My producer asked if they could record the wedding for the show, but I insisted that I wanted it to be a small, private ceremony. My life as a marine rescuer is already televised for the world to see thanks to Tyler, and I want this day all to myself.
After hearing the guys leave, my team walks me out to the chauffeured car, careful to not let the train of my lace mermaid gown hit the pavement or get caught in the door. I’m riding alone. Mom, Tammy, and Camilla are going to be in an SUV ahead of me. Nerves swallow me up, and, not for the first time, I wonder if this is the right decision. A year isn’t long to see someone before marriage, after all.
I remind myself that we haven’t just been dating, but living together. Surely, that counts for something.
When the car pulls up to the aquarium’s renovated front entrance, I tap my fingers nervously, focusing on the nurse shark statue that was installed out front as a reminder of the rescue James and I pulled off. There have been many more rescues since then, and I’ve had plenty of celebrities join me for rescues on the show, but nothing got more publicity than that duplicitous moment. The media tour for that had been meant to promote the aquarium, and the show spawned from there.
My mom comes around and opens the door, helping me out of the car. “It’s time,” she says with a teary smile.
I walk to the entrance, and a single drop of rain hits my cheek. This is going to be a new beginning, a new adventure, and the rain will wash away any of the negative energy from our past. Today is about James and me, and I won’t let my fears affect that any more.
All in all, the ceremony is short, and the reception is a blur. I keep my hand tight in James’s nearly the whole time, and he can’t help but kiss me every chance he gets. Even after a year, those kisses still make my heart flutter.
There are only twenty guests, but we party into the evening like there are hundreds of us. I dance every dance I can with James, relishing in the feeling of his arms around me even through the long-sleeved lace of the dress that falls off my shoulders.
When we get into the Rolls Royce, we’re greeted by absolute silence. The privacy screen is already up, and my cheeks are flushed with exertion. I got to choose the details of the wedding, which means James wanted to plan a surprise honeymoon.
“Will you tell me where we’re going yet?” I ask.
He leans over with a grin, his hair unkempt from all the dancing and excitement. “You’ll find out soon enough,” he says, pressing his lips against mine.
I expect an airport, but instead, we arrive at the marina, and he leads me out to the catamaran. It turns out that he’s owned it for years, so I was wrong in thinking he bought it just for our first real date.
My eyes widen. “Really?” I squeal with excitement, picking up the train of my gown and rushing on board. I’ve been begging for us to sail the Bahamas so I could see all the different wildlife, and now, it seems that’s finally coming true. Maybe I should change into proper boat clothes, but I’m too excited. I run to the helm and start up the engines. As it turns out, I’m a natural at sailing, and James laughs.
“We have time,” he says, coming up and wrapping his arms around my waist. While I was excited to get started, he took off his tuxedo jacket and laid it in the booth, and I can feel his muscles beneath the thin sleeves of his shirt.
“I know,” I say. “We have forever. But I want to get started on that as soon as possible.”
He presses his lips to my neck. “Then let’s get started,” he says.