Six

Layden's grip tightened on my hand, the warmth of his touch grounding me amidst the whirlwind of emotions swirling in my chest. The world seemed to fade away, leaving only him and me, standing at the altar, surrounded by the whispers and stares of onlookers. But none of that mattered. Not now.

I looked up at him, my heart racing. His eyes, those deep brown pools, were filled with so many things—love, hope, and something deeper. Maybe it was the promise of forever. Maybe it was a quiet reassurance, an unspoken vow that no matter what had happened, we were here. Together.

"Do you, Janice Felicia O'Brian, take Layden Francisco Casper to be your lawfully wedded husband?" the officiant’s voice broke through the quiet, his words echoing in the church.

I took a steadying breath, my heart pounding in my chest. This was the moment. The decision I had made. It was all leading to this.

"I do," I whispered, my voice barely audible, but firm.

The officiant nodded, then turned to Layden. "And do you, Layden Francisco Casper, take Janice Felicia O'Brian to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

Layden’s smile deepened, and his gaze softened. "I do," he said, his voice steady and sure.

The officiant gestured to the rings, and Layden reached for mine first. He held it between his fingers, the gold band glinting in the soft light of the church. His hands trembled slightly as he slid the ring onto my finger, his touch lingering as if he were memorizing the moment.

"With this ring, I thee wed," he said, his voice low and steady, "and pledge my love, my loyalty, and my life to you, Janice. Forever."

The weight of the ring felt foreign yet comforting, a tangible symbol of the promise we were making. My heart swelled as I reached for his ring, my fingers trembling as I held it. I slid it onto his finger, the cool metal pressing against his skin.

"With this ring, I thee wed," I said, my voice shaking but clear, "and pledge my love, my loyalty, and my life to you, Layden. Forever."

The officiant nodded, his eyes flicking between us. "By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

I exhaled a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. And then, Layden's hands cupped my face gently, as if he was memorizing the moment, savoring it. His lips met mine in a kiss that felt like the culmination of everything—of love, of promise, and of the path we’d chosen. It was soft at first, slow, and then deepened, as if to seal the vow we had just made.

When we pulled away, I felt light-headed but blissful, a smile spreading across my face.

The crowd erupted in applause, and I could feel the rush of emotions flooding through me. It was official. We were married.

As we walked back down the aisle, hand in hand, I glanced over at Layden, who was beaming. For all the uncertainty, for all the doubts that had been creeping in, I knew in that moment that this was where I was meant to be.

"Let’s make this last forever," Layden whispered, his lips brushing my ear as we walked out of the church, the sound of the applause fading behind us.

And for the first time in a long while, I truly believed that everything would be okay. As we stepped out of the church into the bright sunlight, the cool breeze kissed my skin, and I felt a sense of peace wash over me. The tension that had been coiled tightly in my chest throughout the previous day seemed to melt away, replaced by a sense of calm. Layden's hand was still firmly holding mine, warm and comforting, and I let myself savor the moment.

The guests who had gathered outside clapped and cheered, throwing flower petals in the air. It was a beautiful sight, the air filled with joy and celebration, but as I looked around, something inside me twisted. I scanned the crowd, looking for any familiar face, hoping for my parents. But there was no sign of them. The ache in my chest grew heavier, but I quickly pushed it down. It was my wedding day, and I wasn’t going to let that cloud this moment.

"Are you okay?" Layden asked, his voice soft, as if he could sense my unease.

I nodded, flashing him a smile. "I'm fine. Just... everything's happening so fast."

He squeezed my hand, bringing my focus back to him. "It is, but we have each other now. And that's all that matters."

I looked up at him, my heart swelling with love. Layden had always been steady, always there when I needed him. This was the man I was choosing to build a life with. The thought made my chest tighten with gratitude and love.

We made our way to the reception, the ballroom filled with guests laughing, talking, and celebrating. The band played softly in the background, and the tables were covered with elegant white cloths and centerpieces of roses. It was all perfect, a dream come true. Layden’s arm was around my waist as we entered, and he leaned down to whisper in my ear, "I can’t believe you’re finally mine."

The lights dimmed, and the soft hum of the band’s music filled the air. Guests began to take their seats, the anticipation palpable. Layden’s hand found mine, warm and strong, and he led me to the center of the floor. The crowd parted, giving us space, and for a moment, it was just us.

I could feel his steady breath against my ear as he pulled me closer, his hand settling on my waist. The first notes of the song, a classic love ballad, swirled around us, and my heart skipped.

As we swayed together, I let myself sink into the rhythm. Layden’s smile was gentle, and he looked at me as though I was the only thing that mattered. “You look stunning,” he whispered, his lips brushing against my ear.

“You’re not so bad yourself,” I teased, trying to keep the nervousness at bay. My chest tightened as the song continued, a slow, melodic dance that seemed to stretch on forever. The world around us faded, leaving only the sound of the music and the feel of Layden’s arms holding me.

For a brief moment, I wanted to close my eyes and allow myself to lose myself completely in him, in this perfect moment. But I couldn’t. Not with the faint trace of doubt still lingering at the edges of my thoughts. The last few weeks had felt like a blur of activity and expectation.

I smiled back at him, and he twirled me, making me laugh as I spun back into his arms. “See?” Layden said, his voice light. “This is it. The rest of our lives.”

His words were reassuring, but my mind kept wandering. A flash of the masked stranger—the mysterious man I hadn’t been able to shake off all day—crossed my thoughts, but I pushed it away. Not now. Not when I was supposed to be here, with Layden.

The music slowed, and Layden’s grip tightened slightly, sensing my tension. “Everything okay?” he asked softly, his brow furrowing in concern.

I nodded quickly, forcing a smile. “Just perfect,” I whispered back. “Everything is just perfect.”

He smiled again, pulling me closer. “We have all the time in the world now.”

The night had been a blur of smiles, laughter, and well-wishes. The reception had ended with the kind of joy I had always imagined—a perfect celebration of the love Layden and I shared. The drive back to the apartment was quiet, save for the soft hum of the engine and the occasional chuckle or soft word exchanged between us. The car felt too small, too confining after the spaciousness of the hall. I wanted to stretch, but I didn’t want to break the peace of the moment.

Layden reached over and took my hand, his thumb rubbing over my knuckles. “How do you feel?” he asked, his voice warm and soothing.

I turned my head to him, catching his smile in the low light of the car. “I feel... amazing,” I replied, squeezing his hand gently. “Like it was all a dream. It’s just... surreal.”

“We’ll have plenty of time to get used to it.” He leaned over and kissed the top of my head. “This is just the beginning.”

I smiled, letting the warmth of his words settle in. He was right. This was just the beginning of our forever. A future I had promised myself I’d build with him.

When we arrived at the apartment, I was still caught up in the buzz of the night. The city lights glimmered outside the windows as we walked inside, the door clicking shut behind us. The apartment felt quieter now, almost empty after the noise of the celebration, but it was home.

I set my bouquet on the table and turned to Layden, my heart racing again—not from nerves, but from something else.

“I can’t believe it’s just us now,” I whispered, stepping into his arms. “No more wedding planning, no more distractions. Just you and me.”

Layden pulled me close, pressing his lips to my forehead. “Exactly. Just us. And nothing else matters.”

His words sent a thrill down my spine, and I kissed him softly, letting the kiss linger longer than I ever had before. For a moment, I let everything outside this room fade—the doubts, the unknowns, the unspoken parts of my heart that still felt uneasy. In this moment, there was only us, and that was enough.

“I love you,” I murmured, my voice barely audible.

He smiled down at me, his gaze full of warmth and certainty. “And I love you.”

His words wrapped around me like a blanket, soothing the last of my nerves. Gently, he lifted me in his arms, causing me to giggle at the sudden weightlessness. He carried me upstairs, my arms instinctively wrapping around him, holding on tight as he made his way to the room.

As he set me down on my feet, the world seemed to settle into place. His hands lingered on my arms, steadying me as I took a deep breath.

The atmosphere in the room shifted, charged with the kind of tension that could only come from anticipation. Layden’s touch was gentle but filled with an undeniable intensity. His lips pressed against my skin as he worked his way down the line of buttons, each one he released sending a shiver through me. The feel of his breath against my back sent goosebumps down my arms, the heat building between us.

I giggled, unable to contain my excitement. “You’re making this too easy, you know,” I teased, feeling the heat rising between us.

Layden’s voice was low, husky, as he whispered, “I plan on making this night unforgettable.”

As he slowly undid the final button, revealing the delicate lace and silk underneath. The sensation of his fingers grazing my skin made my heart race. He turned me around, his eyes dark with desire, and in that instant, everything else melted away. There was only him. Only this moment.

His lips found mine, and the kiss was slow, deliberate, like he was savoring every second. His hands, strong and warm, gently tugged my arms free from the dress. The fabric pooled around my feet, leaving me standing before him in nothing but the lace lingerie he hadn’t seen yet.

I deepened the kiss, my hands threading through his hair, pulling him closer as if I couldn’t get enough of him. I could feel the heat between us building, the hunger that had been there since the moment we met finally being unleashed now.