Epilogue
“Don’t worry,” Owen said from beside Brent, giving him a gentle nudge. “He’s coming. Charlie would murder him if he didn’t.”
Brent laughed a slightly nervous laugh, not entirely convinced. He believed Riley would come, knew in his heart that Riley would never abandon him like this, but part of him still expected to be left standing there in front of all these people.
Again.
And Riley was running late. Not terribly late, and Brent had seen him in the house ten minutes ago, but…
“Charlie, drop it,” Riley said as he came around the side of the house, all dressed up in his suit—except that he was missing his tie, and the top button of his shirt was hanging open.
Relief like he’d never felt before washed over Brent, the ball of knots in his stomach easing up.
Riley was here. He wasn’t abandoning Brent.
Charlie trailed behind him, stuffing Riley’s matching tie in his own pocket as he followed.
“I’m sorry,” Riley said as soon as he came to a stop next to Brent. “The top button of my shirt fell off. But I figured it was more important to be here than to be perfect.”
Brent smiled at that, reaching out to take Riley’s hand. “You are perfect. Button or no button.”
“I just wanted him to look neat at his own wedding,” Charlie grumbled from Riley’s other side.
Riley reached out with his arm, wrapping it around Charlie’s shoulders and hugging him close. “I know. I just didn’t want to keep Brent waiting any longer.”
Brent was grateful for that. He didn’t need Riley to be neat. Riley dressed up for other people’s weddings, but this was as much about him as it was about Brent.
He needed Riley to be there. Solid and real and present, ready to tie himself to Brent forever.
Riley kissed Charlie’s forehead, letting him go after one last squeeze.
Brent couldn’t stop thinking about how lucky he was to have him. How lucky anyone would be to have Riley’s love the way he did.
“Ready?” Riley turned to Brent, his eyes bright, a broad grin spread across his face.
Brent tightened his grip on Riley’s hand. “Last chance to back out,” he said.
“Never,” Riley raised Brent’s hand to his lips, kissing the back of it softly. “I’m lucky to have you.”
Brent chuckled. “I was just thinking the same about you.”
Riley smiled again, the corners of his eyes crinkling like they only did when he was in his best moods. Brent couldn’t have stopped himself from smiling back if he wanted to. Riley’s smiles had always been infectious.
They both turned to face the celebrant, who smiled at them and looked up to address the crowd.
This was it.
“Dearly beloved,” she began, making Brent’s heart pound in his chest.
This was it. In a few minutes, he’d be married to Riley.
Riley was the best choice he’d ever made.
“Brent and Riley have written their own vows, so they’re taking over from here.”
Brent swallowed.
He hadn’t said any of what he was about to say in front of Riley before, and he hadn’t heard what Riley was planning to say either.
He cleared his throat. “When we agreed to do this, I had no idea where to start,” he began. “How I could ever promise you everything in a few handfuls of words? So, uh, that’s what I’m promising. Everything I am, everything I will be, and everything I have been. I’m all yours, and I’m honored that you’d want me. I wake up every day in awe of you, and every day you surprise me, and I can’t imagine a better person to live the rest of my life with. You’ve been my whole world since we were little, and that’s never going to change. I love you, and I always will. You’ve always been there for me, and I’ll always be there for you. Promise.”
A soft aww rippled through the crowd, which Brent barely heard over the pounding in his ears. Was it the right thing to say?
He watched as tears sprung up in Riley’s eyes, and knew it was.
“I always cry at weddings,” Riley said, sniffing. The crowd laughed.
“I, uh… did not write anything down or plan for this, which I think isn’t entirely unexpected. I never planned for any of this. I can’t imagine wanting to do this with anyone else. It’s always been you, and it always will be you, and I’m probably going to ramble a little.”
Riley paused to clear his throat. “I have wandered the length of this continent a couple of times over now, and there’s no place I’d rather be than in your arms. I’ve seen so many amazing things, but none more amazing than your smile. I’ve met thousands of people, and not one of them compares to you. You’re everything I love about the world and then some, and I am never, ever letting you go.”
Brent felt tears in his own eyes, threatening to spill over. Of course Riley could say something like that without having to plan it first. Riley’s sincerity was one of his best qualities.
Riley didn’t wait to be told he could kiss Brent. Instead, he leaned in and just barely brushed his lips against Brent’s at first, then parted them and pressed closer, sucking lightly on his lips before backing off.
Beside them, the celebrant chuckled. “Close enough,” she said. “You two are officially married.”
Brent grinned, his heart swelling so much that he was almost afraid it might burst.
This was exactly the fairytale ending they both deserved.