Page 244 of That Rush

“I would like that.”

“He said I had to ask.”

A year ago, Aiden would have arranged the entire walk and informed both of us afterward.

“He’s learning.”

“He practices a lot.”

Josie takes my hand, and we step onto the porch together.

The chairs have finally stopped moving. My parents sit in the front row with my sister beside them. Hudson and Deven are across the aisle, followed by Axel and Sadie, Adrienne and Scotty, and the few people we chose because neither of us wanted our wedding to become a Slade family reunion with vows squeezed into the middle.

Aiden waits near the edge of the porch with the mountains behind him.

The dark suit fits him unfairly well. His hair is combed, his shoulders are broad beneath the jacket, and the expression on his face is so open that my next breath catches.

He looks at Josie first. His gaze drops to the locket, and memory, sharp and sudden, moves through his features before he smiles at her.

Then his eyes find mine.

His eyes travel slowly over my dress, and the heat in them promises that marrying him has done nothing to improve his manners.

Josie tugs my hand. “You have to keep walking.”

“Right.”

Aiden’s mouth curves.

We cross the porch. When I reach him, he holds out his hand without taking mine. I place my palm against his because I am ready.

“You’re beautiful,” he says, for my ears only.

“You were told to save your comments for the ceremony.”

“That wasn’t one of the rules.”

“You read the fine print.”

“I married a librarian. I came prepared.”

The ceremony begins before I can remind him that he has not married anyone yet.

Josie stands between Deven and Hudson, touching the locket whenever she smiles. Aiden keeps his hand around mine. His thumb moves across my knuckles once, slow and familiar, while we listen to the brief words we approved together.

It is his turn.

“Paige, I promise to ask instead of assuming. I promise to listen to your answer, even when it ruins the plan I already made.” Axel’s laugh is the first one I hear, quickly joined by the others. “I’ll show up for the loud days, the quiet Fridays, and every ordinary morning between them. I’ll make room for the life you want and build ours with you. I love the woman you are, and I will keep choosing you for the rest of my life.”

My eyes burn, which is inconvenient because I spent several minutes applying mascara.

I curl my fingers tighter around his.

“Aiden, I promise to tell you what I want, even when disappearing into a book would be easier. I’ll make plans with you, change them with you, and remind you when color-coding has gone too far. I promise to show up because I want this life, including the noise, the ranch, your alarming family, and the man who learned that a locked door doesn’t mean I’m leaving. I love you, and I choose you.”

Josie’s stage-whisper carries across the chairs. “You forgot Fridays.”

“They’re included,” I assure her.