My heart is racing, my cheeks are constantly flushed, and I’m jittery. This has been the state I’ve been in since I woke up this morning, since I woke up alone in my bed at my parents’ place. I’ve been so jittery that I’ve been fumbling and dropping nearly everything I touch, and I don’t think I’ve taken a normal breath all day.

Luckily, Lizzy, Hanna, and Mom saved me not too long after I woke up, and after they got me through breakfast and then sent me to take a nice long bath, I’ve at least started to feel a little more human.

It’s crazy to imagine, but I’m getting married today. Today. To the man of my dreams. To the one man who drives me crazy, in all ways imaginable, but mostly who I can’t be without.

I’m getting married.

I sit on the edge of the bath, a towel wrapped around myself as I stare at the floor. I still can’t really believe this. But the women downstairs and the ring on my finger all tell me that this really is happening today.

It’s the end of summer, and things have been a little crazy for B and me. First, the whole thing with the movie. B’s connections at his old college had been able to get it to show in a couple of cities, and the reaction to it was really good. I know that multiple people have had job offers because of it. Then B got to design the children’s hospital wing, which is still going on, but most of the work for it is done. The opening for that will be in a few weeks. And then... then I finally published my first novel. It came out last week, and because of all the help Jo gave me, everything went so much better than I ever expected. I had no real idea what would happen, but this... Wow. I did not imagine one of my own books would ever hit the bestseller lists, even just on a digital store. It blew my mind. I’m still trying to get used to the idea that people are not only reading my book but actually enjoying it and paying me for it. I’ve written for so long, but I never imagined I could do this for a job, especially not right out of college.

And then today. Getting married...

I’m no longer the girl who dreamed of dresses like marshmallows and fairytale weddings, although we’ve not given up on that second part entirely. B and I paid for the wedding with the money that B saved up, money he got for doing the hospital wing decorations and some of my own savings. It’s a simple wedding, but it’s exactly what we want, and that’s all that counts.

“Lo!” H knocks on the door, and I pull my towel around me tighter.

“Yeah? Don’t come in.” I look around. But how the hell would I hide in here?

H lets out a deep laugh. “Not coming in. Just wanted to let you know that I dropped off the wedding dress and I’m on my way to B. Good luck today.”

“Thanks.” I grin. “Please make sure that he arrives in one piece.”

“I will.” I still hear the laugh in his voice. “You just make sure you don’t get all weak in the knees when you see him. Yeah?” There is a tease in his voice. H designed both my wedding dress and B’s suit. I’ve seen the dress, had to fit it and all, but I’ve not seen the suit yet, although Lizzy has assured me that it’s really nice and sexy.

“I will.” I smile. “See you later.”

“See you later.” H’s footsteps go down the stairs again, and I’m back on my own.

The dress... A wedding dress. And it’s here now.

I’m getting married today!

Fuck.

I’m waiting in the living room, all dressed up and ready to go. But since we’re keeping at least some of the traditions alive, I now need to wait on B. The groom has to pick the bride up at her parents’ place, and they will go to the venue together.

I can’t sit still and keep walking around, peeking through the curtains to see if he’s here yet. Mom, Dad, Lizzy, and Hanna are here waiting with me. They all look nervous too. Which, I don’t know, may actually make all of this even worse.

“Lizzy...” I look at her.

“They’ve left. They’re on their way here.” She stands up, coming over. “Just like ten minutes ago. H said that they’re almost here.” She puts her hand on my arm. “You’ll be fine. Everything is going according to plan.”

“Just...” I shake my head. “Why does it have to take so long?”

“Maybe because they’re coming here by carriage?” Lizzy grins.

And then I hear it, the sound of hooves as they come into our street. I quickly go over to the window, making sure I’m not just hearing things. And, sure enough, two carriages are rolling into our street, pulled by beautiful horses.

I may have let out a squeak of excitement, which prompted everyone in the room to cover their ears while glaring at me.

Mom pulls me away from the window. “Wait here. Don’t stare there.” She’s smiling, though I can see that she’s nervous too.

The carriages stop, and I hear voices outside. It takes way too long until, finally, the bell rings.

I rush over, opening the door, and am immediately blinded by flashing lights of a camera before I can even see what’s going on outside.

When I’ve blinked the lights away, B is standing in front of me, his suit a dark blue, almost midnight blue, and it accentuates his body in all the right places. I get what H said about not getting weak in my knees. Though I’m more concerned about having to change into a clean thong soon...

“Wow.” B grins, his mouth open in surprise. I can see that same lust in his eyes that I feel inside.

I swallow. “Definitely wow.” I grin back.

“I’m here to pick you up, my beautiful wife-to-be.” He holds out his hand.

I put my hand in his, gripping it, and I can feel the same nerves from him as I’m feeling. “Right.” My voice is breathy, and I can’t stop my smile. This is... Wow.

Of course, the moment is broken when Damon steps in front of us. “Okay. Turn my way, smile. This one is going to be stunning.” He quickly starts taking pictures, and I’m once again temporarily blinded by flashes of light.

B tugs on my hand a little, and we walk to the carriages in front of the house, where H is already waiting for us.

We’re lucky that the weather is amazing today. We’re holding the ceremony near the edge of the forest at H’s parents’ place. We would have liked to have done this in the forest, but it would have been complicated, so we’re doing it at the edge instead.

Everyone we know, from Tamara, to people from the movie project, to people B knows in the art scene, to writers I’ve gotten to know over the summer, all of them were waiting for us as we arrived in the carriages. It was... breathtaking. Getting out of those carriages and being greeted by all these people made me cry, I was so happy. Which of course got Hanna all miffed because she had to touch up my makeup three times before we even got to the altar.

Now, standing here, surrounded by our family and friends, holding hands with B... I don’t think I’ve ever felt so nervous and at the same time so loved, so amazing.

B keeps staring at me, his gaze steady.

I barely register what’s going on around us, too focused on Tamara and B. We asked Tamara to officiate today, since all this wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for her.

Tamara’s voice reaches me again through the clouds that have been filling my head. “Blaze Thornton, do you take Lola Benton to be your wife?”

Blaze blinks. I can see him come back to here too, and I let out a laugh. B also laughs. “I do.” His voice is low, and it gives me butterflies in my stomach.

“Lola Benton, do you take Blaze Thornton to be your husband?” Tamara turns to me a little.

All eyes are on me now. On me and my answer.

In a flash, our whole history passes before my eyes—the moment we met, our first kiss, the times together, his first proposal, finding out I was pregnant, finding out the baby had passed, the darkness after, and then meeting him again, that immediate click, that need to be with him, not being able to stay away, only finding peace in his arms, seeing him in the forest on the three-year anniversary of losing the baby, talking, making up, sex and finally his proposal at the movie premiere. More than a decade of our lives reduced to seconds.

I take a deep breath, aware that Blaze is the only person I ever wanted, the only person I need.

“I do.”