Lucas

 

A SMALL HANDFUL of people sat in chairs in the greenhouse. Paige had kept the decorations surprisingly minimal. A few bouquets of flowers were scattered around the room, and the altar was an arch covered in light pink and white roses. Preacher Smith stood there, a smile on his face as we waited. The music started, and my heart nearly jumped to my throat.

I had asked Milo to stand in as my best friend, which had made the bastard start crying. It happened the day we had all been decorating the backyard until one in the morning. He was drunk as all get out and nearly passed out on the sofa. I walked in and saw him watching Top Gun for some unknown reason. When I asked him to be my best man, he broke down and hugged me. Yeah, awkward, but I was glad he agreed.

I smiled as I let my eyes sweep over the friends and family we’d invited to the ceremony. In all, it was only twenty-four people, most of whom were friends of ours growing up. The reception, on the other hand? We had sent out a text three days before the wedding and had invited over a hundred-and-fifty people. Some were former colleagues of Paige’s, some mine. A lot were our folks’ friends, people we’d known growing up, and one or two of our college friends.

Callie and Tom Jr. walked down the aisle, each of them nodding and saying hello as they made their way. Callie went off to the side with Jen, and Tom Jr. stood next to me. He had the very important job of holding the rings. I gave his hair a quick rub and winked at him.

“Good job, Junior.”

He beamed with pride.

The air changed the moment I saw Paige walking down the path. I couldn’t get a good look at her through the greenhouse windows, but the moment she stepped inside, my breath caught in my throat, and I swayed.

“Do you need me to hold you up there, Lucas?” Milo asked in a hushed tone.

I watched as Paige and her father started down the aisle. “Maybe.”

He chuckled and gave me a pat on the back.

As Paige walked slowly toward me, our eyes met. A million things ran through my mind. Things I wanted to tell her.

She looked absolutely beautiful. Too stunning for me to form proper words. Her eyes seemed to sparkle, and for the briefest moment, I knew Millie, May, and William were here with us.

Paige and Phillip stopped in front of me, and Paige turned to her father.

“I love you, Daddy.”

He wiped a tear from his eye. “I love you more, my sweet girl.”

I reached out, and Phillip placed Paige’s hand in mine.

“She is precious and means the world to me,” he said, his voice cracking. “I couldn’t give her to you unless I knew deep in my heart that she meant the same to you.”

A heavy soreness built inside as I squeezed her hand gently.

“I’m not giving her away, Lucas. You don’t give away something you love. But you can share her with me.”

Paige let a sob slip free. “Daddy,” she whispered.

“Thank you, sir. And I swear, I will treasure and love her with everything I have for the rest of my life and beyond.”

He nodded, wiped his tears, and then went to his seat.

Paige and I took a few steps closer to Preacher Smith. I turned to her and our eyes met.

“You are breathtaking. Beyond beautiful.”

She smiled, a slightly pink tint to her cheeks. The preacher started to talk, but all I could do was look at her. When we faced one another to say our vows, I wasn’t even positive I was talking, but the way she was smiling at me, I knew I must have been. We exchanged rings, and when it came time for me to kiss her, I summoned up every ounce of strength I had not to ravish her with kisses and take her back to the house.

The kiss was soft, sweet, and slow. When we pulled away, we both laughed because everyone was cheering like a bunch a crazy people. I leaned my forehead to hers and stared into her soft brown eyes.

“Hello, Mrs. Foster.”

A tear slipped from her eye and made a slow trail down her cheek. “Hello, Mr. Foster.”

“Thank you,” I whispered.

“For?” she asked with a giggle.

“For taking this slow and making me the happiest man on Earth.”

Paige smiled, wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me once more. This time, the kiss was indeed a bit naughtier.