After a short greeting, the minister took his place with a smile, gesturing for Noah to get Molly. “And who gives this woman to be married today?”
Paige and Logan shared a meaningful look. “We do,” they said in unison.
Noah and Logan exchanged a small, secret handshake that had the Wolves’ teammates in the crowd chuckling audibly. And then my sister took Noah’s hand, pausing so he could say something quietly, only audible to her, that had her looking up at him with so much love, the waterworks almost started anew.
It was difficult to stand still, especially in those freaking heels, but once I got Molly’s flowers from her, that was kind of my job. Only once—and I was very proud of myself—did I look out into the rows of seats.
Aiden’s gaze was on me, and when our eyes locked, he sent me a subdued smile that had my palms going a little sweaty.
What a first date.
Bawling my eyes out in front of a hundred people, finally letting go of the emotional weight that had been pushing on my shoulders, and wearing the type of dress that made any type of undergarment outside of a G-string completely impossible.
Even if I had pictured my first date with Aiden, I never would’ve pictured this. A hike maybe. Wandering around downtown. Something simple and easy, nothing overdone or fussy.
This was as fussy as I’d ever get. And still, he was here.
Spinning down the mental path of what it meant or what it signified was pointless. Which was why I directed my attention back to the minister, and to Molly and Noah.
I couldn’t see my sister’s face, but I could see Noah’s, and the way he gazed down at her was enough to turn me into a giant pile of mush.
Molly took a deep breath when it was her turn to say vows.
“Today, surrounded by all the people who love us best, I say the words I do, but I am really promising that I will.” He smiled, lifting one of her hands for a soft kiss. “I will take your hand and stand by your side in the good and the bad. I will be your guiding light in the darkness, your shoulder to lean on when life is hard. As your wife, I will be your navigator and your best friend. I promise to honor, cherish, and love you through all of life’s adventures.” Her voice wobbled. “Today, Noah Griffin, and every day for as long as I live, I will choose you as my husband.”
Noah grinned down at her.
“Today, surrounded by all the people who love us best,” he rumbled in that deep voice of his, “I say the words I do, but I am really promising that I will. I will take your hand and stand by your side in the good and the bad. I will be the one who supports your dreams more than any other. I will shelter you from whatever storms hit us. As your husband, I will be your partner and your best friend. I promise to honor, cherish, and love you through all of life’s adventures. Today, Molly Ward, and every day for as long as I live, I will choose you as my wife.”
Rings were exchanged, they were pronounced husband and wife, and when he wrapped her in his arms for a shockingly passionate kiss, a cheer of Super Bowl proportions rang through the gardens. Laughing along with my sisters as it did, I couldn’t help but sweep my gaze over the people sitting in the chairs.
I recognized most of the faces, but not all. Out of all those faces, I didn’t see the one I was seeking.
It was a strange realization to have amid such overflowing happiness that still … Brooke hadn’t come. Given the choice, extended with grace by someone who’d forgiven her, she’d stayed away.
Molly, I knew, would be fine. As her brand-new husband drew away from her, tucked her hand in the crook of his elbow, and escorted her down the carpet of lush emerald grass to the sound of cheers and whistles, I thought about all the different ways people moved on.
Maybe I held onto the past, held onto anger, or my reserve with men with white-knuckled hands because they were all something I could control, but Aiden showing up for me today was something I hadn’t been in control of.
It was his way of moving on too, and I had to recognize the gesture, even if it hadn’t come with any big speeches. Yet.
He couldn’t have predicted how I’d react, but still, he showed up. Held his hand out to me, gave me a choice.
When I took the arm of Kareem, one of Noah’s teammates, and we followed the happy couple down the aisle, I knew my choices would be unfolding in front of me all night.
I chose, as Aiden watched me with a steady, calm gaze, to set aside anything Brooke could’ve done—or not done—to this day. Like my brother said, it was—and always had been—her loss.
When Molly jumped into Noah’s arms for another kiss, I felt lighter than I had in years. Happier.
The wedding planner hustled the wedding party back out to another garden for pictures, and when I glanced over my shoulder to catch Aiden’s eye, he winked.
That wink held me over the eternal length of time it took us to take pictures with the whole wedding party. If what I needed to do was screw a smile on my face for a billion clicks of her camera, then that was what I would do.
Hovering at the edge of the side garden where we stood, I saw a glimpse of his navy suit. The wedding coordinator was talking to the photographer, and Molly and Noah whispered quietly to each other, so I decided
