Page 43 of Deserving Lara
Cora turned her head and smiled at her friend.
Lara swallowed hard, trying not to burst into tears.
“She accepted me as I was. Brash, outspoken, and bitter. So very bitter. And then she disappeared. And I panicked. If the one person who actually liked me could leave, what did that mean? And then, there you were, Pipe. On that stage. I couldn’t take my eyes off you. You were different. Like me. I saw how people looked at you. How their gazes went from your tattoos, to your long hair and beard…and they judged you. Oh, how they judged. I think I fell in love with you at that moment, but I didn’t want to admit it. Because admitting it meant opening myself up to rejection, just like when I was a kid.
“But you burst through all my walls. You made me understand what love truly meant—accepting the other person exactly as they are. I love you, Pipe. More than you’ll ever know. But one thing youshouldknow, is that you’ll never be as loved as loyally as I will love you. You’ll never have to wonder if your wife is faithful. You’ll never have to question if I’ve got your best interests at heart. All those rejections I went through as a kid just made my love all the deeper now. I’ll support you in whatever you want to do, and I’ll beat the crap out of anyone who dares to give you the side-eye because of how you look. You’re perfect for me, and I’ll always be in awe at how life managed to put you in my path just when I needed you most.”
It was hopeless to try to keep the tears from falling. Lara wiped her cheeks with her hand and gave Owl a small smile when he lifted a brow at her, obviously asking if she was all right.
“My turn?” Pipe asked, prompting Owl.
He chuckled and turned his attention back to the couple. “Sorry, yes. Pipe, your vows?”
“I love you, Cora. And those arseholes who rejected you when you were little were the ones who missed out. Not you. I will always honor and cherish you.Always. You’re my everything, and I don’t give a shit about people side-eyeing me, but if they dare say one word about you, all bets are off. When we have kids, they’ll never go one day without knowing down to their bones that they’re loved and wanted. And that goes for the ones we adopt as well as the ones we have ourselves.”
“Pipe,” Cora whispered, clearly overwhelmed.
Pipe dropped her hands and pulled her into his embrace. Her hands landed on his chest while one of his arms was locked around her waist, the other hand on her cheek.
“You’re mine, Cora. From the moment I saw you from that stage, I was intrigued. But it was when I was standing in your empty flat, and realized the lengths you’d gone to in order to help your best friend, that I fell in love. Irrevocably, instantly in love. I wanted that loyalty for myself. Needed it. I’m an intense bloke, and you’ll probably get irritated with that, but I don’t care. You’re mine, just as much as I’m yours. Forever.”
After exchanging rings, Cora and Pipe grinned at each other, and Owl finished the ceremony.
“With the power vested in me by the state of New Mexico, I now pronounce you man and wife,” he said with a huge smile.
Pipe turned his head and glared at his friend. “And?” he demanded.
“And what?” Owl said.
“You’re forgetting the best part,” Pipe growled. Honest-to-God growled.
Cora giggled as her arms snaked upward and went around her new husband’s neck.
Owl grinned. “Oh, you mean the kissing part?”
“Yeah, asshole. The kissing part,” Pipe complained.
“Didn’t think you needed permission to kiss your woman.”
“This is our wedding. You’re supposed to say it. So say it already, damn it!”
It was funny to see the friends griping at each other, and Lara thought it was kind of adorable that Pipe wanted the traditional words.
“Right. Fine. Pipe, you may now kiss your bride.”
“It’s about damn time,” he muttered before lowering his head.
The kiss her best friend and new husband shared was deep, long, and so full of love, Lara had a hard time looking away. The way Pipe held Cora. The way his hand spanned the small of her back. The way she went up on her toes to get closer. It was all so damn beautiful, Lara couldn’t help but sigh in satisfaction and joy.
“You good?”
Lara jerked in surprise as she felt Owl’s hand on her back and he leaned toward her. She hadn’t seen him approach; she’d been too busy enjoying her best friend’s happiness.
“I’m great,” she told him with a huge smile.
Time felt suspended as they stared at each other.
Then, so caught up in the beauty of the moment and joy for her friend, Lara moved without thought.
