I stand in front of the mirror, my white dress puffing out into a million layers, my bodice beaded down to my waist.

“I still say you should’ve planned it like most people do. This whole whirlwind wedding stuff is a lot.” Chelsea sits down on the couch, her blue dress shining and complimentary to her skin tone. “And I know you say I’ll wear this dress again, but I’m calling bullshit, I won’t. And you’ll never wear the one I made you wear.”

I’m surprised Chels is bringing up her brief but volatile marriage since she always seems to prefer to pretend like it never happened.

“Note taken, but I have to say, mine is ten times more beautiful than the pink number you put me in.”

I continue staring at myself in the mirror. Surprised I’m here. Surprised it’s Beckett. Surprised my last name will be Myers. Well legally, not professionally. I gotta win that gold with Walsh, it means something.

“Your groom is ten times better, too.”

“I won’t fight you on that. He’s slow out of the gate, but he sure knows how to make up ground.”

“That’s where I went wrong. Mine was fast out of the gate and then didn’t know which lane he should stay in.”

I laugh then grow quiet, checking off a mental checklist in my mind and making sure everything is taken care of. “Why did we rush again?” I ask, my nerves getting the better of me.

“It wasn’t a rush. It was four years too late.” Demi saunters in, my veil in her hands. Her eyes catch mine in the mirror. Neither her or Mia was upset in any way that I beat them to the altar.

“Thanks,” I whisper.

“You know I can’t lie.” She laughs and positions my veil perfectly on top of my head. “Rumor has it that Vin threatened Beckett that if he runs, he’ll cut his balls off and then his dick inch by painful inch.”

“That’s some real Dexter shit. Make sure I never get on his bad side.” Chelsea grabs a glass of champagne.

“No baby though, right?” Chelsea asks again. Demi frowns in the mirror probably wondering why my cousin is giving me so much shit before saying I do, but I don’t care. I should’ve done the exact same for her.

I assumed she was happy. I assumed he treated her right. I’ll never assume anything again.

“No baby,” I say, shaking my head in amusement.

And there won’t be until after the next Classics. One, because it might just put Beckett over the edge and two, I want time with my husband, just the two of us.

“Okay, let’s go, let’s go, let’s go! Your groom is looking hot up at that altar. Not as hot as my man, but he won’t stand up there forever.” Mia holds up her long matching blue dress as she walks into the bridal room.

Yeah, he will.

My parents walk in while the girls are telling me how beautiful I am and how wonderful Beckett is. Reconfirming that I’m making the right decision.

“Thanks girls, I’ll see you in a few.”

They file out and my parents—who aren’t in the loop on what happened four months ago between us—still think Beckett is perfect, as they should, and are happy to welcome a new son-in-law into the family.

“You look beautiful, sweetie.” My mom steps forward, gripping both of my hands in hers. “Your dad and I just wanted to make sure you’re ready for one of the biggest decisions in your life. We know you and Beckett have known each other for a long time, but a four-month engagement...” She continues, but I’ve heard it over and over again for the past four months. Why couldn’t I give her a nice long engagement where she could plan for four hundred guests, a seven-course meal, and book the most spectacular place in Chicago?

Beckett was adamant though, that he wanted me as his wife right away. I think that fear that he’s not worthy still lives inside of him a little, but he’s yet to admit it. Hopefully, in time, that fear will wither away and die as I smother it with love.

“Mom,” I say, and she stops her rambling. “I love Beckett and he loves me. There’s no baby on the way. There are no citizenship issues. There’s no pressure on either of us to marry the other. We love each other and we want to be legally bound, that’s all.”

She squeezes my hands, appeased with my answer. “Okay, I’ll see you down there. Your brother is already halfway in the bag and he has to walk me down the aisle before standing next to Beckett. I love you.”

“I love you.”

She leaves the room and I release a breath knowing my dad isn’t going to ask me questions. He knows I’m making the best decision. He knows Beckett is the only one for me. I’m pretty sure he thinks of him as his son already.

“Remember, you’re always a Walsh.” He holds out his arm to me and I slide mine through his.

“I know.”

It’s hard to give up your name, a name that’s been a part of you for so long. I jokingly asked Beckett one night if he’d take my name. Yeah, that was a hard no. It’s his last connection to his parents, whoever they are. Although I hate them as much as he does, I can’t help but wonder if he would’ve turned out differently if his story were different. If my parents would have left me in front of a fire station when I was barely out of my mother’s womb, I don’t know how much self-worth or how trusting I’d be with people.

We round the corner and the music starts. Molly and Caiden start their walk up the aisle and Caiden dips his hand into the basket his sister is carrying to throw the flowers. Molly slaps it. Caiden cries. I never expected the perfect wedding.

I catch a glimpse of Beckett through the church stained window at the top of the aisle, dipping his own hand into the basket and handing some to Caiden while he talks to Molly. Zoe glances back at me, a smile on her lips.

Yeah, I’m a lucky girl.

By the time I’m standing at the entrance to the church, Beckett’s eyes are completely on me, the love he feels pouring out of them. That love was always there, but it was clouded over with fear. It’s now there, shining through in its purest form and as I step forward toward him and crinkle the letter he gave me that I’ve wrapped around the bottom of my bouquet, I don’t regret the heartbreak we put each other through because it was our enduring love that brought us to this moment.

---

Skylar,

---

Four years ago, I sought you out. You were such a nice person you never noticed how I hung around every time you went to the bar or the cafeteria at the village. I was drawn to you, your friendly smiles and kind words. I can’t explain it, it was this pull you had over me, and it was soul deep. Once I had the smallest bit of your attention, I only craved more. Over the course of the past four years, you’ve made me a better person. You’re the first person who could make me forget about my past and the burden I used to carry on my shoulders didn’t feel so heavy anymore. In your eyes, I’m someone who is worthy of you. Sometimes, falsely, I lose myself and believe that to be true as well. I’m sorry about last night. I’m sorry for ruining what we had, but honestly, I never deserved you to begin with.

I’m heading back to Utah today. I wish you the best in grad school and I’ll miss you on the team. I know my opinion probably means nothing right now, but Skylar, you’re an amazing skier and the sport will be losing something special if you retire. Just think about it. It’s one decision you can’t turn back on.

The time we spent together was some of the best in my life and there will be a persistent piece of me missing without you by my side. But my wish for you is that you find true happiness and the person who makes you feel the way you’ve always made me feel…like anything is possible with that person by your side.

---

Love,

Beckett

My eyes water as I think of the words he wrote to me that day because I did find that someone. And he was here with me all along.

When Beckett takes my hand as my father passes it over, he squeezes it and smiles, and I have no worries about our future together. We’ll ride through the peaks and valleys together as one, just like we always have.