Eleven

Andy

T he SUV seemed to crawl at a slower than normal speed as my dad drove us out to Erik's. It wasn't far from their house, and any other day it would only take a few minutes, but today it seemed to take a week or more. Mariah sat quietly in her pretty dress and new cowboy boots between Morgan and Stu in the back seat, while I sat up front in the middle seat, sandwiched between Dad and Mom.

"Andy, we're nearly there," Mom said, and patted my knee that hadn't stopped bouncing since we'd loaded up.

I could see the house in the distance, but the cars parked around it were far more than normal when the gang got together. The closer we got the more I could see, and soon the trees were visible with the ribbons and jars hanging from them, and from what I could see of the barn, it was also decorated. "Did they bring in a dance floor?" I said to no one in particular.

"That's from Morgan and me. We wanted to make sure it was nice for your first dance," Stu said and squeezed my shoulder.

"I never expected that. Thanks, guys." I turned in the seat to look at them both. They were dressed up today too, and if I didn't know better, I would have sworn this was how Morgan had probably dressed regularly before he moved here. But now I was so used to seeing him in Lance's hand-me-downs he looked like a different person. "You two look nice by the way."

"Hey, what about me, Uncle Andy," Mariah asked and crossed her arms.

"You look especially beautiful, Mariah. Like a fairy princess."

She giggled and buried her face in Morgan's side, and he automatically slung his arm over her and squeezed her tight. His eyes met mine and the love and happiness he felt was on full display. Stu looked from him to me, and grinned before leaning in and kissing Mariah's head.

"Yeah, no one better give Link and me any shit about being in love," I mumbled.

"Well, you are in love," Mom said and elbowed me.

"Have you seen how they look at each other?" I whispered more than loud enough for them to hear.

"Yes, and I am more than happy for them." Dad parked close to the house and as we started to climb out, I realized Lance wasn't there.

"Where's Lance?" I asked.

"He's going to be here closer to three. He had something to do," Dad said, as everyone smoothed and brushed ff their clothes after getting out of the SUV. I slipped on my jacket that I'd held on my lap so it wasn't wrinkled, and Mom smoothed out some crinkles.

"You look very handsome," Mom said. Her voice was full of emotion and her eyes were a little brighter than normal. I couldn't look away from her and the longer I looked the more my own emotions built.

"Thanks, Mom, and thanks for always being there for all of us." The older I got the more I understood how much my parents had done for us through the years. They were the ones my friends went to if they needed to talk to someone, and they'd been there for Link when his parents decided to move out of town. I'd always thought my mom was too tough on us, but in reality, she gave us boundaries and taught us to be decent humans all while letting us know without a doubt she loved us.

I walked toward the barn where I could see Toni and Curt busy with something. "Hey, guys, need help with anything?" I asked. Toni turned to speak to me and froze.

"Andy? Wow, I mean I knew you'd clean up nice, but you look really good."

"You look nice too." She was dressed similar to Mariah, wearing a black dress with cowboy boots. I glanced at Curt and did a double take when I noticed he was wearing a suit.

"Curt, I don't think I've seen you this dressed up since graduation." I patted him on the back, and he laughed and wiped his smile away with his thumb and forefinger.

"You're not wrong," he said, and we all laughed. Just then Stu walked up with Morgan while Mom and Dad walked into the area of the barn where the wedding would take place.

"So, what do you think?" Stu asked.

"It's amazing. I feel bad for not helping you guys, but it really was incredible to drive up and see it ready to go. Speaking of, where's Link?" I looked again toward the house but now more people were arriving, and it was starting to get more crowded with both cars and people.

"He was in the house a few minutes ago. I'm sure he'll be out here any minute," Toni said before walking over to where they'd set up a bar. Almost on cue, the door opened and there he was. Even from here I could tell how good he looked. I pushed Curt aside and walked between Morgan and Stu, ignoring their laughter as I rushed over to Link.

His eyes locked on me, and he watched as I hurried to him trying not to break into a run. A smile spread on his lips that I was hopeless not to reflect right back at him. I stopped just in front of him. My future husband, and the love of my life. "You made it," I said, and tried to sound way cooler than I was.

His brow raised while he continued to grin at me. "I wouldn't miss this for the world."

It was then I noticed his tux, and how his was slightly different to mine, but it looked just as amazing. "You're beautiful," I whispered.

"You're more beautiful, and I still can't believe you want to marry me." He reached for my hand just as even more cars pulled in. For a few moments I didn't look around, or answer when people who I knew were important to us walked by and offered congratulations. Most laughed and kept walking to the barn, but a few stopped and watched us. None of that mattered. All I could see was Link, and the way he looked at me while we waited to be married.