Read Online BREATHE: A Billionaire Romance, Part Five by Jenn Marlow - Free Book Online
Authors: Jenn Marlow
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looking down, with his hands balled together in front of him, his fingers fidgeting and fussing with themselves.
I would have been offended that he wasn’t looking at me had he not have been fidgeting. I could tell that he was nervous. I smiled; I guess I could forgive him.
He looked so incredibly handsome as he stood there, Fredrick at his side.
He wore a light grey suit, crisp white shirt, and a gorgeous blue tie. And to be honest, it was probably the most casual I had ever seen him.
Laura walked towards him, and I watched as his eyes shifted up—but only for a moment—before gluing back down to the floor, his hands still fidgeting.
But beyond all of that, despite his nerves, I saw nothing other than a smile wider than I had ever seen, and I could tell in that moment that he was just as happy as I was.
And I was ecstatic.
I was marrying my best friend and partner.
The music began playing, and the entire room stood. It was show time. I took a deep breath and started down the aisle, feeling Stephen pull my arm as he took his steps with me. It was strange being walked down the aisle by a man that I hated not very long ago. However, now, I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
Stephen was a man my father chose for Laura; he was a man he allowed to be in all of our lives. As many faults as my daddy had, and as many issues I had with him, I knew now that he wouldn’t have steered us all so incredibly wrong by allowing him into the family.
Stephen was a lot to take. He was cocky and full of himself—as many bodybuilding-type men tended to be—but he was also a companion and a gentle soul deep down. He was a protector and a friend, and I was beyond thrilled to have him honor me in walking me down the aisle in my daddy’s place.
I walked slowly in step with him, my eyes set on Derek and Derek alone. As I walked, that moment seemed to stand still. I knew that technically I was getting close to the altar, but it all seemed slow-motion because all I could do was wish that I was already by his side and saying the vows to make him my husband until death.
“Who gives this woman?” the officiant asked, as the music died away and the crowd sat.
“Her mama does.” Stephen replied in perfect southern fashion, and I could do nothing but smirk at his accent.
The officiant looked over at Derek and myself, nodded, and smiled genuinely.
“Go get ‘em, tiger!” Stephen roared in a comedic whisper, just before giving me a kiss on the cheek.
“You don’t even know,” I whispered in jest, as he let go of my hand and offered it to Derek. Derek squeezed it firmly, reassuringly, and as soon as he did, it was like the rest of the world disappeared and there was only he and I. Just the two of us.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we are here today to celebrate the union of Zoe Shadrick and Derek Sholts.” He turned to us, and immediately I blushed.
“If you would please take a step up here, holding hands to symbolize walking through life together.” I turned and handed my bouquet to Laura, still holding onto Derek’s hand. We stepped up towards the officiant, both with gleaming smiles on our happy faces.
This would be the day we’d never forget; it was the day we were joined together for our love, in front of all the other people we loved and cared about.
Yet, as I stood in front of all of our friends and family, holding Derek’s hand, I noticed that I didn’t feel like I was the center of attention.
To me, I only felt Derek’s presence.
No one else’s.
Don’t get me wrong, I was glad that they were all there, but there was something about only focusing on Derek that made the moment seem more pure than I had ever anticipated.
I was about to become his wife.
I was about to be his forever; and he mine.
It was as corny as it came, but it was also nothing but the truth.
I squeezed his hand, the affection and love pouring out of me. I could do nothing more than hope and pray the kiss part was coming soon, because I
I would have been offended that he wasn’t looking at me had he not have been fidgeting. I could tell that he was nervous. I smiled; I guess I could forgive him.
He looked so incredibly handsome as he stood there, Fredrick at his side.
He wore a light grey suit, crisp white shirt, and a gorgeous blue tie. And to be honest, it was probably the most casual I had ever seen him.
Laura walked towards him, and I watched as his eyes shifted up—but only for a moment—before gluing back down to the floor, his hands still fidgeting.
But beyond all of that, despite his nerves, I saw nothing other than a smile wider than I had ever seen, and I could tell in that moment that he was just as happy as I was.
And I was ecstatic.
I was marrying my best friend and partner.
The music began playing, and the entire room stood. It was show time. I took a deep breath and started down the aisle, feeling Stephen pull my arm as he took his steps with me. It was strange being walked down the aisle by a man that I hated not very long ago. However, now, I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
Stephen was a man my father chose for Laura; he was a man he allowed to be in all of our lives. As many faults as my daddy had, and as many issues I had with him, I knew now that he wouldn’t have steered us all so incredibly wrong by allowing him into the family.
Stephen was a lot to take. He was cocky and full of himself—as many bodybuilding-type men tended to be—but he was also a companion and a gentle soul deep down. He was a protector and a friend, and I was beyond thrilled to have him honor me in walking me down the aisle in my daddy’s place.
I walked slowly in step with him, my eyes set on Derek and Derek alone. As I walked, that moment seemed to stand still. I knew that technically I was getting close to the altar, but it all seemed slow-motion because all I could do was wish that I was already by his side and saying the vows to make him my husband until death.
“Who gives this woman?” the officiant asked, as the music died away and the crowd sat.
“Her mama does.” Stephen replied in perfect southern fashion, and I could do nothing but smirk at his accent.
The officiant looked over at Derek and myself, nodded, and smiled genuinely.
“Go get ‘em, tiger!” Stephen roared in a comedic whisper, just before giving me a kiss on the cheek.
“You don’t even know,” I whispered in jest, as he let go of my hand and offered it to Derek. Derek squeezed it firmly, reassuringly, and as soon as he did, it was like the rest of the world disappeared and there was only he and I. Just the two of us.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we are here today to celebrate the union of Zoe Shadrick and Derek Sholts.” He turned to us, and immediately I blushed.
“If you would please take a step up here, holding hands to symbolize walking through life together.” I turned and handed my bouquet to Laura, still holding onto Derek’s hand. We stepped up towards the officiant, both with gleaming smiles on our happy faces.
This would be the day we’d never forget; it was the day we were joined together for our love, in front of all the other people we loved and cared about.
Yet, as I stood in front of all of our friends and family, holding Derek’s hand, I noticed that I didn’t feel like I was the center of attention.
To me, I only felt Derek’s presence.
No one else’s.
Don’t get me wrong, I was glad that they were all there, but there was something about only focusing on Derek that made the moment seem more pure than I had ever anticipated.
I was about to become his wife.
I was about to be his forever; and he mine.
It was as corny as it came, but it was also nothing but the truth.
I squeezed his hand, the affection and love pouring out of me. I could do nothing more than hope and pray the kiss part was coming soon, because I
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