When he opened his mouth, I thought he was going to say something romantic, but he said, “I kind of wish this had been the real thing. The video footage would have been hilarious.”
Pastor John laughed.
It reminded me that the vows I had been working on for months weren’t going to be heard by just James. They were going to be heard by the pastor and all our friends and family. I was suddenly extremely nervous.
“Pretend you like each other!” Justin shouted and pushed his hands closer together to show us we were standing too far apart.
James laughed and grabbed my waist, pulling me against his chest. “How about this?” he said more toward me than to Justin.
“Okay, pretend you like each other a little less than that.”
James kissed the tip of my nose and let go of my waist. I took a step back. James held out his hands for me and I grabbed them. All I could focus on were his eyes. The same eyes that had captivated me when I was his student. I never thought we’d wind up here. But I was so thankful that we had.
“Bridesmaids, each take half a step to your left,” Justin said. “No not that much! God, I’ll just make some kind of markings so you know where to stand tomorrow. Forget about it. Pastor, get your thing on.”
Pastor John laughed. “Right, well, I’m going to make a few jokes, which I’ll keep to myself for now. I want to get you laughing on your wedding day. I’ll do the normal spiel about love and what this commitment means. Normally right now, I would just have you practice reciting the vows after me, but you’ve decided to read your own vows, correct?”
James squeezed my hands. “Correct.”
“Well, then after you exchange vows, I will simply say, do you James take Penny to be your lawfully wedded wife?
James ran his thumbs against the backs of my hands. “I do.”
“And Penny, I’d say, do you Penny take James to be your lawfully wedded husband? And you’d answer ‘I do.’ But don’t say it now, it’s only the rehearsal.”
I laughed. “I do,” I mouthed silently to James.
He raised his left eyebrow.
“And then I’d say, by the power vested in me, by the state of New York, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride. And you’d…”
James pulled me against him and pressed his lips against mine. His tongue darted across my lips and I opened my mouth, inviting him in. His fingers tangled in my hair as mine pressed against his neck, deepening a kiss that was already too sexual for public.
“Ow ow!” Melissa yelled.
“Get a room,” Rob said.
I laughed and pressed on James’ chest.
“God, I can’t wait for tomorrow,” he said.
I kept my hand on his neck and smiled up at him.
“Less tongue tomorrow, yes?” Justin said from the seat he had taken in the second row. “Now after that, you’d walk hand in hand back down the aisle with huge wedding bliss smiles. I love newlyweds.”
James gave me a playful smile.
I wanted to tell him to follow Justin’s instructions. But that smile of his was my favorite. It meant he was so caught up in this moment, that nothing else in the world mattered. Just him and me. “Whatever you’re thinking of doing, do it. I dare you.”
“Dare accepted.” He leaned down and lifted me over his shoulder.
I squealed as he put his hand on my ass. I wasn’t sure if he just wanted to touch me or if he didn’t want me to moon all of Central Park. I laughed the whole way down the aisle.
“Piggyback time, Melissa!” Rob said from behind us.
I heard Melissa laugh and I didn’t doubt at all that Rob was giving her a piggyback ride down the aisle.
“No!” Justin shouted. “No, no, no! The exit is supposed to be elegant and… ugh! I give up. Rehearsal done.”
James set me back down on my feet. “I’m pretty sure we just got hitched.”
“I didn’t say ‘I do’.”
“I saw you say it, baby.” He tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear.
“No paper, no proof.”
“You got me there. Tomorrow I’ll get the signed evidence.”
“I can’t wait.”
Friday
My friends had been doing a fantastic job decorating. But when I stepped back into our apartment, my jaw dropped. Justin’s assistants had rearranged all the furniture so that there was room for long tables with elegant tablecloths and huge flowery centerpieces. The caterers were all set up and the food smelled amazing. Everyone was bustling around, doing last minute preparations.
“Told you I’d make it beautiful,” Justin said. “What do you kids think?”
James smiled at me, only caring about what I had to say.
“It’s perfect, Justin. Thank you.”
“Does that mean I get an A?” he said with a wink to James.
James laughed. “Absolutely.”
Justin clapped his hands. “Okay, people! Everyone not in the bridal party will be arriving in fifteen minutes! Places everyone! Places!”
We had originally wanted to keep our rehearsal dinner small. Just the people that were a part of the wedding. But with so many people coming in from out of town, we decided to make it a bigger thing. Mostly James’ friends that I had never met. I was a little nervous to meet them. I wanted to hear their stories. I wanted to know what James was like in college.
wanted to hear their stories. I wanted to know what James was like in college.
Bee looped her arm in mine. “I feel like I just got completely schooled in party decorating.”
I laughed. “I like the streamers. It’s exactly what I would have done.”
She smiled. “We’ll learn how to step up our party throwing game together. Sometimes I still feel so out of place in all,” she gestured with her hand, “this.”
“Yeah, I know what you mean.” I looked over at James. He was standing with my mom, introducing himself to the caterer. No matter the situation, he always looked so in his element. I looked back at Bee. “I’m glad I have you to figure it out with.”