39. Mira

39

MIRA

"Why is everyone crying?"

Aiden is holding my hand as we walk across the flower-strewn patio towards the makeshift aisle that cuts across the lawn, casting horrified looks in every direction.

We have a small gathering of people. Zane's teammates and their wives are in the first few rows of chairs. Owen, Evan, and a woman who looks suspiciously like a nurse I recognize from the hospital are in the back and the only people I can see from this vantage point, but every single one of them is crying. Owen keeps squinting up at the cloud-covered sun as if it's simply the light bothering his eyes instead of the ooey-gooey emotions he claims not to have.

I squeeze Aiden's hand. "I think it's because they're so happy for us."

Aiden frowns like he doesn't buy it, and I can't even blame him. One day, he'll look back at pictures of him in a tiny tuxedo, leading me down the aisle to his dad, and he'll understand why no one can keep their shit together.

Actually, the thought of him as a teenager, reminiscing about the day we legally became a family, has me teetering on the edge of losing my shit, too.

I hear Taylor's warning in the back of my mind. If you ruin your makeup before you get down the aisle, I will not forever hold my peace. I'll object to your wedding, Mira McNeil, I swear to God. Do you hear me?!

But the second the orchestral music swells and Aiden and I pause at the top of the aisle, my makeup doesn't stand a chance.

Zane is waiting for us, looking sharp in a navy tux and a wide smile. His eyes flick from me to Aiden and back like he can't believe we're his, and I've never loved him more.

I know there are other people here, but I don't see them. I can't focus on anything except the little boy holding my hand and the man just in front of us, who has always held us both.

When we make it to the top of the aisle, Zane kneels in front of Aiden and offers him knuckles. "You nailed it, kid. I couldn't have walked her down the aisle better myself."

Aiden fist bumps his dad and then throws his arms around his neck. It's already an adorable moment, but when he reaches grasping little fingers towards me, my heart melts. I kneel down next to them, not caring at all if I get grass stains on my dress, and hug my boys.

"You're crying, too?" Aiden shakes his head, and I can't help but laugh.

"Happy tears, A. I'm crying very happy tears."

And I continue crying happy tears while Aiden climbs up next to Reeves and Jalen in the front row and Daniel welcomes everyone to "the wedding of the decade that we've only known about for three days."

He reads from some printed-out wedding ceremony guide he must have found online, but I don't hear a word. Zane runs his thumbs over my knuckles, back and forth, and traces his eyes over every detail of my face. It's impossible to think about anything when he's looking at me like this.

Suddenly, Zane opens his mouth, and it takes me far too many seconds to realize that it's time for vows.

Panic claws up my throat because I didn't prepare anything. At some point in the chaos of this last week, we decided to do our own vows.

"I don't want someone else's words in my mouth while I'm making my vows to you," he said, and it sounded so damn good when he said it that it was all I could do to contain my drool and nod.

The problem is, I don't have a single clue what I'm going to say. I never stopped long enough to plan something.

Zane steps close and drops his voice so only I can hear him. "I think this moment should just be for the two of us, don't you think?"

My chest unclenches. Talking to Zane— I can handle that. "Just me and you."

He wraps his arm around my waist and presses his lips to my cheek before they settle next to my ear. His voice is deep and steady.

"For a long time, I didn't think I was capable of taking care of another person. I could barely take care of myself. How could I be any good for anyone else? Then I met you." He kisses my cheekbone. "You made me feel good enough, Mira. You made me feel worthy. You taught me how to take care of my son and, every second we spent together, I realized more and more how much I wanted to take care of you, too. I just—" He laughs softly against my skin. "I love you, Mira. More than I thought I was capable of. It would be my honor to spend my life taking care of our family and putting you both first."

I'm not sure I've stopped crying since Aiden walked me down the aisle, but it's a bona fide literal and emotional downpour now. Zane pulls back and, seeing how much I'm crying, immediately closes the gap again. He holds my face in his hands and brushes my tears away.

"I don't know what to say," I blubber, falling against his shoulder. I'm probably leaving makeup smears on the fabric, but I can't bring myself to care. "I-I love you so much, Zane. I didn't think I would have any of this. Love. Happiness. You . But—" I gesture to him with both hands. "You're here and I never want to be without you. I promise I'll love you and Aiden as long as I live. With everything I have."

I can't imagine my blubbery, on-the-fly vows are anything to write home about, but I look up to see that Zane is tearing up, too. His eyes are dark and glassy as he jerks me against him.

I fall into the kiss without any fight. I sink against his mouth, bend to his touch. When he tips me back and nips at my lower lip, I'm not sure why he isn't taking this all the way to the ground to see this show all the way through to its inevitable conclusion.

When Zane sets me upright and pulls away, I'm dazed.

Then Daniel clears his throat, and I remember where exactly we are. "I swear I'm getting to that part of the ceremony next. If you all can just hang with me for another thirty seconds, this will be over."

A laugh moves through the crowd and my cheeks heat. It only gets worse when I meet the intensity in Zane's eyes.

For a second there, he was just as lost as I was.

"By the power vested in me by the great state of Arizona and the kind people over at BECOMEAMINISTERREALQUICK.COM, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Zane," Daniel says warmly, stepping back, " now, you may kiss your bride."

I expect Zane to grab me the way he did a second ago, but he reaches for my hand with practiced calm. Gently, he pulls me against him and cradles my cheek.

His lips settle over mine, patient and hungry and promising something much deeper the second we're alone.

When he pulls away far too soon, the smile on his face is the most tender thing I've ever seen. His eyes sweep over me as he whispers, almost to himself, "My bride."