15. Stacey

Chapter Fifteen

STACEY

Eight weeks later

"How are you this morning?" Peyton asks when I answer his call.

"Great!"

"You sure?"

"Yes, Peyton. I'm fine. No puking, no queasiness. I'm fine and today is going to be amazing."

"Okay, just making sure. I know the past few weeks have been rough for you, and I just worry about you."

"I know you do, babe, but I'm good. I'll see you in a few hours. I'll be the girl in the white dress," I tease him.

"Damn straight, you will. I can't believe that you will be my wife today. I love you so damn much, Stacey."

"And I love you."

"Are you ready to tell everyone about our little one?"

"So ready! I can't believe we've been successful in keeping it under wraps all this time, but I know our family is going to be so excited."

"Well, just a few more hours and we can shout the news from the rooftops, if you want."

"I don't think we need to go to that extent, but I'm excited to tell people."

"All right, gorgeous, I'll let you go get ready. I can't wait to see you in a few hours. Call me if you need me."

"Love you, see you soon."

I slide out of bed and walk over to the window. I stayed at the hotel last night to keep with tradition of not seeing each other before the wedding today. My parents, brother and sister-in-law, along with my niece and Reese, are all staying here at the hotel, as well. We're using two of their ballrooms, one for the ceremony and the other for the reception.

"Knock knock," Reese says as she opens the bedroom door to my room. We split a two-bedroom suite last night. I asked her to be my maid of honor, being that she's become my best friend over the past couple of years.

"Come in. I'm finally just getting out of bed. Figured I needed to get moving if I want to be ready in time for our hair and makeup appointments."

"Are you excited?" she asks, taking a seat on the end of the bed.

"Yes! I'm getting married today!"

"Are you nervous at all?"

"Not at all. I know that Peyton loves me, and I love him. Absolutely no reservations about marrying him. Even with the short engagement, I don't have any ‘cold feet' or last-minute jitters. I just want to be married and start our life as husband and wife."

"I'm so excited for the two of you. I almost feel responsible for you meeting."

"Well, I appreciate it," I tell her with a grin, then walk into the bathroom.

I take a shower and slip on some comfortable clothes for when the "Glam Squad," as Reese calls them, shows up. She's got all the connections and insisted on bringing them in for us today. They'll be setting up in the living room area of our suite to do everyone's hair and makeup.

I walk out to the living room to find my mom and sister-in-law, Julie, lounging on the couches, munching on some breakfast items.

"Morning," I greet the two of them as I round the couch to give my mom a hug. "Where's the food? I'm starving!"

"Over by the bar. We brought up some muffins and pastries, along with some juice and coffee. If you want anything else, we can call room service," Mom tells me.

"The pastries and juice will suffice." I make my way over to the tray she brought up and pick a few small items, then pour myself a glass of the orange juice. With food in hand, I join my mom and Julie on the couch and visit with them while we wait for the Glam Squad to arrive.

Peyton

I stand here at the altar and watch as the doors open, and Stacey and her dad come into view. The small group of people—our closest family and friends—all stand as Steve starts to escort Stacey down the aisle.

I'm usually pretty good at holding in my emotions, but seeing her for the first time in her white dress as she walks to me takes my breath away. I can feel my eyes watering as tears start to form. I quickly swipe at my eyes, wiping away the few tears that threaten to spill over so that I don't miss a moment of her walking toward me.

I take a few steps forward as they near the end of the aisle, meeting them a few feet in front of where the minister stands.

"I love you," I whisper to her, biting my bottom lip. "God, you're a vision. I'm so lucky," I add, then shake Steve's hand before he gives her a hug and kiss.

"Who gives this woman?" the minister asks.

"Her mother and I," Steve answers, then steps back and takes a seat next to Lynn.

We move closer to the minister as he walks us through the traditional vows. I knew there wasn't any way I'd be able to get through writing my own vows, especially when my wife writes lyrics for a living. She'd blow me out of the water with what she'd be able to come up with, so she took pity on me and agreed to just use the traditional ones.

"You may now kiss your bride!" the minister tells me, a few moments later. I swoop in, bend her back, and bring my lips to hers. The hoots from the crowd tells me they're enjoying our show.

We finally break apart and I drop my forehead to hers, just taking in this moment. "Love you. Both of you," I whisper to her.

Stacey is now my wife.

I've found my forever, and all it took was just her smile to win me over and change my life completely.