Bethany"Dana, this is Erica. I know you guys have met, but just in case." Bethany moved back as the dark-haired nurse who'd captured Kendal's heart smiled and extended her hand to Erica."Nice to meet you. I've heard a little bit of your story through Kendal. You're up in Seattle?" Dana asked and moved closer to Erica.Bethany moved out of the way to let the two girls talk and lifted up on her tippy toes. Her mother and Aunt Patty were flirting with the bartender, or rather, Aunt Patty was. It was almost funny to watch, and yet Bethany's aunt was a looker, a strong woman with a sense of direction, but quite demanding on men. She would find someone eventually. She had to."Damn... I should have jogged with them," Bethany muttered, referring to Matt and Sophia. She hadn't met the girl before, and it seemed odd to invite her to the bachelorette party, but she was Matt's best friend from grade school, and at one time, she practically lived with Damon's family. She needed to be there. Bet
Damon"Let's get this party started!" Matt walked into the kitchen at their father's house, a floppy clown hat on his head and a party toy sticking out of the side of his mouth. "Here. We got you this..."Damon caught the t-shirt Matt tossed to him and glanced over to find Kendal holding back tears. "You guys are fucking stupid. We're in our thirties. We should be playing another round of golf, eating a steak dinner and flipping each other off.""What?" Kendal choked on a laugh. "We've been waiting for this moment since we met. Remember we used to talk about fucking up the town at our bachelor parties together?""That's when you guys were still fucking women together. Duh." Matt rolled his eyes and walked to the fridge."Wait. What?" Ben glanced up from the paper and gave Damon an odd look."Long story, and not one you want to hear. I promise." Damon held up the shirt and rolled his eyes before tossing it back to Matt. "I'm not wearing that shit.""No? Can I?" Matt held it up and chuc
Damon"Hi there." A cute brunette with a nice body and very few clothes moved in front of Damon. "I'm Lyndsay.""Hi, Lyndsay. I'm engaged." He smiled and pulled her hand from his chest."Oh shit. All the good ones are gone." She huffed and glanced around the bar."You assume I'm one of the good ones.""This is true." She smirked. "I wasn't hitting on you to get anywhere. I locked my keys in my car, with my wallet, and was hoping to get close enough to pick your pocket." She gave him a grin as if she were proud of her nefarious ways."And you're telling me this why?" Damon patted his pockets just to make sure she wasn't the diversion, and four of her friends hadn't moved past him, draining him dry of his cash and cards.She shrugged and laughed. "Not sure. Okay, well, have a great night, Mr. Engaged. If you see a single guy who needs a cute girl to flirt with him, just-""Wait. How much do you need to get into your car?""Around a hundred bucks. I swear the lock-pick guys are complete
Bethany"Get everyone up front please." The wedding coordinator wasn't exactly the type of person Bethany was excited to work with, but Kent's sister, Allison, had been adamant about hiring the chick. They weren't doing a rehearsal dinner because the world was starving for authenticity, so the ceremony should be done from scratch.Damon, Bethany and the rest of their wedding party were walked through the details of what would happen at ten that next morning, the day of the wedding. It was fast and furious, but that was usually the way they did things. Why change now?"You all right?" Damon turned and ran his hands down Beth's shoulders."I'm ready." She smiled up at him and moved in to kiss him."No kissing! Save that for tonight. It's bad luck." The wedding coordinator pulled Bethany back.Damon growled before pursing his lips.It was going to be a long day of dealing with her. Bethany couldn't even remember the lady's name, but maybe it was for the best. Damon's Aunt Allison walked
Bethany"You know, this is honestly unfair," Bethany grumbled as she turned her head to look at Sophia who sat beside her in the bride's room later that afternoon. Hair and make-up were done, and her toes and fingernails looked like a million bucks. She felt like a princess, a grumpy one at present."I agree, but let's do the best we can. Here, let me see what you have." Sophia snatched the paper in front of Bethany and gave her a look. They were becoming fast friends. Too bad the woman was working in Saudi for the next year. "You don't even have anything down. It's just a bunch of doodles.""How am I supposed to write my vows? I just keep hearing the words from the traditional vows in my mind playing over and over again. It's useless.""What are we getting upset about?" Erica walked into the room and sat down across from Bethany at the table."Damon just sprung on me a few hours ago that he's written his vows, but it's okay... I can just use the old, crusty, traditional ones." Bethan
DamonHis breath caught in his chest as Bethany rounded the corner at the back of the church. The crowd of people that had gathered in the church had helped to block his view until that moment. He'd never in his life seen anything so beautiful, so perfect."Wow. Damn..." Matt mumbled beside him.Damon's hands were clasped tightly, his arms hanging comfortably. He had to look like the picture of confidence and assurance, but his insides were a fucking mess.What if he messed things up with Beth? What if he lost her like James almost lost his wife? What if she cheated on him like his mother did with his father?Was love enough? Was he enough?He'd never contemplated the questions before, but standing there at the front of the church with his bride walking toward him. It was all he could think about.Her eyes never left him; her lips turned up in a beautiful smile as the crowd shifted to face her with every step she took. His father held on to her, his face filled with the type of pride
DamonHe took her hand and slid the ring halfway on it, pausing as he glanced up and looked deep into her eyes. "From the moment I met you, you've challenged me. Not only to be a better man but to change my way of thinking. Love isn't given just to be snatched away, and happiness lasts for more than a few moments. Forgiveness isn't the way of the world, but it's your way." He paused and took a shaky breath. "You're beautiful and kind, beyond brilliant and will soon rule not only my heart but my home, my business and anything else you want that belongs to me."Tears welled up in Beth's eyes, spilling over and stealing his heart. He must not be dicking it up too badly."Where are your notes?" she whispered and he laughed."I don't have notes, silly. Do you?"Her lips pursed tightly. Him memorizing it wasn't a good thing from what he could tell."We both had so much to overcome to bring this relationship together, but I want you to know, that I overcame each obstacle because of you, for
Bethany"You okay?" Damon asked her for the tenth time as they walked into one of the Sunday school rooms.Bethany laughed. "Yes, baby. Are you okay? You keep asking."He was a little wide-eyed. "I think so. You were just shaking in there. I was worried.""I was nervous." She slid her arms around his waist and pulled him in tight. "Your vows were beautiful.""Shit..." He scoffed. "I should have known better than to give my beautiful wife a challenge. You blew me out of the water. I worked on mine for a fucking week, and you had twenty minutes and took me down fast."She lifted to her toes, and he moved down, pressing his lips to her as his strong hands gripped her lower back. She relaxed against him, enjoying the feeling of him holding her up."I feel so damn sentimental." She moved back and wiped at her eyes. "It's driving me crazy.""It's just gratitude." Kent walked in behind them. "When you get something in life that makes your life better, you're overwhelmed with gratitude." He sh