Page 46 of When Ben Loved Jace (He Loved Him #2)

“Did I hear my name?” Michelle asks when joining us. “What are you guys talking about?”

“Cake!” Greg declares so unconvincingly that Michelle raises an eyebrow in suspicion .

“He was hitting on me,” I confide in her.

“Greg!” she chastises. “I know how cute he looks in his suit, but that’s no excuse.” Michelle moves close to me to adjust my bowtie. “My brother asked me to inform you that it’s time.”

I perk up at this news. “For the ceremony?”

She nods. “Everyone is here. We’re ready when you are.”

I hold out the leash so she’ll take it. Then I practically knock her and Greg over in my haste to reach a gazebo that has been decorated with white flowers and balloons and other minutiae that seemed much more important a few weeks ago.

Now all I care about is him . I take the steps two at a time and turn to scan the park, ignoring the rows of chairs, so I can find my man.

The breath catches in my throat when I see, bathed in the golden light of the sun, Jace walking toward me in a white tuxedo.

I’m wearing the same thing, but on him, it makes me want to fall to my knees.

Emotionally, for once, because I’m so ridiculously crazy about him. And beyond ready for this to happen!

I gesture for him to hurry up.

He laughs when ascending the stairs to join me.

“Is someone feeling impatient?”

“Are you kidding? Yes! I wasn’t allowed to see you last night!”

“It’s tradition,” he reminds me.

“More like torture!”

He smiles. I attempt to kiss him.

Jace places his hands on my shoulders to hold me at bay. “I’m afraid you’ll have to wait a little longer. But I promise it’ll be worth it.”

I have no doubt.

“Make way for the minister!” Allison says as she comes up the gazebo stairs. “Let’s get this show on the road!”

We didn’t want to have our wedding at a church.

Jace believes in souls and the afterlife, but he’s not particularly religious.

I’m agnostic about such things, so it didn’t make sense to have any sort of clergy preside over our ceremony.

Especially when we didn’t rely on their guidance to get here.

But there is one person whose advice was instrumental in ensuring the success of our relationship, and who has steered me away from trouble countless times before.

“Dearly beloved,” Allison says after switching on the amp. “We are gathered here today… Actually, hold up. You can’t give th is girl a mic and not expect her to sing. Consider this a sound check. And your last call to take your seats.”

She bursts into song, and I adore her for it, because it ushers in the magic that was missing. Jace and I can’t talk over this. We can only stare at each other lovingly while holding hands, and it finally feels real. This is happening!

“Okay then,” Allison says with a throaty chuckle.

“Now that I’ve got your attention, let me tell you about my best friend.

When I first met Ben, I knew he was a little different, because he wasn’t interested in playing football or stomping around in the mud or whatever most boys do.

Instead, he preferred to hang out in my girly-ass room, and if we weren’t singing, he was usually talking about his favorite topic.

Love. Yes, we were just getting to the age where you start to notice other people, but he didn’t approach it from that end.

Instead of crushes and first kisses, Ben was already planning his wedding day.

So really, you’d be hard pressed to find anyone more qualified for this moment, since he’s been preparing for it most of his life. ”

Our friends and family laugh. I’m blushing, because it’s true.

“My only concern,” Allison continues, “was how he’d ever find someone worthy of him, because my best friend is something special.

When he loves, he does so with all of his heart.

I’ve never met anyone like him, or I would’ve taken that man for myself, so I feared it was impossible.

Until I met Jace, who is kind and patient, caring and sweet.

Not to mention that he’s a tall drink of water who is easy on the eyes.

In other words, exactly what Ben needed.

They were meant for each other. Anyone who has seen them together knows what I mean.

This ceremony feels more like a formality, because nobody here has any doubt that they’ll spend the rest of their lives together.

Some things are simply meant to be. But for the sake of my best friend, who has been waiting an awful long time for this, and who is looking less and less patient by the second, let’s make it official. ”

The crowd laughs. I can’t stop grinning. I’m so excited!

“Before they exchange rings,” Allison says, “let them exchange vows.” She hands the microphone to Jace.

I don’t know what he plans to say. Only that we agreed to phrase our vows as a series of promises. Which I thought would make it simple, but what I feel for him is so monumental—even more so than this moment—that words simply aren’t enough .

“Ben,” Jace says, his green eyes twinkling, “the man who has filled my every day with light, and who I will soon have the honor of calling my husband. When you are happy, I promise to lift you up even higher. When you are sad, I promise to hold you while I listen. I’ll never lose sight of how beautiful you are, or let us forget how fortunate we are to have each other.

I’ll be there to protect you when you don’t feel safe, and I’ll be vulnerable when you need to know how much I care.

I promise you that this is just the beginning of a story that never has to end, and that we’ll share every adventure, living our lives together, hand-in-hand, as our love continues to grow. ”

My heart feels like it’s about to burst. I can’t take it anymore. I launch myself forward and kiss him. I hear the mic drop, but both the sound and world around us are distant. I’m only aware of Jace’s arms wrapping around me as the kiss intensifies.

“Nobody said those vows had to be spoken,” I hear Allison say, her voice amplified again. “There’s more than one way to profess your love. Shall we keep going?”

The question is directed at me. My face is burning.

Jace is smiling. He doesn’t seem disappointed.

Not in the slightest. I did have a speech planned.

I kept rewriting it, never completely satisfied.

I can’t remember a single line of it now.

Except for the most important part. “I love you,” I murmur.

“More than I’ve ever loved anyone else.”

My chin is trembling.

He wipes a tear off my cheek.

“Considering how big your heart is,” Jace replies, “that’s saying a lot.” His fingers stroke my cheek again. Then he gently releases me and nods. “We’re ready.”

“I don’t know if the mic got all that,” Allison says, her voice sounding strained, “but I think I’m gonna cry. What’s supposed to happen next? Oh right. I remember.”

She picks up a tray. Resting on a square of black velvet are two rings made of silver. Some might think the metal too humble, but I don’t care. What we have together is invaluable. Diamonds and gold can’t come close. And anyway, they would have drained our bank account.

Jace places the ring on my finger for a second time. I didn’t want another. The one he proposed to me with is too special. Only his ring is new. I can hardly believe my luck when I take his hand and slide it on, because it’s finally true. He’s my husband!

“I now pronounce you husband and husband,” Allison declares. “You may now kiss each other. Again. ”

I don’t regret jumping the gun earlier. That I get to kiss him twice during the ceremony is the sweetest serendipity. Jace takes me into his arms, presses his lips against mine, and the truth is made evident for everyone to see.

What we have is love. And this time it will last forever.