Page 147 of Protecting Peyton

“I could ask the same thing from all of us about you,” Mom said with a smile, leaning forward to kiss me. “Are you ready for this?”

“I’m ready,” I said desperately, nodding my head. Music was playing throughout the station, and my hands began to tremble with excitement. Things were getting real.

“Peyton,” Remington said, poking his head into the room a moment later. “Are you ready?”

“I’m ready,” I said, looking at my mother. “I’m walking down the aisle with my mother—if she’ll have me.”

A small gasp of surprise escaped my mother’s lips as she got to her feet and pulled me to mine, wrapping her arms around me for another hug.

“Yes,” she whispered in my ear. “It would be my pleasure, beautiful daughter.”

“See you up there,” said Rem with a wink, and a moment later, the wedding march began to play, and my mother secured her arm in mine, gripping me tight. I knew she wouldn’t let me fall. Not now, and not ever.

“Okay,” I whispered, and we walked out of the kitchen, following the path of scattered rose petals. Matt Olsen and Eli Burton held the door to the bay open for us, stepping back with smiles as we stepped into the room, engulfed suddenly by music—and people. So many people. Family. Friends. Acquaintances. And every single one of them stood when I came in, their smiles true, their silent well wishes kind.

On top of the truck down the aisle was Korbin, my fiancé, the love of my life. I stopped when I saw him, my knees suddenly feeling weak, but not with fear or apprehension—with excitement. Adrenaline. This was really happening.

Standing next to Korbin was Hansen and then his brother, Ian. On the other side was Paisley, squealing in silence, and next to her was Remington, holding the ring boxes in his hand.

“Don’t let me fall,” I whispered to my mother. As the music played and the people smiled, I climbed that silly ladder until I was in Korbin’s arms, straightening up to stand across from him, feeling those familiar tears of happiness tug at my eyelids. As the music grew soft, Korbin reached for me, taking my hands in his as he began to speak. He looked so handsome in his black tuxedo with a blue tie, but I could focus mainly on the words.

“Peyton Blake, I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life,” he said, his eyes focused only on me, oblivious to the room full of guests. It was just us. Nobody else. “But my biggest mistake was losing you the first time.” He reached one hand up to touch my face, his thumb gently caressing my cheek. “And then, even worse, the second time.” I giggled at this, and the crowd chuckled. But nobody spoke. Nobody even coughed. “I’m an idiot,” he continued. “Because only an idiot would ever turn his back on a woman like you more than once. So, Peyton, I hope you can forgive me.”

“I said yes, didn’t I?” I teased him, and this time the laughter was louder.

“That you did,” he murmured, eyes twinkling. “So, let me make this promise to you: I will love you for the rest of our lives, in sickness and health, until my dying breath. I will cherish and care for you even when we’re angry at each other and fighting. I will raise a family with you, whatever kind of family you want. And I will do all of this with a smile, because you are my soulmate, and I will never doubt our love again.”

I nodded, unable to keep the tears from slipping from my eyes. Korbin wiped one of them away, still smiling. Remington, who had volunteered to be our officiator for the wedding (thanks, internet!), stepped up, smiling between us.

“Peyton, do you take Korbin Butler to be your husband?” he asked. “Through the good shit and the bad? All the time?”

I laughed. So did everyone else.

“I do.”

“And do you, Korbin, take Peyton Blake to be your wife? Do you promise to never break her heart again and love her through all of eternity?”

Korbin glared at him as the rest of us laughed, and he ran a hand through his hair. “I do,” he said. “I really, really do.”

“Then I now pronounce you soulmates,” said Remington. “You can kiss the crap out of your beautiful bride.”

I fell into Korbin as we kissed, lost in the moment as friends and family cheered from the sidelines, clapping and celebrating with us. I felt breathless, only able to breathe as long as Korbin’s lips were on mine.

“I love you, Mr. Butler,” I said, pressing my forehead against Korbin’s.

“And I love you, Mrs. Butler,” he said softly, swaying where we stood.

“All right, all right,” Remington yelled over the excited crowd. “It’s time for the reception, ladies and gents, so hang around for food and drinks and to wish the new, happy couple a lifetime of love and happiness and scorching sex.”

Chapter45

Korbin

We stood beside my father’s grave in the dark later that night. Peyton’s hand held mine, and her head rested on my shoulder, comforting me without even saying anything. I missed him. God, I missed him. And while today had been nothing short of perfect, I longed to have him there. We both did.

“Thank you, Oscar,” Peyton said softly, dropping my hand to kneel in the damp grass, fingers running gently over the carvings on my father’s headstone. “Thank you for raising the man I would someday marry. He’s perfect in so many ways, and I know it’s because you and Nina raised him right.” A tear slipped between her lids, and she wiped it away before laying her wedding bouquet on the gravesite, kissing her fingers before touching the stone again. A moment later, I took her hand and helped her to her feet, and she kissed me on the cheek, squeezing my fingers.

“I’ll give you a minute,” she said. I almost argued, almost made her stay, but I knew I needed it. I hadn’t visited my father’s grave alone since he died.

Peyton walked back to the truck to wait for me, and I dropped to my knees just where she had been, reaching to touch the stone. It felt cold beneath my touch but still alive somehow, and I shivered.

“Thank you for teaching me to be a good man,” I said, resting my hands in my lap. “Thank you for loving Ma so unconditionally that all your children eventually knew how to do, is love unconditionally.” I looked away towards the truck where Peyton was sitting in the passenger’s seat. I could see her engrossed in one of her sappy romance novels through the window, and I smiled. “Thank you for Peyton,” I said, turning back to the headstone. “I know how much you loved her before you died. We were ready for it. We all were. And I’m sorry that it took me so long after your death to move on—to be with her again. If you were here, you would have smacked me upside the head for letting go of her in the first place.” I chuckled to keep from crying, bowing my head as a breeze whipped through the cemetery, shaking the leaves from the trees. If I closed my eyes and focused, I could almost feel his presence behind me, one hand on my shoulder, reassuring me.

I sat for five or ten minutes before finally getting to my feet. I hadn’t realized it, but tears were streaming down my face. I wiped at my eyes and turned to leave, heading back towards the truck where my bride was waiting for me. She didn’t say anything as I joined her in the cab, merely reaching over to squeeze my hand.

“I love you,” she said, and I leaned over the seat to kiss her forehead, holding her there for a moment to bask in her company.

“Peyton,” I breathed, and she closed her eyes. “I love you too. Forever.”