17: Phoenix.

“We’re not to that part yet,” Margaret says and clears her throat.

We break the kiss, and Margaret begins to read the vows. I stare into Yusef’s eyes knowing every vow he says to me he will always keep. I will do the same because I love him with every part of my heart.

“I’m so happy there isn’t a reception,” I tell Yusef after Margaret announces us as husband and wife.

He’s been killing me this past week because he wanted to wait until we were married before we went all the way. Not that we didn’t get to do other things, thankfully. But he said he wanted it official the first time he was fully inside me.

He takes my hand and leads me back toward our room while Margaret and my dad go meet Sean and Tessa to finalize the details. Yusef lifts me off my feet when we get to the door and carries me over the threshold and into the bedroom.

“Did you do as I told you?” He places me on my feet, and I nod.

“Always,” I answer as he slips his fingers under the thin straps that hold up my wedding dr