The father cleared his throat starting again. "…to be your lawfully wedded wife, to live in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love, honour, comfort, and cherish her from this day forward, forsaking all others, keeping only unto her for as long as you both shall live?"
Darius squeezed my hands as he gave them a tug. He said, "I do," and my heart skipped a beat. If I was going to faint last time with the lack of oxygen and a tight dress, I felt like I was going to faint this time as well.
The father nodded to continue as Darius bent down.
"I know I should have told you this sooner, but I wanted to save it for a special occasion."
I raised an eyebrow. Save what?
His thumb stroked my hand and I didn't realise my heart could beat any faster as he whispered, "I love you," in my ear before the priest told him he was standing too close.
"Sorry," he said, straightening up and clearing his throat.
My heart stopped. I stared at him as he smiled and winked at me before he narrowed his eyes. I didn't know what came over me as I pulled my hands back and placed them over my eyes. Was I seriously crying because of three words?
"What the fuck did you say to her?" yelled Rose.
Then Adrian piped in. "Great! Can I marry her now? Ivory, come to me. Let me – Argh! Stop hitting me, damn it!"
"Guys, it’s fine," I said, waving a hand and wiping my eyes as Darius wrapped his hands around my waist to pull me to him.
"I'm sorry, I'm fine. The wedding can continue." I was flapping my hands around like a bird.
"Do you -"
"I love you." Darius lifted up the veil and bent down kissing me and I wrapped my arms around his neck.
"My son,” the priest began, “you can't kiss her before she says I do and I pronounce you -"
"I told you, I get the fifty bucks!"
"It's okay, dad-father-wedding dude. They're already married."
"If you both can stop dancing, we can eat the cake."
"Leave them alone," yelled Rose, trying to drag Adrian away from us.
"Cake?" I asked, lifting my head up from Darius's shoulder. "Where's the cake?"
Darius laughed and shook his head as he wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me after a bickering Rose and Adrian. "Cake," I said excitedly as I saw it, my jaw dropping.
"You're getting a piggy back ride on it," said Adrian. "I bought it myself."
I laughed when I saw the couple on top of the cook. Rose rolled her eyes and commented, "It looks like she's trying to stomp him."
"That's what happens if you steal my cake," I said, grabbing the knife. "Are those flowers edible?"
"No, don't eat them," Darius replied then placed his bigger hand on mine as we cut the cake.
"There's also champagne."
"Where?" I said as Darius fed me a slice.
"Oh my god." It was a tower of champagne glasses like a pyramid and I shared a look with Adrian.
"Let's do it." I was about to rush to follow him when Darius pulled me back.
"What? Oh right, sorry." I grabbed a piece and raised it to his mouth. "Eat."
He raised an eyebrow. “What?"
Oh right. "I'll have one glass. I promise I won't spill any on your suit either," I said, crossing my fingers behind my back. Who the hell only has one glass of champagne?
"Aluminium…"
"Dairy…"
He sighed and grabbed the slice from me. "One glass."
"Of course," I told him in a hurry and rushed toward Adrian. "Stop it, you're drinking it all."
The wedding was quiet but for the reception it was a bit busier. Alicia and Jake Cartwell joined us just after we cut the cake and she gushed about all the orchids.
The boys from the trip to the beach and volleyball game, Daniel, Jeffrey, Kyle, Henry and their friends and dates, have also come, making it a bit livelier as we danced.
"Hey, you!" I said, giggling as Daniel danced with me. Wheee, we were spinning.
"Hey, yourself. Look who is married."
"Well, I was married before," I told him, only for him to laugh. "And for your information, I really did play on a guy’s team," I said, remembering how sexist he was at the beach.
"I was kidding, little one. I knew that." He ruffled my hair and I smacked his hand away. That took me a long time to make my hair like this. Okay, Rose helped me.
"My turn!"
Adrian swapped with Daniel and I loved as he handed me a glass of champagne. "Don't tell your husband."
"Our little secret."
"So, are you going to answer my question now?" he said as I gave the empty glass to Rose who was walking around.
"What question?"
"The one I asked when I first met you."
"Which one, Adrian?" I asked, confused.
"How are you liking your new husband?"
Oh, that one. I laughed. "He's old now."
"I know he has grey hair. Not too late to go marry me, you know. We are in a church and I still have your old ring."
"You still have it?" I asked in surprise. Was he going to sell it for money? Because I want half.
"Go away, Adrian," Darius said as he stood by our side and grabbed my arm off his shoulder.
"She was dancing with me,” Adrian growled as he tugged me back, making me trip over my heels. “Wait for your turn."
"Stop being a cock-blocker," Rose arrived and grabbed Adrian's arm, tugging him away.
"They have their honeymoon. I don't get one with her."