X
“Are you ready?” I whispered in Alys’s ear.
Dinner had been a lot of fun with just about everyone we loved there—as it should’ve been if we had told everyone we were heading to the chapel afterward.
I was glad Connor hadn’t shown up, and I wanted to get out of the Bellagio as soon as possible to make sure we wouldn’t run into him. I loved the fucker, but I was furious with him for treating Alys like he had. He never took his anger out on me, just her, and that was beyond fucked up.
There was no better woman than Alys. No one as kind and compassionate. She was warmth and generosity and love. Loyalty, faithfulness. Sunshine wrapped up in flesh and bone. She never deserved anything less in return than the same consideration she showed others.
Connor was acting like a bitchy little pissant, and even though I hoped the two of them would end up together after I was gone—I didn’t doubt for a second he loved her with his whole heart and soul—I was going to be the one to show her what it meant to be a cherished wife.
I was going to give her everything she’d ever need in this life.
“Ready,” she whispered back, turning her face up to mine, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
While everyone went into the casino to find their own vices to get lost in, Alys and I beat a hasty retreat through the front of the Bellagio. We immediately found a cab and jumped in.
“Where to?” asked the driver as I shut the door behind us.
“The Little White Wedding Chapel,” I replied.
I’d called and made the appointment before dinner, and while Alys had taken a shower and gotten ready, I’d snuck down to the Tiffany & Co. shop in the hotel, buying her the biggest diamond ring in a platinum band in her size, plus a platinum wedding band for myself.
“Getting hitched?” the cabbie asked, pulling out from the porte cochere.
“Yes indeed, my fine fellow.”
Alys giggled. “I can’t believe we’re doing this.”
“I can’t imagine doing this with anyone else.”
Her big hazel eyes looked into mine. I knew she wanted to tell me the same, but she wouldn’t lie to me, and I was okay with that. Because she smiled my favorite smile and reached out to take my hand.
“I love you, X. I really do.”
“I know you do, babe. I love you, too.”
The cabbie dropped us off at the front of the chapel where the staff descended upon us. I’d ordered the Elvis wedding package in one of the chapel rooms. I didn’t think Alys wanted to be married in the pink Cadillac. A little tradition went a long way. None of our friends or family were here to join us, but I knew she’d want to walk down the aisle.
“Oh my God, X. Elvis? Really?”
“Come on! You’ll never be able to see or hear the King without remembering our wedding day. Do you want to wear a white dress? They’ve got everything.”
“Like I would ever forget marrying you,” she huffed. “Do you want to dress up?”
I shrugged. “It doesn’t matter to me, babe. Whatever you want is what we’ll do.”
She glanced down at her red with white polka-dot sundress and high-heeled red Baby Janes. She looked fucking perfect as she was, and I told her so.
“If Elvis is performing the ceremony, might as well wear red.”
Taking her chin with my fingertips, I tilted her face up to look into her eyes. “That’s the spirit. But, whenever you remember this day, it’ll always bring a smile to your lips. You’ll remember how crazy I was. About you, about us, about everything.”
She gave me that smile again. “All right.”
“Sweet.” I gave her a quick kiss. “See you at the altar. I’ll be the one next to the dude in the rhinestone jumpsuit.”
“Just as long as you aren’t the dude in the jumpsuit, I’ll meet you there.”
“Damn. That would’ve been rad, babe. Why didn’t you say something before now?”
She busted out laughing.
Mission accomplished.
The “Wedding March” sounded through the PA system. Next to me, on the higher step, stood Elvis, resplendent in his white rhinestone getup. His assistant opened the double doors, and there stood my future wife.
Alys Sunshine Stuart. My favorite ASS.
She beamed a smile at me, clutching a bouquet of white lilies and roses. Then, her eyes shifted to Elvis, and even from this distance, I could see her nostrils flaring. She struggled to keep her face composed. Maybe Elvis believed she was trying not to cry, but I knew better. She was close to a hysterical meltdown in the face of the rhinestone cowboy.
I am going to spend the rest of my life making her lose her damn shit, I swear. Every laugh, every smile and smirk, every giggle. I will give her all the fun and happiness possible.
Offbeat, she started walking down the aisle. After the first few steps, she stopped, waiting to take up the beat, and then did an exaggerated walk toward me, her sense of humor rising to challenge my own. I couldn’t help but laugh, and it made her laugh.
By the time she made it to my side, we were giggling like lunatics. Even Elvis chuckled, which set Alys off even more.
“Babe, you gotta rein it in, or we’ll never get through this.”
She composed her features enough, her eyes still crinkled up in squinty joy.
“We are gathered here today…”
Elvis was a complete professional. Somehow, Alys was able to recite after him when it was her turn.
“Do you have the little lady’s ring?” Elvis drawled.
“Yup,” I replied, digging both ring boxes out of my pockets. The wedding band, I handed over to her.
“When did you—”
“Before dinner,” I said. I opened her box and showed her the diamond. “You approve?”
Just to see the look on her face was worth the huge sum of money I’d dropped on it.
“Holy shit, X.”
“I’ll take that as a yes.” I took her hand and slid the ring onto her finger. It fit perfectly.
Elvis and I gave her a few moments of silence to gawk at it before the King cleared his throat, and she fumbled the box with my ring open. With trembling fingers, she slipped it onto my hand.
“By the powers vested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife! Now, kiss the little lady.”
Alys snorted just as I grabbed her and kissed the fuck out of my wife. She was soft and willing in my arms, her big boobs squashed against my chest.
“I love you,” I told her. “I will always love you, Alys. No matter what.”