Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 140184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 701(@200wpm)___ 561(@250wpm)___ 467(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 701(@200wpm)___ 561(@250wpm)___ 467(@300wpm)
Milo told me she raised a stink at the school about him taking me out for a week to go on vacation. It was after the run-in at the grocery store, so she was probably feeling vengeful after seeing me happy and engaged.
But, while he told me about it to keep me in the loop, he only told me after he had already handled it so I wouldn’t have to worry. Since then, I haven’t had to see or speak to her again.
I don’t know how she’s doing.
I don’t care, either.
I know she certainly doesn’t belong at my wedding.
Only my favorite people are at this wedding.
Milo and Jet are already waiting at the ceremony site with the officiant. Since we’re out in the open on the beach, there’s nothing to stop Milo from seeing me when he turns around.
Even from a distance, I can see his breath catch.
A helpless grin splits my face. I clutch my bouquet in one hand, Jonathan’s arm in the other.
It seemed right to ask Jonathan to walk me down the aisle.
He and Jet will be the only witnesses.
After the ceremony, we’ll have an intimate family dinner instead of a big reception full of people I don’t know or care about.
It’s my perfect wedding.
I wouldn’t want any wedding day but this one.
I wouldn’t want any family but this one.
After today, I’ll be a Granville, too.
The thought fills me with so much happiness, I could burst.
Red rose petals sit atop the stretch of sand that constitutes the aisle. Jonathan and I stop where the rose petals begin. Jet steps back out of the pergola so it’s just Milo and the officiant waiting for me at the end.
Milo smiles, his warmth and confidence filling my tummy with even more butterflies.
Jet gets out his phone and snaps a picture of Jonathan and me at the end of the aisle.
Then the wedding march begins to play. I’ve always loved the wedding march.
“Ready?” Jonathan asks one more time.
I nod, and we start our walk down the aisle.
Walk. More like float. I’m so fucking happy, I can hardly feel the sand give beneath my feet as I make my way toward Milo.
Once I get there, Jonathan releases me and takes a step back.
Milo offers his hand, and I move to stand across from him with a big dumb grin on my face.
“Hi,” he says softly.
My face hurts from smiling. “Hi.”
The sun is about to set so the officiant begins his spiel, but I’m hardly even paying attention to his words. I tell myself to focus, that this moment only happens once and I don’t want to miss it, but I’m lost in Milo’s loving gaze. Who cares about some stranger’s rehearsed script, anyway?
We get through it, but the whole time I’m just waiting for him to kiss me.
He doesn’t disappoint.
He pulls me in and cradles the back of my head, crushing my veil and my windswept curls in his hand as he drags me close. He kisses me like we have no audience, like we have all the time in the world.
And we do now.
I’m his.
He’s mine.
Forever.
___
After the ceremony, we get some pictures and have a round of drinks.
There’s a bar on the beach that has a beautiful outdoor patio. There are fairy lights strung up beneath the canopy of the dark night sky and an area that’s perfect for dancing.
We have a table set for four on the far side of the dance floor. We picked this place so we could still have our first dance, and Milo slipped the DJ some cash so he’ll play us some slow songs whenever we need them.
It’s the ideal wedding reception, in my opinion.
We’re close enough to the beach that you can hear the waves rolling in and hitting the shore, but it still has a lively vibe since the place is open and other people are eating out here, too.
“How does it feel to officially be a Granville?” Jet asks as we all take our seats at the table. He sits across from Milo, and Jonathan takes his seat across from me.
“Like it’s about damn time,” I say lightly.
The sea breeze blows my hair in my face as Milo passes me a menu. I ditched the veil but I’m still wearing my dress. It’s not super tight, so I can comfortably sit and I’ll be able to dance in it.
The server brings over a chilled bottle of champagne and Milo orders an appetizer for the table. Once we all have drinks, we toast to “the newest Granville” and then we all drink.
I’ve felt like one of them for a long time now, but I’m happy it’s official.
My mom never married and she gave me her last name, not my dad’s.
Kennedy Landers is the name she gave me.
Kennedy Granville is who I am now, an identity I get to carve out for myself.