Some brides feared it would rain on their big day.

I now feared dying.

I also feared losing the love of my life before we could eventually start our lives together as man and wife. We were seconds away from it being official, and now I was seconds away from learning the fate of this game we were in.

“You’ve got to be fucking shitting me!” Rhys spat, pulling me to him.

I heard everyone around us scream, and chairs were being scooted across the floor as everyone scrambled to move out of the way. Then everything seemed to happen in slow motion as though I was watching an epic fight scene on TV. My dad, who was sitting in the front row, moved to us while Ethan, who was sitting in the second row, turned and pulled his gun.

“Put the weapon down!” Ethan ordered.

Corey looked haggard and almost strung out. His grin was evil. “No.”

I didn’t know how he got in with three security guards, but as I took in his clothes, I realized he’d been one of the people working the event. He was dressed in the same black slacks and white shirt as the rest of them.

“I said, drop your fucking weapon!” Ethan bellowed again.

“And I said, no. This asshole has stolen everything from me.”

“If you don’t drop your weapon, I will shoot you,” Ethan stated.

“Do you know what it’s like to be on track for a full ride, but then have someone come in and suddenly find yourself benched?”

“He’s still harboring bad feelings from high school,” Rhys stated.

What the hell? So this had nothing to do with me?

“Yes, I am. I could be in the pros right now instead of in hiding and couch surfing to avoid the cops.”

“This is your final warning,” Ethan stated.

“I don’t give a fuck. It’s time Rhys learns what it’s like to lose everything.”

Corey slightly turned the gun, and it faced me, but before he could shoot, one of the security guards knocked him to the ground. The gun Corey was holding skidded across the floor, and Ethan rushed to grab it.

Corey was now standing and restrained by two of the security guys, one on each side of him holding his arms, and Ethan was on the phone calling 911.

Anger boiled in my blood. I didn’t want this man to think he’d ruined my day.

My day that had taken six months to plan.

My day that had taken me seven hours to get ready for.

My day when I was marrying my best friend.

It wasn’t the day that Corey Pritchett was going to ruin no matter how hard he tried.

I pulled out of Rhys’s arms and moved, running past my father who was holding onto my mother and the people who were still in their seats.

“Ashtyn!” I heard people yell.

I didn’t stop as I hurried down the white linen carpet to Corey. His gaze met mine and he smirked. He actually smiled. That only caused me to become angrier. Arms tried to grab me, but I shrugged them off. I faintly heard Ethan call my name too. Nothing and no one was going to stop me. I was the bride, and this was my day.

I pushed hard at Corey’s chest and yelled, “I’m going to kill you!” Arms wrapped around my waist, but I continued to hit Corey’s chest. “Who are you to show up here? You shoot Rhys, go on the run and now you think you can show up here and what? Finish the job?”

“I planned to kill you, bitch.”

“You two haven’t seen each other except this year and now, all of a sudden, you have a vendetta against him?”

“Ashtyn,” Rhys whispered, and I realized it was his arms trying to pull me back. I didn’t budge. I wanted answers.

Corey didn’t respond.

“Answer me!” I yelled and slapped him across the face.

“Fuck off.”

I kicked him in his balls.

It felt good to see Corey in pain. He tried to double over, but the guards held him upright. Cops started to rush in, and finally I let Rhys pull me back.

“It’s over, Cupcake. He’s going to jail.”

“So much for hiring security,” I sighed. At least I could walk outside tonight and not have to worry Corey was going to show up out of nowhere … again.

“I’ll talk to the coordinator and find out how he started working for them.”

“Do you still want to marry me?” I asked, looking up into Rhys’s blue eyes, not wanting him to leave me.

He furrowed his brow in confusion. “Of course I do.”

“What if we still do it now?”

“Are you serious?”

I was. Maybe shock hadn’t set in yet, but I wasn’t going to let this moment pass. “Yes.”

“Okay.”

Rhys took my hand, and we moved to where Mason was talking to our parents. “We’re still getting married.”

“Of course you will, honey.” Claire smiled tightly.

“No.” Rhys shook his head. “Now. We’re getting married now.”

They all balked at his words and Mason echoed, “Now?”

“Now,” I affirmed.

“How?” Claire and my mother asked at the same time.

I looked around for Ethan. He was talking to the cops. “Let me ask Ethan.”

I broke away from Rhys and walked to Ethan. “Can we still get married?”

“We need to get everyone’s statement.”

“I figured that, but can’t something be done? This is my wedding.” A tear started to roll down my cheek. Fuck, I couldn’t cry. This was my wedding day … at least I hoped it was.

“Let me see what I can do.”

I hugged him then I went back to Rhys and everyone. “He’s going to call a guy who knows a guy,” I joked.

Dad spoke up. “He’ll just get the okay from the arresting officer.”

And that was what he did. “Everyone will be interviewed on the way out after the wedding, or they can do it during the reception. During the ceremony, they are going to get the statements of the security guards you hired and staff.”

“Thank you!” I hugged Ethan again.

“Okay,” Mason said. “Let’s get everyone seated and start again.”

Rhys turned to our friend and family. “Everyone, if you could please take your seats again, I want to marry the love of my life now.”

People hesitated for a split second, but then they moved back to the room that looked as though nothing had happened. Rhys walked me back down the aisle, and then we grabbed each other’s hands and stared into the other’s eyes. The girls and guys resumed their places on either side of Rhys and me.

Mason cleared his throat. “All right, where were we?”

“No one objects!” Kenny stated from beside Rhys.

I chuckled without sound, and Rhys grinned. At least we could laugh about the situation. We stayed silent as Mason continued.

“Let’s just cut to the chase, shall we?” We nodded. “Will everyone please rise?” Everyone did. “Will you, who are present here today, surround Rhys and Ashtyn in love, offering them the joys of your friendship, and support them in their marriage?”

Everyone said, “We will,” and Mason instructed them to sit back down.

“We’ve come to the point of your ceremony where you’re going to say your vows to one another. But before you do, I ask you to remember that love will be the foundation of a long-lasting and deepening relationship. No other ties are more tender, no other vows more sacred than those you will now undertake. If you are able to keep the vows you take here today—”

“I thought we were cutting to the chase?” Rhys asked, cutting Mason off.

I chuckled because I was thinking the same thing. This ceremony was probably longer than a Catholic ceremony.

“Okay, then say your vows.” Mason shook his head and smiled.

Rhys grinned at me, and I instantly became nervous because I never knew what was going to come out of his mouth. And I was right.

He started to sing.

“You came in like a wrecking ball …”

Everyone started to laugh, and I rolled my eyes, but he continued. “Kidding! But seriously, Cupcake. I could sing you every love song written and none of them would ever tell you how much I love you. You’re my slice of heaven, my infinity, my universe, and nothing will ever change that. No crazy ex,” he waved in the direction of where Corey had made his grand entrance, “no stalkers. No one. No one will ever take you away from me. Today, tomorrow, when we’re eighty years old, I’ll still be loving you. And I vow to you that when I’m six feet under, I’ll still be loving you because you, Ashtyn Valor, are my life and nothing will change that.”

Tears started to stream down my face at how real his words really were. Three times he was put in a situation that could have ended with him six feet deep, and just the memory was enough to close my throat and prevent me from speaking.

“Ashtyn?” Mason said after a few seconds.

I swallowed, and Rhys wiped the tears from both of my cheeks, and just his touch was enough to remind me that he wasn’t taken from me and he was there standing in front of me confessing his heart out.

“Today and every day, I think about how lucky I am that last year we both thought alcohol was the answer. But looking back, the answer wasn’t drowning our sorrows. The answer was finding each other. You brought the light that I needed to see my future, and here we are, about to officially be husband and wife, and all I can think is that nothing can change it because this is how it was meant to be.”

I took a breath and wiped the tears that continued to fall. “Forever will never be long enough because as long as there are stars in the sky, I will love you. You may be six feet under still loving me, but I will be right beside you. Without you, I wouldn’t be whole, and I vow I’ll need you for as long as I’m breathing.”

“May we get the rings?” Mason asked.

Kenny and Jaime handed us each the proper rings, and then we repeated after Mason about the rings being a reminder of each other’s love and then we slipped the band on each other’s left hand.

“By the power of your love and commitment, and the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss each other!”

Rhys took a step forward, cupped my face with both hands and kissed the ever-loving shit out of me. Then we partied as though nothing had ever happened with Corey. Our cake was made out of cupcakes, of course, and even though it was a crazy night, I was finally Mrs. Ashtyn Cole.

Exactly where the game ended.