Marrying Mr. Wrong (Dirty Martini Running Club #3) - Claire Kingsley Page 0,105
family—we had that in common. I had my dad. He had his mom. That was all. The rest of the chairs were filled with friends, many of whom were like family to us.
Oliver had brought Lauren. She’d once been known as the tea shop girl; now she was the future Mrs. Carrington. They’d gotten engaged about a month ago. Steve was here with his new wife, Flora. They’d worked through the hazards of integrating their cats into the same household and had recently added two kittens to the mix—a brother-sister pair. A bunch of my other co-workers were here too, as were just about everyone from Cox’s office.
Drake and Marika Meadows were here, as were the rest of Monkey Rum. I still wasn’t sure what to think about actual rock stars being at my wedding, but here we were. We’d even invited J.J. the limo driver, and he’d come up from Vegas.
My dad made his way over, walking slowly with his cane. He looked so dapper in his gray suit. As soon as he’d seen the cabin by the lake, he’d been smitten with it. Not a single argument about moving. And the new living arrangements were really good for him. He seemed stronger, able to be on his feet for longer periods of time. He said it was the fresh air and fishing. I tended to think he was right.
Plus, he could come over and have dinner with us whenever he wanted. We’d moved into the other house on the property. I’d never lived anywhere so beautiful in my entire life. Maddie had plenty of room to run around, although she still spent a lot of time hiding under beds. And the hamster was back to being Mr. Fluffykins. He hadn’t bitten me again, so I figured he could keep his original name.
Dad paused and for the second time, I saw his eyes brim with tears. “Oh, princess.”
“Hi, Dad.”
He walked closer, his eyes crinkling at the corners with his teary smile. “You look so much like your mom the day I married her. And that’s a true compliment because she was fuckin’ beautiful.”
I laughed. “Thank you, Dad.”
He held out his arm. “Ready?”
“Yes.” I slipped my hand in the crook of his elbow and Nora handed me my bouquet. “Are you?”
“I’ve been ready for this day for a long damn time, princess.”
A photographer flitted around, taking photos. Everly, Hazel, and Nora lined up and Jamie motioned them through.
I got close enough to see up to the front, where the officiant waited. And there he was.
Cox. My husband.
He always looked handsome. In gym shorts, or a t-shirt and jeans. In a suit and tie, or in nothing at all, he was the most gorgeous man I’d ever seen.
Maybe I was a little bit biased.
Today he was more handsome than ever in a gray suit with a vest and tie.
Georgia sat in the front row, across the aisle from my dad’s seat. She twisted around and waved at me, tears already streaming down her face. I waved back, trying so hard not to cry.
Up front with Cox were his three groomsmen, Oliver, Mr. Calloway, and Corban. Mr. Calloway held little Ella in his arms. She must have been fussy and wanted her daddy.
Before I knew it, Jamie was ushering me and Dad to the end of the aisle. Dad straightened, standing tall.
Cox’s eyes found me. And he smiled.
I started crying and didn’t try to stop. That was just how this was going to go.
Besides, it was my wedding day. If I wanted to cry happy tears of blissful joy through the whole thing, I would.
The guests stood and we started forward, step by step up the aisle. Cox’s grin didn’t fade even the tiniest bit. He watched me come to meet him as if he were the happiest man on earth.
Me. I made him smile like that.
We got to the front and I turned toward my dad. He leaned forward and kissed me on the cheek.
“I love you, princess,” he whispered.
“I love you too, Dad.”
Then he turned. Cox reached out to shake his hand, but Dad stepped in closer and wrapped him in a hug.
And then I heard the most amazing thing. Dad held him another second and said, “Son.”
Cox pulled away and swiped beneath his eyes. I was crying like a baby, but Cox? I’d never imagined I’d see the day.
Dad took his seat. I handed my bouquet to a teary Nora and moved to stand with Cox.