Sweet Rome (Sweet Home, #1.5)(98)

Ally was the last of the bridesmaids—Molly’s maid of honor—and I knew that in just a few minutes, my girl would step out of that door. My heart beat furiously in anticipation.

As Ally took her place next to Cass and Lexi on the opposite side of the altar, I closed my eyes, taking a long, calming breath, and when I opened them again, that same breath was knocked right out of me.

Fuck. Me.

Molly had just stepped out of the house and was walking slowly toward me… and she was so beautiful. Her long, brown hair had been swept away from her face, held up by a white rose. Her dress was white lace, sleeveless, high-necked, and hugged every part of her stunning body. Finally, she held a bouquet of white roses in her hands—and she was gripping onto them as though her life depended on it.

I couldn’t help but smile as she kept her eyes on the floor. She hated attention, even this small affair, but when she nervously darted those golden browns to meet mine, a relieved smile tugged on her lips, her shoulders relaxed, and she never looked away from me as she made it to my outstretched hand.

As soon as her hand met mine, I leaned in and whispered, “Hey, Mol.”

Blushing, she replied, “Hey, you,” and we both broke into laughter, the tension dissipating to excitement and happiness.

“You look beautiful,” I said quietly, and the pastor cleared his throat. His face was humored, and narrowing my eyes at his subtle reprimand, I stepped back, signaling for him to begin the ceremony.

I couldn’t exactly go apeshit at a man of God now, could I?

After listening to the pastor’s advice and prayers, and bible readings from Uncle Gabe and Ally, it was time for the vows. We’d decided to write our own, and, gripping onto Mol’s hands and clearing my throat, I began.

“Molly. Last year, you captured my heart, being exactly who you are—the kindest, most supportive person I’ve ever known. Not only did you make me fall madly in love with you, but you became my best friend and got me through both good and bad times. You’re the reason I smile every morning and you are the person who gives me comfort when I’m down. You believed in me when no one else did, and you showed me how to love when I never thought I could. But most of all, you gave me your unconditional acceptance.”

Reaching out, I wiped a tear from Mol’s eye. “I’m not sure a lifetime is long enough to try to give you all that you have given me, but I promise I will spend all of my days striving to make you happy. I will laugh and cry with you, and if you run, I’ll be right there running beside you. I promise to love you forever, and I promise, when the day comes, that I will be the best daddy a child could hope for.”

Tears blurred my vision, but I needed to finish. “I have never been more certain of anything in my life as I am that we were always meant to be. We are better together than apart, and no matter what happens in our lives, I know that waking up and seeing you each morning will always be the best part of my day.”

“Romeo… that was beautiful…” Molly whispered tearfully, and I had to fight to keep my emotions in check too. Sniffing and crying sounded all around us, but I only had eyes for my girl.

“Molly, your vows, please,” the pastor instructed, even his voice sounding a little husky.

Pulling herself together and straightening her shoulders, Molly spoke. “Romeo. If someone had told me a year ago that I would be standing here, marrying my soul mate at age twenty-one, I would never have believed them. If someone would’ve told me all that we would go through as a couple, I would never have believed them.” She shook her head in disbelief and pressed her soft hand against my chest, her golden eyes fixed on mine. “You saved me, Rome. You saved me from a life of loneliness. You showed me there was more to life than I’d been awarding myself, and you showed me how to depend on you and to let you into my heart. I will laugh and cry with you too, and I promise you I will never run from you again and will forever stand by your side. My father told me that one day I would understand what it would be like to give someone the gift of my soul, and I do understand—I gave it to you from the very first moment we met. You are my everything, Romeo Prince, and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life next to the best man I’ve ever known.”

The minute she finished, I dived on her lips. Fuck waiting. Her vow to me was incredible and more than I could ever have hoped for.

Breaking away, I stroked her face and said, “I love you, baby. I love you so much.”

“I love you, too,” she said through happy tears.

A cough pulled our attention, and the pastor smiled, holding up an open Bible. “If we exchange the rings, I can pronounce y’all husband and wife, and you can get back to your kissing.”

Looking at Molly and our friends, we all started to laugh, and Austin handed me the ring.

“Molly, I love you. With this ring, let it be known that I choose you above all others. Let it be known that with this ring, I promise to be with you for eternity, until death do us part.” Slipping that platinum ring on Mol’s finger did something to me. I felt reborn. Like the past, all the abuse and unhappiness, was finally buried, and only an exciting and perfect future with my girl awaited. I felt like, for the first time in years, I truly liked who I was, and it was all due to the girl before me, binding herself to me forever in every possible way.

Ally handed Molly the ring, and she took hold of my left hand. “Romeo, I love you. With this ring, let it be known that I choose you above all others. Let it be known that with this ring, I promise to be with you for eternity, until death do us part.”