I can’t help but laugh, my chest shaking with the force of my tears.
“I always felt like a part of me was missing. But when I found you, I found what was missing. It’s like you had my heart my whole life and it’s just now that I’m put back together. You connect my life, put all the pieces into one man. And it’s with this ring that I give you all of these promises and my last name. With this ring, I give you . . . me.”
He gazes into my eyes, his filling with tears. It causes my own to flow harder. He wipes them away with the pads of his thumb, his skin rough and warm against my skin.
He leans in to kiss me and the officiate clears his throat. “Not yet, Cane.”
The crowd laughs. A low growl emits from his throat and I giggle.
Kari steps beside me and hands me a platinum wedding band, simple and masculine, for Cane. It’s exactly his style and I know he’s picked it out. That makes me happy.
I glance at the officiate and he smiles kindly.
“Would you like to repeat a set of vows or say something on your own?” he asks softly.
I begin to tell him that I’ll repeat a set of vows because I have nothing planned. I had no idea I’d need them today. But as I start to speak, I realize I can’t. I don’t want to. I don’t know what I’m going to say, but I want him to know I love him more than a set of preconceived promises.
I take his hand and hold it in mine. I slip the band over his ring finger and then encapsulate his palm in both of my hands.
I can barely see through the fog of tears as I begin to speak. “I wanted to have something beautiful to say to you, some speech with wonderful words that told you how much I love you. But in typical Cane fashion, you just sprung this on me.”
The crowd laughs and I laugh, too.
“But that’s one of the things I love most about you. Your passion, your drive. Your determination once you set your sights on something. I love the way you go after things, the way you went after me.
“When I look into your eyes, I see more love and respect than I’ve ever seen reflected back at me before. I promise you to give you the same love and respect to you each and every day until I die. I promise to take care of you, to stand by your side when things are great and when they’re challenging, and I will push you to be everything you can be. I’ll be your lover, your wife, but most of all, I’ll always be your friend. And I promise to make cookies with you in the middle of the night any time you want. With this ring I give you all of those promises as well as my heart and soul. Forever.”
My voice breaks as the emotion takes over. Cane shakes his hand out of mine and wraps his arms around me.
“By the power vested in me by the State of Nevada . . .”
I don’t hear the rest. Cane’s lips are on mine, my tears staining his cheeks. He pulls back just enough to whisper, “I love you, baby,” and kisses me again.
CANE
Everyone is talking, the conversation flowing as easily as the champagne. Voices bounce around the large, yet intimate, room. Our friends and family seem to be enjoying themselves.
Family.
I now have a family.
Warmth erupts from my chest and carries through me. This feeling isn’t something I’ve had often, if ever. It feels like I’m connected to people in a way I haven’t been since my dad died.
I glance around the table at the faces I’ve seen before, but now look at differently. These people are my family.
They’re talking, laughing, telling stories, but once my gaze settles on Jada, I can’t pull it away.
My wife is sitting on my right between her father and me. Her cheeks are pink, blushed from the alcohol, her hands folded beneath her chin. She’s watching Mandi across the table tell a story, her lips forming a grin that I can’t help but crave.
I touch her cheek with my finger and sweep her face to me. Her eyes light up in that way they do and her smile widens. I kiss her gently, needing her, wanting her. Even though she’s now Mrs. Alexander, I need some kind of affirmation that I didn’t dream this. And physical contact is the best way, in my opinion.
She pulls away breathlessly and licks her bottom lip. “I’m right here,” she whispers, like she knows what I’m thinking.
“I know.”
Standing up, I clear my throat. Everyone watches me, waiting to see what I’m going to say. Hell, I don’t even know what I’m going to say, exactly. I just feel like I should say something.
“I wanted to thank you all for coming. Especially on such short notice. It means everything to me, and to my wife, that you came. I hope you enjoy the rest of your stay in Vegas.”
I sit down, not sure if what I said was right. I don’t know these things. I should’ve asked Max about this earlier.