I never planned on falling in love that night. I never imagined wanting to vow myself to another person for eternity as much as I do the man standing in front of me. He’s my forever.
I throw myself in his arms and kiss him, telling him how much I need him, love him, admire him.
“I love you, Chase Steinberg. From your insane jealousy to your horribly cheesy one-liners.”
“Hey!” He bites on my bottom lip. “They’re not cheesy. And I will be insanely jealous until the day I’m old, my balls are saggy, and I can’t even growl at other motherfuckers because I’ll probably have no teeth. You, Angel, will always be mine.”
“Boy, I love it when you talk dirty to me.”
He chuckles against my lips. “Now, I’m going to take you to bed and ravage the hell out of you. Make sure you never have the urge to ride an Uber. Then I’ll feed you. Whatever you want. We’re going to be stuck living off cafeteria food soon. Dorm food sucks.”
I laugh as he picks me up and carries me to the bedroom. “We’re obviously not living in dorms. I was thinking maybe we can get a place to—”
“Shhh…I want to roleplay the shit out of this one. Now, you have to be very quiet. My roommate is studying, and I’m not allowed to have girls over past ten. No screaming, okay?”
Absolutely ridiculous.
Absolutely mine.
Epilogue
Chase
One year later…
“Another one bites the dust,” Ben says, and everyone raises their drink for a cheers, then pulls back to take deep swigs.
“Didn’t think you were going to make it there for a second, buddy,” Kip says, slapping Levi on the shoulder.
“Isn’t it supposed to be the chicks who cry?” Ben chimes in.
“Fuck off. Wait ’til it’s your turn and the most beautiful woman is walking toward you.”
“I’m still shocked Kip let it happen. I mean, you had all this time to say something. Even the pastor gave you the opportunity to speak now or forever—”
“Shut up,” the three jerk-offs say at once.
“Kidding!” I chuckle and raise my beer. “Clearly Kip’s over it. I mean, he has to be since Hannah Banana’s pregnant.”
Kip’s eyes glare over at Levi. “You knocked my sister up?”
Levi looks just as shocked, while Ben jabs me in the gut. I bust out laughing. “Fucking kidding. Man, you guys really need to lighten up.”
Levi turns to me, firing back. “Okay there, lover boy. Why don’t you answer us this one? How many times have you watched The Notebook this week?”
“Fuck off.” Twelve.
“Yeah, right. Look at that face. I bet he can recite it word for word,” Kip says.
I give him the like you can’t look. If anyone is more whipped than me, it’s him. “Whatever. Unlike all of you, I have a woman who allows me to be the man of the relationship. My balls are still intact, and I can—”
“Chase? Hey, can you run to the bar and get the bridesmaids a round of champagne?”
“Sure thing!” I call to Bridge. I turn back around to three wide-eyed assholes, all biting their tongues. “The Notebook is a wonderful fucking movie. If you truly understood the meaning of it, you would cry too.” I walk off, ignoring the explosive laughter behind me because my girl asked me to do something.
“What the hell did you just say?” Levi yells to my back, confused. Clearly, he has no idea how powerful that movie is. I raise my middle finger to them as I make my way to the bar and order a round of champagne for a bunch of squealing bridesmaids. What my Angel wants, my Angel gets.
The bartender is just about done pouring the last one when someone behind me grabs my ass. I smile and turn. “I told you to wait—eh...hey, there Aunt Getty…”
“My, my…just like my William.”
Kip’s aunt stares up at me, licking her lips. I debate ditching the champagne and running.
“Aunt Getty, my mom is looking for you.” Bridget walks up, looking flawless in her pale blue bridesmaid gown, accentuating her tits and her beautiful eyes. Her hair is in a fancy updo, and I can’t stop thinking about taking it down the second we get to our hotel room. “You okay over here, handsome?”
“Yes, actually. I was realizing how attractive your Aunt Getty is. Life’s too short to hold back, ya know?” Her smile wakes the big guy, and I have to shift myself so no one sees the chub through my dress pants.
“Sorry I ruined your plans. Guess you’re stuck with me. But I do see Aunt Sidney eyeing you. Never say never.”
I look over her shoulder and cringe. “You know she has a mustache, right?”
Bridge giggles and takes a glass of champagne off the tray. “She prefers the natural look. I could always stop shaving my—”
“I’d recommend not,” I quickly spit out. “But I’ll find that pussy no matter how bushy you go.” If she continues to giggle like that, we’re not going to make it through dinner. I barely noticed a wedding was going on while Levi and Hannah recited their vows. All I could do was stare at her. The way her eyes glistened. The softness of her painted pink lips. Her hands cupping over her heart. And all I could do was imagine the day I’d have her walking down that aisle in the purest of white, being the angel she is, vowing to be mine for eternity. Yeah, Levi may have cried like a baby, but I couldn’t deny getting choked up.