Callie

“Holy heck.” I laughed and shivered as I absorbed the weight of Noah’s words into my soul. He spoke in the rhythm of his heartbeat. It thumped against my palm and vibrated down my arm and into my heart.

I peeked at our family and they heard it and felt it, too. Noah spoke to me like he never had before about us.

I thought Kate planned my wedding, but when I looked around, when I felt the smooth fabric of my dress and wiggled my toes in my tennis shoes, it hit me.

Noah planned my perfect wedding.

“I guess I can’t just get away with a what he said.” I said.

The crowd laughed.

I reached for Noah’s other hand and intertwined our fingers. I took a step closer and looked up into his eyes.

“Every since I was a red headed little girl with freckles. I dreamed about this day. The setting, the dress, the man standing in front of me, declaring to God and my family his undying love and devotion to me.”

I squeezed his hand and he squeezed it back giving me the confidence to go on. The sexy underwear helped too.

“I never thought much about what it took to get here. I created this fantasy world in my head and it made the road for us to get here harder and I know that. We talked a lot about fantasy versus reality in our relationship. Sometimes in anger and some times in jest. But, I have a bombshell to lay on you.” I tilted my face up.

“You are the fantasy. My life with you is a fantasy. It’s not perfect and it’s not always champagne and strawberries. The way you touch me, the way you make me feel. I think I couldn’t possibly love someone this much in real life. It must be a fantasy.”

“I don’t want you to worry about not living up to my fantasy any more. You are my fantasy. The real you. The person standing in front of me, loving me and marrying me. I couldn’t of made you up in my wildest imagination.

“I can’t wait to continue on this fantastical adventure with you. I know it won’t always be perfect.” I shook my head. “You have your moods and I can be mildly annoying at times, but I promise to remind you of this moment and this time with our friends and all the other great moments we will share in our future together.”

“Oh, and I love you, too.” I added.

Our families gave a collective sigh and laughed.

Preston blew out a loud breath.

“Okay.” Preston stretched his neck. “Not sure how I’m going to follow that, but I’ll try.”

Preston reached into his pocket and pulled out the rings and closed them in his fist. He held his fist out between Callie and I.

He turned his fist over and opened it.

I rolled my eyes.

Callie grinned and her eyes lit up as the sun hit at the perfect angle and made the diamonds on her wedding band sparkle.

“Noah.” I picked up Callie’s ring. “Callie.” She picked up mine.

“Like Gollum said in the Lord of the Rings, these aren’t rings, they are symbols of something precious. The precious union or your lives, your families, of your entire existence. It’s strong, like the platinum in these rings, but it’s not indestructible, so take care of it, nurture it, take it in for cleaning every once in a while so it can shine at its full potential.”

“Nice.”

“You like that.” Preston smirked and nodded. “The one thing I learned after being married for all these four months.” I looked at Kate who beamed at her husband while shaking her head. “No one but the two of you can define what your union is about. Just you two, no one else.”

He nodded at both of us.

“Callie, placed the ring on Noah’s finger and repeat after me.”

I narrowed my eyes, not sure how much more of Preston’s pontificating I could stand.

“I Callie, give you Noah, this ring as a symbol of our definition of love.”

“Oh that’s good.” Callie said. “I Callie, give you Noah, this ring as a symbol of our definition of love.”

“Noah.”

“I Noah, give you Callie, this ring as a symbol of our definition of love.”

“I just have one more thing to say.”

We all groaned.

Preston ignored us.

“Callie, you started out as Noah’s biggest fan, before he even knew you.” He turned to me. “I thrusted the two of you into a situation that tested your loyalty, you came out of it closer, and now you’re each others fans forever.”

Preston paused for his clever description of our story sunk in.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife.” Preston grinned and wiggled his eyebrows. “Well, kiss her.”

I shook my head.

I turned back to Callie, stared into her eyes, and watched them dance as I leaned in.

She smiled and wrapped her arms around my neck.

My hands wrapped around her waist.

Our lips brushed against each other and that did it, joined our heart, minds and souls.

Preston’s sentiment, all be it corny, rang true.

Callie and I would be friends, lovers and each other’s biggest fan, forever.