Chapter 33

Chapter Thirty-Three

Zane

T he orchestra finishes warming up and the pastor steps forward. A photographer floats in and out of my peripheral, taking photos. Thankfully, Harper took care of everything before we arrived and had already informed him of what was happening. My father stands beside me, wearing a tux with a burnt-orange bow tie.

A minute later, Harper approaches, smiling wide. She gives me a thumbs-up and sits next to the Calloways. Easton’s arm is wrapped around his beautiful wife, Lexi, whom I met when the helicopters landed. The two of them are perfect together, obsessed even.

I have the same type of love.

Autumn’s mother is beside Silvia, and they’re giggling about something like old friends. Meanwhile, Julie and Blaire glance at me and smile from the front row. I return the sentiment and look forward to getting to know them better, especially since they’re Team Zane. Winter is the maid of honor. The three drew blades of grass because they couldn’t decide who should get the title.

My father gives me a grin and a nod. A minute later, the string quartet begins, grabbing my attention.

It’s time , I think to myself. Finally, I’ve waited an eternity for today.

Winter casually holds a bouquet of Coneflowers that I had cut from my mother's garden for the occasion and flown here.

Her sister offers me a sweet smile and steps to the side.

Anxious excitement takes over. Knowing I’ll be married to Autumn in less than an hour has me smiling wide.

The wedding march plays, and I wait with bated breath to see the woman who was made for me.

A butterfly flutters in front of me and I glance at it. Harper noticed, and my dad did too. A chill runs over me and I try to push back my emotions.

Thank you, Mom , I think, believing she’d love Autumn. She has to be the reason for this.

The small crowd stands, and seconds later, Autumn and her dad walk down the cobblestone path.

“Wow,” I whisper in awe, realizing I'll spend the rest of my life with someone beautiful inside and out.

My other half, my twin flame, my wife.

We focus on one another, and my gorgeous girl glows as a playful grin meets her lips. I inhale a deep breath, overcome by emotions. This is real. Tears form in the well of my eyes. Several fall down my cheeks as her dad lets her go.

Autumn takes the step, moving in front of me.

“Hi,” I say, leaning in and mumbling against her ear. “Is this how you dreamed it?”

Her eyes slide over my gray suit and burnt-orange tie, and she grins. “Yes.”

The pastor smiles and begins. “Good evening. Today, we’re gathered here to celebrate the union of Zane Alexander and Autumn Travis. I’m honored to be a part of your special day.”

“Thank you,” I whisper, noticing the sun setting behind me. Autumn glows golden like a daydream. It’s a moment I never want to forget.

I pull my phone from my pocket, wanting to cherish this forever.

“Sorry, I have to capture this. I know we have a photographer, but this is personal,” I explain, interrupting the ceremony, knowing the way she looks right now will be imprinted on my mind forever. I open my camera app and take a quick snapshot of Autumn and her devious little smirk.

“Uh, no selfie?” Autumn asks, and I stand beside her, holding it up. My dad and Winter move into the background, so the people we care about the most are seen. I take a few and realize the pastor wasn’t in our photos. We rectify it.

“That was fun. I think it should be a requirement at every wedding. Now, where were we?” he says softly. “Ah, yes. These two beautiful people have written their own vows.”

I grab and unfold the cream paper, then meet Autumn’s warm eyes, taking a moment, drinking her in as the sky glows golden.

“Autumn. Autie. Pumpkin . My breath was stolen the first time I saw you, and I didn’t know if I could speak. I'd felt like I’d known you a lifetime or in another life.” I smile, muttering. “Do you remember what I asked you?”

She nods, swallowing hard, tears streaming down her cheeks. I pull my orange handkerchief with a pumpkin embroidered in the corner from my pocket. Autumn laughs when she sees “for my pumpkin” beside it.

“Prepared.”

“Always.” I shoot her a wink. “That day, I asked if we’d met, because it was like we had. I knew right then that you were the one for me. That's when you took my heart. I was always told I'd know when I found true love. I didn't know what that meant until you. You brought me back from the dead and made me feel alive again. And each day since meeting you, I’ve woken up grateful and have asked how someone so perfect for me can exist. You were made for me, Autie. When I say I’m the luckiest man in the world, I mean it.”

She licks her lips, smiling so wide, and I want to capture her mouth right now, but I fight the urge.

“I promise to always be by your side, support your dreams and visit a few, protect you, make you laugh at the most inappropriate times, and love you for the rest of my life. Being with you is the only place I want to be on Earth. You make me believe in prophecies. My mom told me in a letter that she hoped I still believed in magic. You are the magic, Autumn, and I love you so much. You’re my other half, and I can’t wait to grow old with you.”

She sniffles and chuckles as she wipes her eyes. “Fuck.”

As soon as the word leaves her mouth, her eyes widen, and she glances at the pastor as Julie howls with laughter.

“Whoops,” she says, laughing a little harder as she pulls her paper from a pocket in her pretty dress. “Zane Alexander. Before you, I’d given up hope. I no longer believed in fairy tales or that happily ever afters existed. The world was a dark place once, where I was only surviving. Before you, I didn’t understand what it was like to be comfortable, to be myself, or to have true friendship in a relationship. An incredible, awe-inspiring man once told me, “To be known is to be loved.”

My mother’s saying. I breathe in, smiling, taking in every word, knowing she wrote them just for me.

“You’re kind. Passionate. Respectful. The stars aligned for us, and I'm complete for the first time in my life, like finding you was my destiny. Zane, you are the man of my literal dreams and the love of my entire life.” She meets my eyes, smiling.

“I love you,” she whispers, studying me, her face still perfectly lit. “And I will always love you with my whole heart.”

Autumn’s mother cries and I glance around, seeing everyone teared up. There’s not an inkling of doubt on this entire fucking mountain.

I don’t wait for the pastor to give me permission to kiss her. Our lips crash together, and it doesn’t matter that we’ve done things out of order. It’s our lives, our journey, and we’ll write our story however we want.

She grabs my cheeks. “I love you.”

“I love you,” I say, stealing one final kiss.

“How about we exchange those rings now?” the pastor says, and I’m grateful he’s keeping us on track.

“Zane,” he says.

“I give you this ring as a symbol of my love,” I say, sliding it on her finger.

“I give you this ring as a promise to love, cherish, and respect you,” she says.

A wide grin takes over as she puts it on my finger. The silent conversation we hold nearly takes me to my knees. Autumn is my life.

“May you be blessed with health, happiness, and everlasting love. By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife.” He nods at me. “ Now you may kiss your bride.”

The orchestra plays I Can’t Help Falling in Love With You and she laughs as I pull Autumn into my arms, then we dance.

“You got your song,” she says, kissing me.

“Dreams come true,” I whisper, desperately capturing her mouth. Our friends and family applaud. We smile and take a few shots with the photographer. Five minutes later, I lead her away.

“You can fly that?” she asks as I walk her to my private helicopter pad.

I smirk. “Yeah. Easton delivered it for me.”

“What else don’t I know about you?” She laughs.

“Ask me anything,” I say. “Want to play forty-two questions?”

“We suck at keeping count, but I’d love to play.” I open the door for her and she climbs in.

I reach across her, pulling the harness over her chest, then meet her eyes. “I can’t wait to take this dress off of you.”

“Mm. It's what I’m looking forward to the most.”

I buckle her in.

“Where are we going?”

A smirk touches my lips. “On our honeymoon.”