh.

“Okay.” A pause. “Cade… when I met you, I didn't know what it meant to belong to someone.

I didn't know what it felt like to be safe. To be loved.” Her voice wavers, but she pushes through, her gaze locked on mine.

“But you've shown me that in a million ways, big and small.

You've made me feel like I matter, like I'm not alone.” She swallows hard, blinking against the emotion.

“I guess what I'm trying to say is… I love you. And I promise to love you in every way I know how. For as long as we have.”

Fuck me .

I blink hard, my throat closing up as her words sink into the deepest parts of me.

Erik turns to me. “And Cade?”

I nod, exhaling slowly before speaking. “Savannah, I think I knew from the first moment I saw you that I was completely fucked.” She huffs out a tiny laugh, and I grin, my heart hammering against my ribs.

“I was yours before I even realized it, and I know this isn't the perfect wedding you deserve, but I promise you, this is just the beginning. I promise you forever.”

She doesn't wipe away the single tear that slides down her cheek, and I take a moment to memorize how absolutely perfect she looks right now.

“You may now exchange rings,” Erik instructs, shooting Dash a look.

Dash passes me the ring box, his expression unreadable, and I flip it open, pulling out the delicate gold band I picked out with her this morning.

Savannah lifts her left hand, and I slide the ring onto her finger, my chest aching at how right it looks there. Then Dash hands her a second ring, and with trembling fingers, Savannah slides mine on, her hands cool but steady.

Erik claps once and grins. “Now for the good part. By the power vested in me by the internet, I now pronounce you husband and wife.”

Savannah barely has time to react before I cup her face and pull her in, pressing my lips to hers in a deep, lingering kiss. She gasps softly against my mouth before melting into me, her hands gripping my lapels like she's afraid to let go.

Applause erupts around us—claps, cheers, a few wolf whistles from my teammates—but none of it registers.

It's just her. Just us.

I kiss her once, twice, then pull back enough to whisper against her lips, “We did it, Mrs. Bright.”

Her breath hitches, and she presses her forehead to mine, her voice barely audible.

“We did.”