Clem nods. “Damn straight.”
“I love you guys too.”
They both give me cheesy grins and I fight back tears, but Judah’s sweet expression turns murderous once more and I laugh and head for the living room.
Our French doors open, and a makeshift aisle concocted of easels that are hung with rustic picture frames, greets us. The closest easel has a banner that reads, “walk our story”. I smile up at Gabe who’s waiting at the altar in a beige suit and waistcoat, with the shirtsleeves rolled to his elbows to show off his tanned, tattooed forearms. His hair is half up in a messy bun at the back of his head, his beard neatly trimmed, and he beams at me, his eyes brimming with tears.
A string quartet, led by Bình, begins playing, “I Will Follow You Into The Dark” by Death Cab for Cutie and I choke on my tears and laughter because from road trips to Vegas to singing at the top of our lungs in the courtyard at The Family Business, this has always been our song, and Gabe and I really would follow one another anywhere.
Clem walks down the aisle ahead of me, and our guests stand. There are only three rows of seating on either side of the aisle, but that’s all we need. All of our friends are here, Ruthie is decked out in a pantsuit and standing alongside Gabe at the end of the altar. Tommy waits there too, but the rest of the crew from the shop are front and center, and everyone from my work takes up the rest of the seating. Art is sitting in the back row in a three-piece suit. I shoot him a nervous glance and his gaze softens as he smiles at me, and then I’m standing beside my best friend in a nice dress, with flowers in my hand and a racing heart. He leans in and kisses my cheek.
“You’re so beautiful, Freckles.”
I grin up at him. “I can’t believe you did this.”
“Are you two gonna talk all afternoon?” Ruthie asks, facing us. “Or are we having a wedding today?”
“You’re marrying us?” I ask in disbelief.
“Like he could get anyone else so last minute.” She chuckles and then whispers, “I wouldn’t have had it any other way, dear girl.”
More tears spring up in my eyes and I take a shaky breath and will them away, so I won’t resemble a panda the moment I say I do.
“Dearly beloved,” Ruthie begins. “Sit your asses down, ’cause from the look of this page, it’s gonna be a long one.”
Our guests chuckle and find their seats, and I glance at Gabe, whose hands are steady holding mine.
“I’ve known Gabriel Dash Laurier since he was a punk kid, fresh off the bus from Charleston, practically living on the streets thanks to his punk friend over there.” Ruthie nods in Bình’s direction, and the silver-haired manga god gives everyone a salute along with a cheesy smile. “Fighting over some girl, as if she could even hold a candle to the woman who stands before him.”
Gabe beams at me and I bite my lip as I smile.
“So there he was, this sweet Southern boy too stupid to see that girl was no one, all of the girls don’t matter except the one carrying his baby, his soul mate Harlow Maven. The second he met her, I knew. He never said a word, of course, but I knew he was happier for meeting her. He laughs more, he makes fewer stupid decisions.”
Everyone laughs at that, and Ruthie bows her head. “You know it’s true.”
Gabe nods and squeezes my hands. “Yeah. You’re not wrong.”
“Gabriel is a changed man with the love of Lo, and now their baby, in his life. I’ve known Lo for only a short time, but she’s shown such grace, strength, and humility. Like everyone gathered here, I see your love for one another. It burns so bright it could blind us all.”
Tears prick my eyes and I try to swallow down the lump in my throat. “I don’t know what you two were doing tiptoeing around that shit for so long—”
Another round of titters comes from our guests, and I bury my face in my hands and peek through my fingers at Gabe.
“But as I stand here today, joining the two of you in marriage, I know there’s not a force on earth that can tear you apart.” Ruthie reaches out and takes each of our hands in hers. I smile at her, blinking back more tears. “My deepest hope for the two of you, is that you’ll burn bright forever.”
I let out a strangled sob, and Gabe lifts his free hand to gently wipe the saltwater from my cheeks with his thumb.
“Our couple will share their vows.”
My eyes widen and I glare at Gabe. He just smiles and says, “Just say whatever you feel, Freckles.”
I let out a shaky breath and steel my nerves. “Dash. A lifetime ago, I fell head over heels for this huge Viking dude in a crowded bar with a Southern accent, who kissed me senseless and disappeared from my life forever—or so I thought.” I swallow and turn to our guests. “Little did I realize that the random guy who’d just rocked my world with a kiss to save me from sleeping with my ex, was the boyfriend of my new friend.”
“Homewrecker,” Tommy catcalls and I laugh.
I turn my attention back to Gabe. “If I’d known then what I know now: that you’re my best friend in the entire world, that you’re the love of my damn life, that you’re the one I want to grow old with, raise babies with—” I choke over that word, because we both know our miracle baby will be it for us. I won’t have a uterus after he’s pulled from it. “If I’d known those things the night we met, I would have never let you go. Now that I do know, I plan to love you forever, Gabriel Dash Laurier. I plan to stand by your side, in sickness and in health, and I promise to love you with every beat of my sappy, cynical heart.”
I’m not the only one crying now, everyone seems to be pulling out their Kleenex, and even Gabe’s green eyes are glistening with tears. I reach up and wipe them from his cheeks.