Noah

“I guess that’s my cue.” Preston adjusted his jacket and stepped around me. He held a small black leather bound bible in his hand. It was the same bible he carried with him since I’d known him. Hidden in his suitcase on away games, on his night stand when we were home.

His mother gave it to him. I thought of my mom.

Nip barked a warning.

“I’m with Nip.” Callie shielded her eyes. “What’s going on?”

Preston reached into his suit pocket, unfolded the piece of paper he printed off the internet certifying his was ordained to perform wedding ceremonies.

“What did you do?” Kate asked.

Callie read the note.

“You’re going to marry us?” Callie read the note over again.

“I love it.” Callie squealed, jumped and hugged Preston around the neck.

“Whoa.” Preston absorbed the hug, but leaned back.

I grabbed him to make sure they both didn’t go tumbling down off the mountain.

Callie let go and ran her hands down the front of her dress. It was a perfect fit, a perfect dress, for the perfect woman.

The emerald pendant made her eyes sing and the green ribbon that pushed her breasts up made me sing.

“We ready to do this?” Preston pulled on the cuffs of his sleeves.

“Yes,” Callie grinned.

I nodded.

Preston cleared his throat.

“Callie,” Preston winked at my girl. “Noah.” He held out his fist and I dabbed it. “Family.”

The whole crowd of six nodded.

“We are here, in this beautiful place, with this incredible view, to join my two favorite people,” he leaned toward us. “Besides my wife.”

“Thanks babe.” Kate said and giggled.

“Can’t forget about you, Babe.” He winked. “In wedded bliss.”

Kate blew him a kiss.

Preston grinned.

"The couple has prepared their own vows.” Preston turned toward me. “Noah.”

I took my phone out of my back pocket.

I peeked at Callie.

She narrowed her eyes.

“So, I’ve been stressing a bit about what I wanted to say, the sentiments I wanted to convey during this special moment. Everyone has been telling me I’m not good with words.” I nodded my head. “I agree. I may not always know the right thing to say, but I knew what I feel for you and I know it’s real.”

I scrolled through the screen.

“So, I wrote something for you.” I looked up to make sure she was with me. “Full disclosure, I had some help. I asked the people who know us. I hijacked your social media, too. This is what we came up with.”

“Oh my god.” Callie whispered. She rubbed her eyes.

I retrieved my handkerchief out of my pocket and handed it to her.

She whimpered.

“My Caliente. It took a glimpse of your red hair and you sparkling green eyes for me to know I wanted to get to know you. I was lost, literally and figuratively when we met and one moment in your presence and I found home. I didn’t know at that time what loving you would do to me. It calmed me, it tamed me, it made me who I knew I wanted to be, but didn’t know how to get there.”

She whimpered again. Val joined her.

“We explored the world, we explored each other, we fought, and we made up. We raised a couple of puppies together and our bond grew tighter, but that pressure still threatened our future.”

“Noah.”

“Hold on. I have a point.” I held up a hand. “The pressure turned out to be good for us, too. It sharpened us. It smoothed out the edges and it shined bright and clear. It changed us and made us stronger and it taught us a valuable lesson. Pressure doesn’t have to break us. It just reminds us to hold on tighter and ride it out until we shine again.”

I looked around. My audience was riveted. Preston stood slack jawed and speechless. I put the phone back in my pocket and took Callie’s hand.

“I brought you here, to Aspen, because I knew you would love it. I bought you a ring because I knew you wanted to spend your life with me and I wanted you to know how I much I wanted to build a life with you. I bought you the dress because even though all of your parts are perfect, it highlights your favorite parts, too.”

Callie giggled through her tears and placed her hand on her chest.

“I topped off your wedding ensemble with a pair of Chuck’s because no matter how you dress up, I wanted you to embrace your quirky little style that make you my little Callie.”

“I admit, a bought you a few other things that are purely for my selfish pleasure.” Callie blushed. I placed her hand on my heart. “If I know my Callie and I think I do, they would make her feel confident and beautiful and desired, the way every bride should feel on their wedding day.”

Callie had forgotten about the handkerchief and let the tears flow with the sexy goofy grin.

“If I get in one of my moods or get quiet on your, remember the way you feel right now and if I don’t get over myself, reminded me of these words.”

I rubbed her hand.

She nodded.

“I love you Callie, with everything I am and everything I have. No matter how far away I get, I will always return to you, to us. I will always return home.”