Page 104 of When Ben Loved Jace

“Do you have the ring with you?”

“Uh-huh. I’ve been carrying it around with me for weeks.”

I’m starting to see why Jace and Greg are best friends. “If you stick that ring in our wedding cake, I’ll never forgive you.” I can already imagine having to ask everyone to dissect their slice so it can be found again.

Greg laughs. “Nah, I’ll keep it in the box. But I wanted to make sure it’s okay with you first, because today is about you guys.”

“Are you kidding? I’m super cool with it. This will make us family!”

Greg blinks. “I guess it will!Ifshe says yes.”

“I wouldn’t worry too much. Michelle loves you.”

How could she not? Greg is a real catch. He’s got everything going for him. The body, the career, and most important of all, that great big heart of his.

“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 ishim. 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 thereisone 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 this 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.