Best of Intentions Epilogue

NATE

If someone would have asked me a year and a half ago how I saw my future playing out, I would have given them some bullshit, half-assed answer—something shallow and meaningless, because that’s exactly what my life was before Jenny.

My good girl changed everything for me. Jenny showed me just how fucking amazing life could be; she showed me, through her love, that there’s more to living than simply going through motions.

While there’s not a single day with her that I take for granted, today is especially sweet—because in exactly forty-three minutes, she’ll become my wife.

“You ready?” Alden asks, echoing my question to him on the day he married my little sister.

“So ready it’s not even funny. I feel like I’m about to come out of my skin watching the clock.”

“Then don’t watch it,” Duke adds helpfully. Smartass.

“Can’t help it, brother. With every rotation of the second hand, I’m a minute closer to kissing my bride.” I grin, all too eager to see Jenny—to claim her in front of God and man, to officially and truly make her mine.

“Eager much?” Jamie asks, smirking like the little punk-ass shit he is.

“Like you couldn’t believe.”

Jamie nods, pleased with my reply. For as rocky as mine and his relationship started off, he’s been one of the biggest supporters of our relationship—dude would do just about anything to see his cousin happy and that makes him all right by me.

I check the clock again: forty minutes. Swear to God, time has never moved so slowly.

Unlike Alden and Natalie’s wedding, Jenny and I opted to keep things low-key. We’re exchanging vows under the same tree where I begged for her forgiveness, right at the edge of where the sand meets the grass.

Our ceremony is small and intimate—immediate family and close friends only. Neither of us wanted some big to-do; we just wanted to say I do.

Funnily enough, Jenny would have been cool with a Justice-of-the-Peace-courthouse-drive-by, but I convinced her—via multiple orgasms—to have an actual wedding. As sappy as it sounds, I want to be able to tell our future kids about the day their Mama took my name; I want to have pictures of her decked out in white for me; I want to eat freezer burnt cake on our first anniversary.

The guys and I continue to shoot the shit until finally, after what feels like two eternities, it’s time to head to the ceremony site. We pile into Alden’s car and make the quick drive down to the pier.

We didn’t do much in the way of decorating the space; between the soaring pine trees, moss covered oaks, vibrant green grass that gives way to sugary sand, and the bay water lapping at the shore it’s safe to say Mother Nature got it right all on her own.

We meet the officiant beneath the shade of our tree and take our positions. Since our wedding parties are uneven, Jenny thought it made the most sense for the girls to walk alone.

Guests trickle in and music starts to play through the Bluetooth speakers Alden set up this morning, but I hardly notice any of it. I’m too busy watching the parking lot for my girl.

Finally, an SUV pulls up, idling at the edge of the grass. My mom and Tatum are the first out and my best friend beams as his daughter walks toward us. Straight up, I’m beaming too, because as I watch my niece, I can’t help but imagining a sweet little girl with my dark hair and Jenny’s striking green eyes.

Natalie’s next, and objectively, she looks beautiful, but I barely spare my sister a glance. I’m too busy anxiously awaiting the appearance of my bride.

And merciful Jesus, when she steps out of that car, with her parents right behind her everything else on the planet fades away. As she walks toward me, her cream-colored dress hugging her curves and swishing around her ankles, she looks like an angel—a fucking goddess—meant only for me.

Once my good girl makes it to me, the music cuts off and the officiant begins. I probably should be paying attention as he works his way through the opening and expression of intent, but I’m too damn infatuated with my bride. Her face is fresh and dewy and her eyes are overflowing with love—truly, she’s never looked more beautiful.

“Today, the bride and groom have prepared their own vows, which they will exchange now.”

Jenny and I both go to speak, our voices overlapping, but I urge her to continue. “Ladies first, GG.”

She smiles widely, reaching for my hands. “Nate, I’d write my love for you in the sand, but the tide would wash it away, and my love for you is unending. There’s not a day that passes where I don’t find myself falling for you a little bit more. I know things between us won’t always be easy, but nothing worth having ever is. I know things between us won’t be perfect, but nothing real is and cutie, we’re as real as it gets.”

Unable to help myself, I yank her forward and press a chaste kiss to her lips. “Jenny, you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. You’re everything good in this world and somehow, I’m lucky enough to call you mine—and I’m even luckier because you call me yours. There’s no way to know what the future holds, but I swear right here and now, that I will be by your side through every up and down life can throw at us.” I pause for a moment, so fucking taken with Jenny. This woman, she was made for me. “I love you GG, damn I love you.”

“And now,” the officiant resumes his part, “do you Jenny take Nate to be your lawfully wedded husband? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect him forevermore?”

My girl nods, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “Yeah. Yes…I mean, I do.”

“And Nate, do you take Jenny to be your lawfully wedded wife? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect her forevermore?”

Without even a lick of hesitation, I practically shout, “Hell yes, I do!”

We exchange rings and the officiant spouts off some more words about happiness and forgiveness and love, but all I can think about is kissing my bride.

“Now by the power vested in me by God, man, and the great state of Alabama, I now declare you married; you may now seal this declaration with a kiss.”

I hook an arm around Jenny’s narrow waist and pull her body flush against mine before sealing my lips to hers. My intention was to keep our kiss G-rated, but something comes over me, knowing that she’s officially my wife and I can’t help but to nip at her bottom lip and lick into her mouth. Pouring my love into our kiss, I show Jenny— and everyone else here— exactly how I feel about her.

Day turns to night in a blur of champagne and dancing, but all I can think is how glad I am that my girl was stubborn enough to fight for us— for me—when I was too blinded by my past to do it myself. Even though I tried my hardest to stay away from her, to fight the magnetic pull between us, she showed me that while I had the best of intentions, we’re just so much better together.

The End.