Forever Together (Forever Love #2) (32 page)

The sun is beating down on my back and I can feel the sweat building under my arms, but I feel pretty good. My boy is finally getting married, I’m not far behind him and everything’s perfect. While girl pants over there is panicking and shit, I’m cool as a cucumber. Nothing could break my calm mood.

The music begins and everyone goes quiet. Shit, I spoke too soon. Just when I think nothing can break me, my Cinders comes floating round the corner. Her hair is down around her shoulders, a daisy chain lying on top of her head and the green dress she’s got on shows just enough tit for me to be curious, but not enough for me to wanna poke anyone’s eyes out. She looks like a fucking angel. She looks like a princess.

Some people go their whole lives without finding what me and Noah have found. They never get to feel what it’s like to have your other half, to feel so damn full of love that you’re at risk of bursting
any second
. I got my woman though and Noah got his. I don’t know if there’s any hope for Tuckers ass but I’ll get one of the old church ladies to pray for him.

I can guarantee one thing though, that girl drifting up towards me with a nervous smile on her face and clutching a bouquet of daisies is my whole damn universe. She’s the reason I wake up in the morning. She makes me wanna be a better man, wanna be a good husband and a good father. And there ain’t no other feeling like it.

Cindy

Everyone is looking at me. Some are looking at me with happiness in their eyes, others with tears. There’s only one pair of eyes I’m searching for though and they’re right at the end
of the aisle
. A pair of dark chocolate colored orbs stare at me so intensely, so hungrily that it’s as if we’re the only people here.

Every step I take is towards him. Every breath I take is for him. Cheesy maybe, but completely true.

I take my place opposite Brady who happens to have an adorable looking Brian in his arms as Liv follows close behind. There are no words to describe how she looks. Her hair is piled on top of her head with blonde spiral curls framing her beautiful face. I don’t think I’ve ever seen eyes contain so much happiness as she looks towards Noah who focuses on her with an equally devoted look. Mr. Preston has a look of complete pride on his face as he passes his daughter to her future husband.

She has the same dress on that she was always planning to wear, Trina holding the train in the air and away from the dry grass.

When Liv told me where she wanted to get married, I wasn’t too sure. Nobody can deny how beautiful it is out here surrounded by the Phlox and the trees though. The sun is low in the sky, ready to set and it bathes everything in a hazy glow.

As soon as Liv is in Noah’s arms, she’s pulled in for a melting kiss that I think gets everyone a little hot and bothered. It’s about five second
s
from getting completely awkward and the few whispers and the sound
s
of women oohing and aahing are starting turn into gasps and snickers.

“Ok, break it up people, break it up.” Brady says, pulling Noah back a little. “Let’s get you two married first.”

Neither one looks even slightly embarrassed, too busy staring at one another. The justice of peace lets out a hearty chuckle before opening his little black book and ordering everyone to hush.

“Well, I have to say that’s a new way to start a wedding.” He quips in a deep rumbling voice before clearing his throat. “Dear friends and family. We are here to celebrate the union of Noah Rambo Travers-”

“Stop, stop, stop!” Brady bursts out. His face red and eyes animated. “Your middle name is Rambo?”

Even Liv looks slightly surprised and Tucker is in a whole other world as he holds his side and leans over giggling like a girl.

“Brady.” Noah growls at his best friend.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” He holds his hands up in surrender and steps back. “You can carry on. We’ll talk about this later, Rambo.”

“Ok.” The man carries on, looking unsure. “As I was saying, we are here to celebrate the union of Noah Rambo Travers,” There are more snickers but he carries on regardless. “And Olivia Caroline Preston. We are here to celebrate their love and their commitment to each other for the rest of their lives. True marriage begins well before the wedding day, and the efforts of marriage continue well beyond the ceremony's end. A brief moment in time and the stroke of the pen are all that is required to create the legal bond of marriage, but it takes a lifetime of love, commitment, and compromise to make marriage durable and everlasting. Today you declare your commitment to each other before family and friends. Your yesterdays were the path to this moment, and your journey to a future of togetherness becomes a little clearer with each new day. May you forever love one another, may you forever bring one another happiness and fulfillment. Now, ladies and gentleman, Noah and Olivia have written their own vows for this special day which you are about to hear. Noah…” He gestures towards Noah who looks incredibly nervous as he pulls a crumpled piece of paper out of his inside jacket pocket.

He clears his throat before looking towards Liv who gives a beaming smile with unshed tears filling her eyes.

“Liv, the moment I saw you I knew you were it. I knew you were gonna be my wife, the mother to my children, the woman I’d spend the rest of my life worshipping. Now, you didn’t make it easy but we got in there in the end. I’m not saying it’s never gonna be hard, I’m not saying that we’re never gonna fight and I’m never gonna mess up, but I can promise you without a doubt in my mind that you’re my one and only. I can promise that I’m never gonna stop loving you. I can promise that I will never ever betray you. I can promise that when times are hard I’m always gonna have your back no matter what because you, Olivia Caroline Preston, are my entire world. You’re my reason to exist, you’re the first thing I think about when I open my eyes and the last thing when I close them. You’re my one and only babe and I love you more than life itself. I can’t wait to make you my wife Liv, I feel like I’ve been waiting for this moment forever.”

Tears drip down my cheeks and I wipe them away with the back of my hand. The only sounds to be heard are the occasional sniffles and sobs from the crowd of loved ones gathered. Even Brady looks a little emotional as he bows his head. I don’t miss his hand wiping under his eye either.

The justice nods towards Liv who has a single tear running down her face as she whispers words to Noah that I can’t hear. I have no doubt that she’s telling him how much she loves him though.

“Noah.” She takes a deep breath and Trina starts sobbing next to me, balling her eyes out into her hands. “Before I met you I felt like I was wandering aimlessly through my life, but you changed me. You healed me in so many ways and took away my every fear. Every single day you give me another reason to love you. Every day you do something to embed yourself in my heart a little more. I promise as your wife to never let you go, to protect you as you’ve protected me, to hold your hand through every difficult moment. I promise to love you unconditionally, to show you the happiness you’ve shown me. I promise to forever support you in everything you do, in every step you take because you are my forever love, you are the string that holds me together. Noah Travers, I will always love you and always be thankful for you giving me the greatest gift of all, your love.”

Ok, now I’m gone. I’m just a mess. Trina sobs into my shoulder and I do the same to her. I can hear Mrs. Preston bawling and even Noah has got tears streaming down his face as he cups Liv’s cheeks in his hands.

The rest of the ceremony passes in a blur as the rings are exchanged and Noah and Liv
have
take
that final, magical kiss. You can feel the love everywhere as their noses rub and their eyes drift shut.

I catch sight of Brady looking at me and give him a smile that splits my face. His eyes twinkle at me and I take a moment to bask in the feelings he brings me.

Brady may have messed up before but he’s shown me this Summer that he’s more than willing to fight for us. Seeing Noah and Liv get married having overcome every obstacle that’s been thrown
their way
at them
shows just how powerful love can be. It shows that if you fight for it, it can be never ending.

***

“You smell like strawberries.” Brady mumbles over my head as we sway to the sound of Ron Pope’s ‘A drop in the ocean’.

“It’s my shampoo.” I sigh.

“Hmmm I like it. You know what I like even more?”

“No.”

“You. I gotta say Cinders, you walking down that aisle took my breath away.”

“It’s the dress.” I giggle, embarrassed at the complement. It’s something I’ll have to accept one day though because I don’t think Brady’s gonna ever stop doing it. “Everyone looks really happy. Look at your Mom and Bob.”

Rachel and Bob laugh at each other attempting to dance and it’s one of the few times I’ve ever seen the hard assed businessman crack a smile. Even so, there’s no doubt that he’s head over heels in love with his wife. I don’t know what it is about weddings but it seems to bring Cupids arrow out to play. My parents are each taking turns swinging Bailey around on the multicolored dance floor, Aiden’s holding onto a pretty blond with stars in his eyes. Even Avery’s being swept about by Chase Travers, looking as if she’s halfway through planning her own wedding in her head right now.

“Gross.” Brady mumbles, pulling me in closer and humming along with the song.

This day couldn’t be more incredible. Liv and Noah are happily married now, even if it did take six weeks of frantic planning to get them here. I’m back in Brady’s arms, the only place I’ll ever want to be. Even Trina’s being carted around by the cop that she hit with her purse the other week. Everyone looks content and happy, which is a breath of fresh air for our little group. The only person missing is Tucker who disappeared just after the speeches.

Just on that thought, I catch sight of him
in
from
the corner of my eye, looking as if he’s making a beeline towards us. His eyes are darting all over the place and his hair which is usually so neat is sticking up left and right.

Just as he reaches us, I pull away, concerned at the look in his eyes.

“Yo Tuck, you ok?” Brady frowns, looking his friend up and down.

“No I’m not fucking ok. She’s here dude.”

“Who’s here?” I ask

“The redhead with the ass.”

My eyebrows rise and Brady lets out a snort.

“Where is she?”

“Over there.” Tucker points to the redhead going back and forth on the dance floor with Luke.

“Lexi Chapman.” I state, smiling at the sweet girl rocking back and forth with my brother.

“You know her?” Tucker looks about ten seconds away from an aneurism and I have to laugh. Looks like playboy Tucker finally fell.

“Um yeah, she went to High School with us. Year below I think.”

“Oh no, I’d remember her. Shit maybe I already banged her and that’s why she hates me.” He looks devastated at the thought of already ruining it.

“You definitely didn’t bang her Tucker. She sure does look different though.”

“She’s not a natural redhead is she?” I roll my eyes at how disappointed he looks.

“Yes that’s her real hair. What I mean is she lost weight. She looks good though.”

“How much weight we talking about?” Brady asks, his hands running up and down my back.

“Well I’m pretty sure you asses used to call her chubs.”

“No fucking way is that chubs!” Tucker's eyes widen and he looks from me to the redheaded beauty across the dancefloor.

“Uh huh.” I nod.

“Well, she ain’t no chubs no more.” Brady states.

“Shit.” Tucker curses before storming towards Luke and Lexi, not even giving us a backwards glance as we stare at his back.

“You think he’s gonna be ok?” I ask Brady, watching as Tucker cuts in and pulls the panicked redhead into his arms.

“Ah, he’ll be fine. Sometimes you just gotta steamroll ‘em Cinders.”

I frown at Brady’s reasoning before letting out a little giggle as all the memories of him doing exactly that wash over me. Yeah, maybe sometimes you do have to steamroll them. After all, I don’t know where we’d be now if my Brady had actually have given me a choice. Sometimes though, the girl just has to take the initiative. She has to pull her big girl panties up and do it for herself.

“Are you gonna miss me when I head back to LA?”

“Course I am. I’d be on the first plane to be with you if I didn’t have to work. I don’t know what I’m gonna do without you.”

“What if I didn’t go back to LA?” I bite into my bottom lip.

He looks down at me and takes a few moments to answer.

“I’d be the happiest man alive. But you got college and I know how much that means to you so I’d never ask.”

“There are nearer Colleges than LA, Brady.”

“Huh I guess there are.” He nods, still quite not grasping what I’m saying.

“I could transfer, be nearer to home.”

“You could but you’re going back next week. I don’t think you could transfer that close Cinders.”

“What if I already did?” I smile slyly at Brady’s narrowed eyes. “What if I transferred weeks ago? What if a certain gorgeous guy’s stepdad helped me transfer and now I won’t be going back to LA?”

“I don’t wanna ruin the moment but are you just asking hypothetical questions or trying
to
be cute while you tell me that you’re not leaving.”

“A little of both.” I shrug.

“You’re not leaving?”

I shake my head as Brady stands silent and completely still for a few seconds. I know from experience that it all needs to sink in. Just as I’m about to panic, he starts to laugh manically before roughly pulling me in and kissing me with so much passion and love that it takes my breath away.

“SHE'S STAYING HOME!” He screams and the crowd goes wild.

***

We all sit on the designated blankets, watching as the multicolored flashes light up the sky. Noah holds onto Liv, still clad in her wedding dress, as if she’ll float away at any second, his eyes not moving from her face despite the beautiful show above us. Tucker sits next to a laughing Lexi as they look up at the sky, pointing out stars shaped like dicks. Avery is busy talking to Chase, telling him her entire life story and complaining about Annabelle’s working hours as he listens intently, nodding along. Trina and Officer Hansen are holding hands, both giving each other side eyes. I don’t miss the smirks on both of their faces though. And last but not least, there’s us. I lay in Brady’s arms, completely at home as I feel the thumping of his heartbeat at my back. I’d be a liar if I said I wasn’t thinking of the last fireworks show we watched. We may have missed part of it because we were otherwise occupied in the bed of Brady’s truck but it was the second best display I’ve ever seen. It’s only narrowly beaten by this one.