Crashed

I laugh as I look at her like she’s crazy.

“He’ll have to touch you to help you undress and what’s underneath will make him forget whatever it is he’s pissed at.” She raises her eyebrows. “Then will come the best part, make-up sex.” She laughs causing me to roll my eyes.

“Thanks, Had,” I tell her with a shake of my head, because even though I’m sure about what I’m about to do, my stomach’s just dropped to my feet.

“I love you, Ry.” She presses a kiss to my cheek as I bite my lip and nod. “One for luck,” she whispers to me.

“And one for courage,” I whisper back and kiss her cheek in turn, not needing the tequila this time because I’m high enough on emotion as it is.

She starts to walk toward Beckett as Quinlan and Tanner start their walk down the aisle, but stops and turns back. “Hey, Ry?”

“Yeah?”

“Today’s going to go incredibly fast. Everything is going to hit you at a hundred miles an hour. Make sure you stop and take it all in so you can really remember the first day of the rest of your lives together.”

I can’t even breathe I’m trying so hard not to cry right now. I nod and blow out a loud breath, trying to compose myself. Our eyes hold, unspoken words passing between us, before she turns and loops her arms through Becks’ and starts their walk.

I peek around the curtain, wanting to see everything, take it all in, but all my eyes do is search for him. And from where I stand, I can’t see him. So I look over our family and friends. Colton’s crew, my co-counselors, our families fill the chairs and watch as our best friends walk down the aisle together. I catch Dorothea’s eyes, her smile widening as she mouths “gorgeous” to me before nudging Andy. He turns his head immediately and our gazes lock before he nods his head subtly, the expression on his face filled with awe and gratitude.

“You ready, kiddo?”

The voice of the man who I used to compare all men to is behind me, and I know I’m going to lose it. I turn around and stare at my father, so incredibly handsome, and my whole body trembles with the thought that I’ll no longer be his little girl after today. I breathe out a shaky sigh as he looks at me, unable to hide the tears pooling in the corners of his eyes.

“You did good, Ry.” He nods his head, strong chin quivering with emotion.

And my first tear slips down my check after I hear what every little girl wants from their daddy, approval–especially about the person I’ve chosen to spend the rest of my life with.

“Thank you, Dad.” I can’t manage much more without the floodgates opening and I know he feels the same way because we both look away.

Pachelbel’s Canon begins and chills cover my body. That’s my cue. My dad holds his elbow out to me, and I weave my hand through it, holding on one last time. He’ll always be my hero and the one I look to for advice, but it’s time to step toward the man who I’ll make new memories with.

My future.

My once upon a time.

My happily ever after.

“You’ve never looked more beautiful,” he whispers to me as we step into the doorway and my eyes blur with unshed tears. “Your husband is waiting.”

Those bittersweet words—a daddy letting his little girl go—nearly break me as I force a swallow down my throat to keep the waterworks at bay.

I draw in a deep breath and look at the colorful rose petals scattered on the white fabric aisle in front of me. I blink away the moisture from my eyes, because when I raise them to see Colton for the first time, I want this moment to be crystal clear. Unhindered. Perfect.

Just like the love I feel for him.

We take the first step. I hear the rustling of our guests as they strain to see me and hushed murmurs when they do. I hear the violin strings and the click of cameras. I feel my pulse thunder through my veins and feel the trembling in my dad’s arm as we take this most important of walks together. I smell the flowers that litter the terrace mingled with the soft ocean breeze. I try to take it all in, take Haddie’s advice and memorize every single detail.

And above all that, I hear Colton inhale as I come into view, and I can’t wait any longer. Every part of my body is vibrating with anticipation.

I look up.

And my feet move.

But my heart stops. And beats again.

My breath is punched from my lungs as I lock eyes with Colton and take in the stunned look on his face. The man who is always so sure of himself looks like the world has stopped, tilted, and spun off course.

And the funny thing is … it has, starting the minute he caught me in his arms.

Our eyes remain locked. Even when I kiss my dad on the cheek and he shakes Colton’s hand before going to sit with my mom. Even when Colton takes my hands in his and shakes his head with a little chuckle and says, “Nice checkered flag.”

“I was afraid you wouldn’t know which one I was,” I tease and I feel like I can breathe for the first time all day. My heart’s pounding and my hands are shaking, but he’s got me now.

“Baby, I’d know where you are even if I were blind.” And that smile, the one that lights up his eyes and warms my soul, spreads across his lips. I get so lost in his eyes and the unspoken words they’re communicating that I don’t even realize our officiate has begun the ceremony until Colton looks over at her and then back at me. The green of his eyes glisten with emotion, and his smile softens as he stares at me.

“Rylee,” he says, shaking his head subtly as he looks down at our hands and then back up to me. “I was a man racing through life, the idea of love never crossing my radar. It just wasn’t for me. And then you crashed into my life. You saw good in me when I didn’t. You saw possibility when I saw nothing. When I pushed you away, you pushed back ten times harder.” He laughs softly. “You showed me your heart, time and again. You taught me checkered flags are so much more valuable off the track than on. You brought light to my darkness with your selflessness, your temerity …” He reaches up and rubs a thumb over my cheek to wipe away the tears that are silently sliding down my cheeks now.