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Sebastian
“You’re next.” Julian adjusts the black bow tie around his neck. “I know that Griffin and Piper are considering a date three months from now, so you need to plan fast, Sebastian. Make Tilly your wife now.”
I dive my hand into the pocket of my black tuxedo pants. I scoop the two plain silver bands into my palm and squeeze them.
“Don’t worry about who is next to take the plunge.” I smile as I look him over. “Enjoy your day, Julian. Focus on Maya today.”
“You really are the best man.” His hands land on my shoulders. “Can you go check on my bride? Go see if Maya is all right.”
I know she’s fine.
I was with Matilda just ten minutes ago outside the hotel room where Maya is getting ready to marry the man she loves.
The ceremony and reception will both take place in the ballroom here at The Bishop Tribeca.
Dozens of people are already gathering, drinking champagne and taking in the massive displays of flowers that Maya and Julian ordered.
When Matilda and I walked through the space earlier, she was in awe.
She stopped to smell the fresh roses and orchids every few steps.
“I’ll go check on her again.” I turn to see the hotel room door open and Griffin walk in. His dark brown hair is pushed back from his forehead. His gaze is laser focused on us.
He’s dressed as we both are, in tuxedos with a single red rose pinned to our lapels.
“When is this show going to start?” Griffin crosses the room to stand next to us. “You’re making me look bad, Julian. How am I supposed to top this when I marry Piper?”
Julian laughs. “I wanted to give Maya the wedding of her dreams.”
“You’ve done that.” Griffin grins. “I just met her folks and her sister. They’re good people.”
They’re amazing people.
We had dinner last night with Matilda’s family. It was the first time I’ve seen Frannie face-to-face. I’ve been pulled into her video chats with Matilda on more than one occasion, including the night just a month ago that Frannie told us she was pregnant.
It was incredible to share a meal with Matilda’s folks, Frannie, her husband and their daughters. We went for ice cream for dessert so Cooper Gallo could meet Jolie and Becca. Carolyn and Darrell are happy, taking their relationship one day at a time.
Tomorrow, we’ll have brunch with my family. It’s our regular Sunday routine when time allows.
The other constant in our lives is Kate. We’ve grown close the last few months. She’s been a good friend to Matilda and is becoming one to me too.
“I’m going to see how Maya is doing.” I pat Griffin on the back. “You stay here and watch over the groom.”
“Have you and Tilly picked a date yet?” Griffin stops me with a hand to my shoulder. “I’m trying to win the sprint to the altar here. I’d like to slip a wedding band on Piper’s finger before you do the same with your fiancée.”
“You’re still as competitive as you were in high school.” I lightly smack his cheek. “Don’t worry about us. Do what makes Piper happy.”
He grabs my face in his hands and plants a kiss on my forehead. “I’ve never told you how happy I am for you, Sebby. I am.”
I playfully punch him in the shoulder. “Never call me that again.”
***
“Tell me that you haven’t said a word, Sebastian.” Matilda looks up and into my eyes.
We’re standing in the corridor outside the room where Maya is gathered with her mom, her friends, Frannie, Becca and Jolie.
Matilda looks beautiful today, as she does every day.
Her hair is pinned up into a messy bun on the top of her head. Her makeup is minimal. The dress that she picked out with Maya is light blue. It floats around her knees and hugs her body in all the places I want to plant kisses.
I slide my hands into the pocket of my pants.
I palm the wedding rings in my right pocket, feeling the rough edge of diamonds. I’ll hand them to Julian and Maya when they exchange vows in less than an hour.
When I close my hand around the two rings in my left pocket, I’m immediately comforted by the smoothness of them. They are plain, thin, silver bands that represent a love that will never die.
I tug my hand out and open my palm. “I haven’t told a soul, Matilda.”
She reaches for her ring. She slides it back onto her ring finger. “I hate that I’m not wearing it today.”
I slide mine on too. “My hand feels bare.”
“We’ll tell them in a few days that we’re married, won’t we?” Her eyes lock with mine. “We’ll tell everyone everything.”
The story is as simple as it is complicated.
I married the love of my life a week ago on a beach in Mexico.
We took the trip to celebrate our love, our future and my appointment to the position of sergeant. I’ll be working in the division I wanted with new police officers.
The day before we left, a bouquet of black roses was left on the step of the house we bought in Queens, but this time Matilda caught sight of the man who dropped them off as she was coming up the street after taking our dog, Lunar, for a walk.
She called me as she set off after him, following him as he strolled leisurely down the sidewalk completely unaware that she was behind him. Panic ran through me as I drove through the streets of the city, calling for any units close to where she was.
The asshole was apprehended. His grudge was rooted in an arrest I made of his brother a year-and-a-half ago.
Two days later as we walked in the warm sand and the sun was setting, I asked her to marry me. She accepted and after we made love that night, we decided that we didn’t need anything but two simple rings and our vows.
She was stunning in a white sundress with her long hair blowing in the breeze and a single white rose in her hand. I wore a white dress shirt and dark blue pants. I had packed them hoping to wear them to take her out to a nice dinner.
Instead, I stood on the beach barefoot with the shirt untucked and my belt left on the bed at the hotel.
We’ll get married again here, in a small ceremony in our backyard in a couple of months so that the people who love us can share in our happiness.
She slides the ring off and hands it to me. “Guard it with your life.”
I kiss it before sliding off mine and tucking them both back in my pocket. “I only agreed to hold off on telling anyone because I know you don’t want to take anything away from Maya’s special day.”
“I want her to have today.” She wraps her arms around me. “She’s waited for this day for a long time.”
“I’ve waited for you forever,” I counter with a soft kiss on her mouth.
“You have me now so never let me go.”
“I won’t, Mrs. Wolf.” I press my lips to hers. “I’ll never let you go.”
