Page 128 of Broken Butterfly
My breath hitches as I approach the boy I grew up with who is now the man that is my everything.I love you, I mouth.
Not as much as I love you, he mouths back.
As I reach Ryder, Daniel and Drew shake his hand before each kissing my cheek.
“You are stunning,” Ryder says, breathing me in.
“You are and have always been the most handsome man in the room.”
“I don’t think I’ll be able to wait until tonight.”
“Meredith mentioned a coat closet that could come in handy later.”
“Babe,” he groans.
“I love you, Ryder Cutton.”
“I love you back, sweet Elizabeth.”
I hand my bouquet to Elijah and place my trembling hands in Ryder’s larger ones, linking our pinkies together. He’s my anchor. My home. My sweet copper-eyed daredevil.
“You are one ballsy son of a bitch,” I tell Ryder, shaking my head, a huge smile exploding across my face.
“So you liked it?” he asks about the front flip he just did on his motorbike trying to show off for me.
“Loved it,” I breathe.
Ryder reaches for my hand and links our pinkies together.
I look over at Julien and Trevor. I turn to smile at Elijah and Meredith. I gaze out into the congregation. My gaze wanders over the new faces we have added to our group this past year. Our family. My family. I see Daniel and Drew, Faith and Randy, Freda and Mitch, Bryce, Trevor, and Sara, Brea, Jamie, and Jack, Tatiána, Eduardo, and their two sons. I smile at Devon, Seamus, Trevaughn, and Butch. My eyes finally land on one man I wasn’t expecting but am so very happy to see.
Fallon. He came. He’s here.
Fallon gives me that cocky-as-sin smile of his. The smile I beam back at Fallon in return is huge.
“He wanted to be here for you today,” Ryder whispers at me.
Best wedding present ever.
The minister clears her throat and I give my whole attention back to the man I’m about to marry. The man who I’m going to spend the rest of my life with. My heart explodes with a thousand suns worth of love as Ryder lifts my hand to his lips, then flips it over and presses another kiss to my palm.
“Forever and always, baby,” he tells me with tears in his eyes.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today…”
“Punch it, Big Daddy,” I tell Ryder, loving every inch of his new Dodge Challenger Hellcat. He presses the accelerator, and we speed down the road.
“So, where are we headed?”
“You’re the first to get a ride in her, so where do you want to go?”
“I’m the first? Not even your dad?”
“Nope. I wanted it to be you. I knew you’d appreciate her.”
“If it’s a her, then you just destroyed my dreams of marrying it.” I give a mock pout. “Okay, maybe not. She is gorgeous. Aren’t you just gorgeous, Stella,” I coo as I pat the dashboard.
“Stella?” Ryder’s eyebrow kicks up with mirth.
