Nothing surprised me anymore. 

After everything that's happened over the past six months, I honestly believed that nothing could surprise me anymore. 

But when I looked down the aisle and saw the love of my life's smile—that fucking million dollar smile—I knew that this was it. This moment. Everything I've ever done in my life led me here. It led me to her. I used to wish that I had done things differently in my life. Sometimes I wished I didn't sleep my way through London in my teens and twenties. But the truth was as clear as day. If anything had been different, I may not have met Harper Lewis in a whole-in-the-wall bar. If anything had been different, I probably wouldn't be marrying her today. 

No. I wouldn't change a fucking thing. Not if the end result was this day. My mouth went dry and my heart started hammering in my chest when her eyes met mine. I used to make fun of married couples and weddings. I used to believe that marriage was a cage—weighing down a man who didn't want to be weighed down. 

I used to believe a lot of things. But that's all different now. 

Everything melted away when she started walking down the aisle. No. Not down the aisle. She was walking towards me. To me. The guests turned into a mix of blurred faces. The music lowered to a vibrating hum. There was nothing else around us. 

Nothing but her. 

What did her dress look like? I wanted to look and see but I couldn't seem to take my eyes off of her remarkably beautiful face. And that goddamn smile. The closer she got, the more my heart started raced. I opened and closed my fists. My fingers twitched. I swallowed the lump in my throat. 

"She's beautiful," Ryan whispered from behind me. 

That was the understatement of the century. "Yeah, she is." 

And she was mine. All mine. And I was hers. And in about three seconds, she was going to be standing in front of me. Then in a few minutes, she was going to become my wife. 

The minister's voice snapped me back to reality. I didn't even realize that she was now standing right in front of me.

"Who gives this woman to this man?" 

Nate's voice was strong when he answered. "I do." 

Nate placed a kiss to Harper's cheek before he placed her hand in mine. He stepped past me to take his spot as one of my groomsmen and stopped to whisper a warning in my ear. 

"You hurt her, and I'm coming for you, Jay. That's a promise." 

"I won't." No way in hell was I ever going to hurt this woman. 

Once Nate was in place, it was finally time. I took Harper's free hand in mine. For some reason I needed to touch her. To feel her. She grounded me. And right now, I needed to be grounded. 

I finally allowed myself to take in all of her. My eyes were hungry as they ran over the stunning dress she was wearing. Her hair was curly and pinned up. Her gaze was locked on me and I reached out to catch a tear before it spilled over. 

"You look beautiful, princess."

"Thank you." Her eyes ran over my slicked back hair and very expensive suit. "You clean up pretty nicely yourself." 

I stared into Harper's chocolate eyes as the minister started to speak. I was vaguely aware of what he was saying. I tried to pay attention, but I couldn't take my eyes off of the woman in front of me. That was what this woman did to me. She consumed me. 

I vaguely heard the music playing softly while the minister spoke. I heard someone sniffle from behind Harper. Probably Lanie. I tried and tried to focus on everything else around me, but I couldn't look away from her.

Then my mind took over and I was transported back to the first time we kinda, sorta did this...

"I know how we both feel about marriage, Harper—nd I know that that hasn't changed. That's why I'm not going to get down on one knee and ask you to marry me. I already consider you my wife. And I am your husband. But this—" I took the ring out of the box, "—this is a way to show the world that you're mine. That we are committed and completely in love with each other."

I eyed the necklace I had given her in Bora Bora. "I know I proclaimed something similar when I gave you that necklace. But this is different. A wife wears a ring given to her by the man she loves." My eyes searched her face. "So, what do you say, princess? Will you wear this ring and continue to make me the happiest man in the world?"

The ministers voice pulled my thoughts back to the present. "We will now proceed with the vows."

Suddenly nervous, I squeezed Harper's hands before I recited my vows.

"Harper, my beautiful princess, I can't begin to express how happy you've made me over the past two years. When we met, I was a man who wasn't worthy of a creature so pure and loving as you. I've never met someone with a heart as big as yours. You are the light to my darkness, and I cannot imagine living another day without you. You've pulled me from the shadows and brought me here, to our wedding day. I love you, princess. More than anything else in this world."

I reached behind me and Ryan placed the wedding band in my hand. I held it in front of me and gazed down at the familiar silver ring. It was my mum's wedding band. A ring that was passed down to the women of the family. Even though it was an heirloom, I wanted to make it a little personal. So I had the inside inscribed with something special. 

I looked into Harper's eyes as I continued my vows. "I promise to always be your faithful lover, your loyal partner, and most importantly," I glanced at Lanie who was crying behind Harper, "I will always be your Greek God."

There was an eruption of laughter at my joke. Harper chuckled, trying to control her emotions as a tear slid down her cheek. I stroked her soft skin and wiped it away.

"No one is worth your tears, princess," I whispered. "Not even me."

"These are happy tears," she whispered back to me.

Now it was Harper's turn to recite her vows. 

"Everyone knows that we didn't have the most conventional meeting," she teased. "At the time, I was unhappy and being forced into a situation I didn't want to be in and I felt betrayed by the only family I had. Then the man sitting next to me at the bar that night asked if I was having a rough day." A corner of her mouth lifted. "I had no idea that I was meeting the love of my life that night. You are the best thing that's ever happened to me. You were there for me as a friend and so much more. You are my family—and that's all I need."

Her smile widened and turned into that same fucking million dollar smile from before. "I love you, Jackson Reese—nd I promise to spend the rest of my life showing you just how much. I promise to be your committed wife, your family...and your princess. Forever." 

She took my hand and slid the silver wedding band on my finger. When she looked up at me, there was a mischievous glint in her eye. "You're mine now, Jackson. Forever." 

Unable to help myself, I leaned forward to kiss her. 

"Whoa!"
"Hey!"
"Can't kiss her yet."
"Classic Jackson."
"For goodness sake, JJ."

I exhaled a frustrated breath before turning to the minister. "Mind moving this along, mate? I very much want to kiss my wife now." 

"Yes," the minister said quickly. "Yes, of course. Do you, Jackson Reese, take this woman to be you lawfully wedded wife?" 

"I do," I vowed. 

"And do you, Harper Lewis, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?" 

Harper squeezed my hands tight. "Yes. I do." 

"By the power vested in my, I know pronounce you man and wife." The minister glanced towards me. "You may kiss the bride." 

I cupped the back of Harper's neck and crushed her lips to mine. Applause and congratulations erupted all around us. Naturally, I ignored it. All I cared about right now was kissing my wife. My wife. God, that sounded amazing. I deepened the kiss and pulled Harper's body closer to mine. I wanted to stay here in this moment forever. Apparently, my best friend knew that, too.

Nate cleared his throat. "You want to wait till you get to your room, Jackson? People are staring." 

The last thing I wanted to do was stop kissing Harper. But somehow I did. I pulled away and cupped her cheek with my hand. 

"You're mine now, princess. Forever mine." 

***

Married! I can't believe Harper and Jackson are finally married. These two have always meant the most to me. They started the series exactly one year ago. 

Also, a big thank you to all of you for your patience these past few weeks. I still have a little left of Tryst and it sill be posted very soon 🖤