I let out a breath and closed my eyes. “Don’t fucking move,” I said as I shook my head. “I’ll be right back.”
One more glance at her body sprawled on my bed and I changed my mind. Hell with it.
“On second thought, you need a shower too, babe. We’re in this together right?” I lifted Georgia’s petite body over my shoulder and was rewarded with the sound of her sweet laughter. It was a sound I’d never get tired of hearing. Even better than the roar of an engine.
“Forever, Sally,” she said, earning herself a firm pat on the ass. “Forever.”
A few months later...
The moment I zipped up the back of Nora’s wedding dress and saw the smile on her face, I knew that there was no way I wasn’t going to cry that day.
“You look beautiful,” I said, resting my chin on her shoulder and hugging her from behind. The dress she’d picked out for the day was perfectly Nora. The long lace sleeves and low cut back accented her figure perfectly. “Reid is going to love it.”
“I hope so,” she said with a smile. She reached back and took my hand, pulling me to stand next to her. “You look pretty amazing too,” she said. I looked at our reflections, her in her wedding gown, and me in a long flowy, navy dress—the compromise she’d agreed to instead of royal—the top was lace with cap sleeves that complimented Nora’s. The small changing room we were in was attached the chapel where, in just a few moments, my sister would be marrying the man of her dreams. “I’m sure Brett will think so.”
I gave her a wink. “We should probably get out there,” I said, pointing at the clock. “It’s almost time.”
“Yep.” She took in a deep breath and nodded. “Let’s do this.” Just as we were getting ready to walk out the door, our mother came bursting through it.
“Girls, come on! You’re going to—” The second she saw the two of us standing there, ready to go, the worry that we were going to be late dropped from her face. “You look beautiful,” she said, walking over and wrapping her arms around us. “I have the prettiest daughters on the planet,” she gushed.
“I don’t know about that, Mom.” I laughed.
“You’re going to wrinkle us all,” Nora said, giving our mother a sweet pat on the back. I looked over and watched her delicately wipe a tear from under her eye, careful not to smudge her perfected make-up.
“Stop crying,” I insisted, shaking my head and fighting back my own. “We don’t have time to cry.”
“She’s right,” Mom said. “There’s a very handsome man waiting to walk you down the aisle,” she said nodding toward the door. Our dad was dressed in a tux and grinning as he peeked in. Seeing Mr. Outdoors himself, Royce Bennett, in a three piece suit was quite a sight.
“You do look handsome, Daddy,” I said, placing a kiss on his cheek as I led my mother toward the chapel doors. I looked over my shoulder and saw my sister and father having their moment. A part of me wondered when I would get to have that moment with him. The moment where he told me how proud of me he was and how lucky the man I was about to marry was. My mom gave me one last squeeze before the doors opened and the music started.
A white runner filled the aisle that was surrounded by white orchids, roses, and lilies accented with navy and silver. Crystals and pearls gave the room added sparkle, and the soft candlelight made the room feel intimate and romantic.
A soft melody began playing the second I started down the aisle and saw Brett standing next to Reid and Hoyt, I knew that my moment with my father wasn’t going to be too far off. Especially considering how things were progressing in my relationship with the very fine-looking co-best man. He was adorably handsome in gray. The suits my sister had picked for them were perfect. If the way he was looking at me at the moment was any indication of how he’d look at me on our wedding day, I’d be a lucky woman. The idea of getting engaged hadn’t exactly come up in our conversation, but in my heart I knew that he was the one for me. He gave me a wink and then whispered something to Reid, who was nervously wringing his hands. He was calmer on a starting line than he was waiting for my sister.
I took my place on the altar and the crowd rose to their feet. A simple guitar solo played as my sister and father entered. Most of the wedding guests probably hadn’t identified the melody yet, but the music was a simplified version of I’ll Be There For You—the quintessential hair ballad that my sister and Reid had claimed for their own. I’d grinned when she told me their wedding song. It was so perfectly them. I was glad that Brett and I were more John Legend than Jon Bon Jovi though.
My dad’s misty eyes might have been the sweetest thing I’d ever seen. And, I’d never seen my sister smile more genuinely than she did when she locked eyes with Reid. The nervous energy he was carrying on his shoulders seemed to melt away the closer my dad escorted Nora to him. I pulled the tissue I’d stuck in the handle of my bouquet and dabbed my eyes.
As Reid and Nora exchanged vows—promising to love each other without fail, to trust in each other, to be faithful, patient, kind and understanding with each other. I couldn’t help but think how all our lives had changed over the past few months. Change used to terrify me, but the more I learned to embrace it, the happier I became. Change wasn’t a bad thing. It was... inevitable. I reminded myself of that anytime something came my way that was unexpected.
My sister had never expected to see Reid again and now here they were making their love for each other official. I’d never expected to fall in love again, but I did. Brett and I were in such a good place that I honestly had no complaints in life. Well, except maybe that I still had three months of school left before I could take my boards. I’d already been looking at hospitals in Texas. There were Per Diem positions that allowed flexibility in scheduling. I’d already started the application process, hoping that I’d get hired as soon as I passed my nursing exam. I’d be able to work when I wanted and travel with Brett.
“Please don’t put my career ahead of yours,” Brett had said to me when I was telling him about the job opportunity. “I know how much you love it.”
“I’m not,” I assured him. “I’m also applying for a position with MotoRx.” It was an organization that specialized in mobile health care for extreme sports events. “I’ll actually be working some of the events that you’re participating in.” It was the best of both worlds. Having learned more about the safety precautions motocross riders take and seeing Brett compete was making me a more confident fan... and girlfriend.
As Reid and Nora exchanged rings, I wondered what the next chapter had in store for all of us. Was it actually possible for us to all get our happy endings? Every time Brett sneaked a glance in my direction, I felt like it might be. “Love you,” he mouthed as everyone else had their eyes on my sister and Reid. The heat and promise in his eyes had my heart fluttering.