Chapter Twenty-Three
Oh, Jesus, God. The music was starting. That meant the wedding was starting. And that meant Tyke was actually doing this. He was getting married. To Kenna.
He didn’t regret it. Wasn’t having second thoughts. It was just the reality of the whole thing. He’d come to the Caribbean to see his friends tie the knot. Not reconnect with the love of his life and stand up here with them.
So he wasn’t too pissed at Sam and Estelle (and on occasion Ash and Luke) for concocting the whole stolen ring and brooch thing. Joseph Landry, Tyke’s boss, was in fact the guy Kenna had seen leaving her hotel room. The group had had no idea about Tyke’s and Kenna’s real issues and what had kept them apart, and felt pretty bad after he and Kenna filled them in. But he had to admit, had they not interfered, Tyke would’ve never faced anything. He would’ve continued to bottle everything up, and it would’ve destroyed them both.
He swayed from side to side, his vision blurring and muscles locking up. Standing beside Ash and Luke under the big, white canopy in the sand, the water to their backs, he looked out in front of him and saw tan, white, some pink, and a sea of bodies in chairs. Couldn’t focus on anything in particular. Violins played a tune that seemed to be pounding in his brain. He managed to pick out Reese, who sat in the first row next to Megan. She cuddled into his shoulder, her arm wrapped around his, their hands interlocked. The way she smiled, secretive and coy, told Tyke that Reese would have a fun night and an even better flight home. Good. He was happy for his friend.
Women started coming toward him in a slow line, spaced about ten feet apart. Some wore short pink dresses and others wore a light golden color, all of them holding white flowers at their waists. Tyke was dressed to match Ash and Luke. White linen shirt, khaki shorts, and bare feet. The same outfit he’d worn for the rehearsal, but this time he was at least wearing it for the right occasion. He’d trimmed his beard and spent extra time with the conditioner in the shower so his hair would be smooth and manageable.
Christ almighty, he’d lost his damn mind. He actually said smooth and manageable in reference to his hair. How about just combed and pulled back?
Better. It was one thing to get married, it was another to start stressing about the texture of his hair.
After the last bridesmaid sat in the front row of white chairs, the music changed to something more melodic. The back door of the hotel opened, and Cass appeared, grinning so wide he could see her teeth from here. She held a big-ass gathering of white flowers as she walked toward them in a white dress that was fitted at her waist and hips, then belled out at her knees. It was covered in a bunch of fabric that looked like netting he used for fishing. Though he was pretty sure it was nicer and more expensive than the stuff he used. As she drew closer, he saw the netting had flowers embroidered into it. Yeah, definitely nicer. Luke didn’t seem to care what she wore. He smiled at her like a lovesick pup. Her hair was loose, brunette strands lifting into the gentle breeze coming off the ocean. Her eyes were lined, cheeks more defined, and lips pale. She looked like herself, but prettier. The event might’ve had something to do with her radiance, too.
Cass walked unescorted because her parents couldn’t travel due to her sister’s muscular dystrophy. The couple had held a small ceremony a few weeks ago in Cass’s hometown so her family could see her get married. Today was more of a formality with the rest of her extended family and friends.
About three steps before she got to the altar, Luke broke rank and went out to join her. He grabbed her hand and practically yanked her in front of the priest.
Ash gave his friend a congratulatory smile and then adjusted the collar of his shirt. His chest expanded as he fixed his gaze on the doors Cass had just walked through. Tyke turned, too. Watching. Waiting.
Sam and her blond hair came out next. Her dress had a V neckline. It was fitted, too, but instead of bowing out like Cass’s, Sam’s went straight down to the floor. She held white and pink flowers in front of her and was escorted on one side by her father, Davy Harper, a short man with graying hair, wearing the same outfit as Tyke, except for a small pink flower attached to Davy’s right pocket. Rose, Sam’s grandma, was on Sam’s other side, wearing a short-sleeve pink dress to her ankles.
Once at the front of the aisle, Sam turned to Rose, who kissed her cheek. Then to her father, who kissed her other cheek. Davy held Sam’s hand up, offering it to Ash. Cooper’s throat worked as he swallowed before accepting her hand.
This was it. It was Tyke’s turn. Kenna was next. When that thought registered, his heart pounded against his rib cage and his throat went dry.
The door opened, and he sucked in a breath like it was the last one he’d ever take. Walking out came the most beautiful sight he’d ever seen. Kenna wore a white strapless dress she borrowed from Cass. Since Kenna was curvier and a bit shorter than Cassandra, the dress hugged Kenna’s waist and hit her at the knee, showing off those luscious hips that drove him nuts. She was barefoot, like him, and why it made him grin was a mystery. That incredible red hair of hers was down with soft curls at the end, splayed across her shoulders like a veil. Where the other women took it easy on the makeup and looked more natural, his Kenna went full vixen with red lips. Red. His favorite color.
She clung to Estelle’s arm like a lifeline. The two women approached the aisle, and Tyke had to remind himself to exhale.
“She’s beautiful,” he heard Sam say next to him.
“You’re a lucky man, Tyke,” Ash said.
“Don’t screw it up this time,” Luke said.
He’d never take her for granted again.
Calder was onto something when he hurried off the altar and met Cass halfway. Tyke copied the move, eating up the last four steps, causing Kenna to stop.
Estelle smirked as she passed a glance between them and lifted Kenna’s hand up to him.
He didn’t take it yet. He just wanted a moment to look at her. He was a lucky son of a bitch to be tied to her for the rest of his life.
Her eyes were more pronounced, richer and deeper in color. The blue gleamed like the shiny sapphire in her momma’s ring. Her ring. The one he was going to put on her finger. Instinctively, he slid his hand in his pocket, feeling the cool metal inside. Still there.
Pulling the ring out, he started to line the circle up with the end of her finger.
“Whoa, there, cowboy.” Ash’s hand landed on his shoulder. “We have to say the vows first.”
“Come on, man,” Calder jumped in. “Wait your turn.”
Kenna laughed, as did most of the guests.
Heat burned in his cheeks, but as soon as Tyke curled her under his arm, covering her hand with his, the need to make their relationship official skyrocketed. He wanted her to be his, and he wanted it now.
The three couples stood in front of Father Kevin, listening to the welcomes, and how-are-yous.
Get to the I do part already.
Ash recited words to Sam, making her eyes fill with unshed tears. Then she said her vows back to him. In Tyke’s entire time knowing his best friend, this was the only time he had ever seen the man get choked up. As Sam repeated what Father Kevin said about sickness and in health, and ’til death do they part, a small stream of tears trailed down Ash’s cheeks. Cooper drew in a few deep breaths, probably as a way to get the waterworks to stop, but it was useless. For each breath, it gave renewed vigor to another fresh stream.
To see Ash crying, to see him getting emotional over spending his life with Sam, it made something blossom inside Tyke. His best friends were finally going to live out their lives as family men. He didn’t think he’d ever see it, especially given the shit they’d seen in recent years. But it was real.
If Tyke had this to do over again, he would’ve eloped with Kenna. Vegas or Niagara Falls. Hell, the courthouse would’ve worked. Waiting for four other people to vow to each another that they were in this marriage forever took…well, forever.
Finally, after what seemed like hours, Cass and Luke finished their vows, and it was Tyke and Kenna’s turn.
Father Kevin asked them to face each other and join hands. His were a little clammy, so he swiped them down the front of his shorts before stretching them out to her.
“Kenna,” Father Kevin said with a drop of his chin. “Please repeat after me.”
She stood before him with her shoulders back and a self-assured gleam in her eye as she said the words that would forever bind them. He didn’t hear half of it because he was so damn struck by how beautiful she was. How lucky he was for meddling friends. And how he was going to spend the rest of his life making sure she was nothing but happy.
When she finished, Father Kevin turned to Bryan and said the opening lines he needed to repeat.
“I, Bryan, take you, Kenna, to be my…” His throat suddenly felt tight. He cleared it. “My wife.” His voice cracked. Something was welling up inside him. More than it did when he watched Ash cry. It was something strong and foreign. Something causing his chest to hurt and his eyes to burn. “To have and to hold…” He cleared his throat again. “From this day forward.” Damn it, she was going blurry. “For better or for worse, for rich or for poorer…” He blinked a few times to clear his vision. She was smiling up at him with glassy eyes and a smile. “Until…” He had to force the words out. “Death do us part.”
“I love you,” Kenna whispered.
“Can I kiss her now?” Tyke asked.
Chuckles sounded around him, but he didn’t care. He was just waiting for the guy leading this show to tell him yes.
Father Kevin swept a look down the row of three couples, grinning. “With the power vested in me, I now present you, husbands and wives.” Applause and shouts of excitement exploded. “Gentlemen, you may kiss your brides.”
Tyke was on Kenna before Father Kevin even finished. He wrapped one arm around her curvy waist and buried a hand in her silky hair, praying he could hold her here forever. In this moment. His mouth on hers, expressing how he felt in the only way he knew how.
They were connected. She was his, and he was hers. Now and forever.