I Do

He smiled back at her and stood up before he helped her to her feet. He held the back of her neck and brushed his lips against hers ever so softly. The kiss was soft and light but it ignited a fire in them that burned with so much zeal. By the time he pulled away, they were both panting. He reached into his pocket and pulled out her engagement ring.

“Do you always carry that thing with you?” she asked and he smiled.

“I haven’t let it out of my sight since you took it off.” He took her left hand and looked into her eyes. “What do you say? Are you going to take it back?”

She nodded.

“Yes,” she said in a whisper and he slid the ring on her ring finger.

                                                            *****

Three months later, Josie walked down the aisle in a Vera Wang gown from her 2016 fall line at the Southern California ranch. The dress was the perfect match for the cathedral veil she had chosen to go with rather than a traditional one.

The private affair was attended by just a hundred of Ethan and Josie’s closest family and friends, just the way Josie had always pictured it. She had Dani as he maid of honor and Ethan had Noah as his best man. Nate and Zach made the cutest groomsmen and Josie couldn’t have been prouder if she tried. As she and Ethan danced in the reception, she felt like the luckiest girl in the world.

“I love you so much,” Ethan rasped as he held her close. Josie smiled.

“I love you, too.”

“I know that we hit a pretty big bump but I wouldn’t change anything that happened,” he said and she forced a laugh.

“What do you mean?” she asked. “Why wouldn’t you change anything?”

“Living without you just made me realize how lost I was without you.” He spun her around and then pulled her back into his arms. “I am definitely not going to ever take you for granted.”

Josie giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck just as the master of ceremonies announced that it was time for them to leave. Josie’s parents and Noah walked over to them and hugged them before the new couple walked out of the reception area.

“So, where are we going?” she asked when he opened the passenger door for her.

“The honeymoon is a surprise. Mum’s the word, Mrs. Beckett.”

He climbed into the driver’s seat and buckled himself in.

“Are you ready?” he asked and she smiled at him before he drove off.

Josie closed her eyes as she felt the cool breeze on her skin.

“Mrs. Ethan Beckett,” she thought, smiling.

It just sounded right. Perfect. Their union was just perfection from different strokes and they both loved that their differences were what made them who they were.

The end.