Two months later…
The huge cruise ship sailed along tropical waters. The deck overflowed with flowers, white flowers of all kinds. Lily’s, orchids, daisies, roses.
Chance Givens stood on the deck. He sneezed. “God, whose idea was it to have all these damn flowers?”
“Mine,” Morgan replied, as he didn’t look at him. His gaze remained trained on the deck way. “Where the hell is she?”
Chance sniffled. “Who knows man? You know how women are. It takes them hours to get ready to go anywhere.”
“We have a stop at Port coming up.”
“So?” Chance rebutted. “You own this ship. Everyone on here, are your friends and family. Really though, buying a cruise ship?” He rolled his eyes.
“Oh, shut up. You’re just mad you didn’t think of it first,” Morgan countered.
“Yeah, there is that. I mean how can I be teased for owning all those cars when you bought fucking Carnival just for a trip to the Caribbean?”
Morgan looked agitated. “It wasn’t just a trip to—Dammit where is she?” He turned to his best friend.
“Now, Morgan you’re getting wild eyed again, like you do when you get emotional and I’m so not in the mood for your crap and this suit put me back thousands. Just to be worn in the sun on a damp deck!”
Morgan bit at his lip. “She isn’t coming. I knew this was too soon. She isn’t ready to do this, she—” He sucked in a breath.
Ellie appeared across the deck. Her hair shone in the sun, a long curl cascading down one cheek. Her dress was breathtaking yet simple. A cameo type bust with tiny pearls bordering it, sleeveless with a long tapered waist and flowing train.
Her wedding dress.
Morgan felt his whole chest tighten. She was here. She didn’t run. He tried to take a breath. God, is she beautiful. Then again, she was stunning in absolutely nothing. He nudged himself not to go there. He would have that sight to himself later.
“Just breathe dude. You can’t pass out at your own damn wedding. Buck it up,” Chance whispered from beside him.
The guests all oohed and awed as she was escorted by her Uncle Pete down the aisle filled with white rose petals.
Morgan wanted all the flowers to be white at their wedding. He felt they reflected Ellie so perfectly and now, he saw he was right as she floated along the pedals.
Instead of the wedding march, a song that Ellie insisted on was playing, Black Balloon. “And angels fall without you there.” Morgan knew of the song and he’d listened to it after she’d wanted it at their wedding. Then when he heard the lyrics, he knew why. It made such perfect sense. She’d considered him as her angel, but she knew that without her, he would fall. He knew it too. Whoever would have guessed that someone would think of him as any kind of angel? But the song did describe the feeling of their relationship well. He’d even choked up when he heard the words.
“Ohh!” Joanna cried as Ellie passed by.
His mother grabbed her hand and cried with her. The pair had become fast friends, they had hung out together for the entire cruise so far.
Morgan suddenly heard nothing and he saw nothing except Ellie. Her sweet face, looking a little paler than usual. It always looked that way when she was nervous. It had looked that way the day he’d carried her out of that smoking diner. The day his life really started.
She now stood in front of him.
Morgan reached his hand out to her.
Her eyes rounded as she stared at him. “Y-you look like you did the day you saved me. With the sun behind you.”
He laughed. “I doubt that. I’m wearing a tux.”
“Yes, a god in a tux.” She giggled.
He raised a brow at her and smiled.
Chance leaned in. “Are you two done chatting? I mean we are here for a dammed wedding. As your best man, I do have certain duties, but really… Do I have to even direct you in this?”
They both turned to look at him.
“Well, you aren’t coming on the honeymoon if that’s what you mean. I can handle that on my own,” Morgan whispered.
All three of them laughed loudly.
The crowd all murmured while probably wondering what the holdup was.
Laughing, Ellie and Morgan turned to the minister.
They were both more than ready.
THE END