Her dress wraps around her body and hugs her curves in all the right places. The veil falls down over her but is sheer enough that I can still make out every little detail of her face.
Relief takes over me. She’s not pissed. I mean, she’s definitely surprised, shocked even, but not pissed, and just like that I know she’s just as ready to make this commitment as I am.
My patience is quickly running thin and I’m doing just about everything I can to keep myself rooted beside Jesse. Hell, it’s taken me until now to notice his hand clutching my elbow, holding me in place.
Tora puts me out of my misery as she gently squeezes her father’s arm and they take their first steps down the aisle together, but it’s a tease as she takes her sweet, sweet time. The closer she gets the harder it is for me not to run up there, hoist her over my shoulder, and sprint back down the aisle.
I just need to get my hands on her body. My lips on hers. I need to feel her standing right before me with her hands clutching mine as we dive into the deep end together.
They get to the bottom of the aisle and the desperation pulsing through me is nearly too much. Tora’s dad reaches out his hand with a proud smile and I shake it with my head held high. A moment later, he releases his hold on his daughter, and in a moment of complete bliss, she steps forward and takes my hand as though that single touch is enough to give her life.
My eyes rake over her body, from head to toe and back up again. I don’t think I’ve ever been at a loss for words the way I am right now. I feel like a bumbling fool trying to find the words to let her know just how beautiful she looks. “You…” I breathe. “You’re beautiful. You look…so much more than I’ve ever imagined.”
A flush creeps up into her cheeks and she smiles brightly as she squeezes my hand. “This is…” her eyes flick around the lake, still taking it all in. “It’s incredible. How did you know?”
I search her eyes, waiting until they come back to mine. “I know you.”
Tora bites down on her bottom lip and I see nothing but joy shining through her eyes. “When you proposed last night, I assumed that meant we’d have a little party, fight over wedding dates, I’d bore you with details, and force you to attend all sorts of stupid wedding venues and cake tasting. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that when I woke up today, I’d be here, marrying you.”
I can’t help but smile as I shrug my shoulders. “What can I say?” I laugh. “I’m not a very patient man.”
“Clearly,” she says. “How long have you been planning all this?”
“Give or take twelve months,” I tell her. “I’ve been waiting to propose to you for years and I knew that you needed me to wait until after Harvard, but I couldn’t wait another day. I want to marry you, Tora, and I don’t mean in a year’s time or a few months. I want to marry you now. Like right fucking now.”
Tears well in her eyes and I want nothing more than to tear the veil off her face and wipe them away. “I… I’m in so much shock I can’t even be mad at you right now.”
“It’s a good mad, right?” I question. She doesn’t have it in her to respond so she simply nods. I pull her into me and curl my arm around her back, breathing her in. “What do you say?” I ask. “Will you marry me tonight?”
Tora tilts her chin up to mine and once again I curse the damn veil. “Nothing would make me happier,” she tells me. “But just so you know, as soon as the shock of all this wears off, I’m going to kill you for springing this on me.”
I can’t stop the booming laugh which escapes me. “I don’t doubt it. In fact, I welcome it.”
A throat clears beside me before Jesse’s voice cuts through our little bubble. “I know in your world, only you two exist, but some of us came here to see a wedding. Let’s get this show on the road.”
Tora groans at Jesse’s interruption and takes a step back. I reluctantly drop my hand from around her waist, but I latch onto her hands, making sure to have a tight grip in case she changes her mind and tries to make a break for it. Though, from the determination in her eyes, I’d dare say she’s in this for the long haul.
The officiant steps forward and commences the ceremony all while Tora and I don’t remove our eyes off one another.