The Model Couple

📷 Chapter 56

📷

"Buttercup." I say as I see the most breathtaking woman in the world. She tentatively steps onto the stone walkway that has been sprinkled with rose petals, her hair braided in a crown around her head. Her dress is the perfect combination of beautiful and simple with it's lace corset bodice and layered prairie skirt. Her cheeks get increasingly rosier the farther down the aisle she comes.

I finally find the ability to take a breath but now my heart has started hammering in my chest. She wobbles in her high heels and I nearly race down the stairs to help. But she catches herself and after looking down to get her balance, she looks up, right into my eyes. A fissure of happiness like nothing I've ever felt races through my body. I don't ever want to look away from this beautiful girl.

A shocking thought enters my mind and I'm startled by how deeply I feel it. 

I wish this was real. 

I wish she really was walking down the aisle, becoming my wife. My heart throbs at the thought and it dawns on me how much of an idiot I've been. My throbbing heart, the ache in my chest over the last days, my desire to always be near her: THIS MUST BE WHAT LOVE FEELS LIKE. How could I have ever thought that I don't love her? I crave her. I need her in my life to feel complete, to have hope, to be happy. 

I've been feeling love for her all along. In fact, I love this girl more than I thought was even humanly possible. I adore everything about her. I want to protect her, take care of her, grow old with her. Even though I wasn't loved as a child, there is love for her overflowing in my heart right now. It's not a fig, but a full blown beating red heart in my chest. The realization gives me the biggest smile of my life.

As she starts up the stairs I feel moisture gather in the corner of my eyes. I imagine our future, our real wedding, her pregnant with my babies, taking our kids on vacation, holding hands on the sidelines of soccer games and growing old together. The happiness these thoughts bring me overwhelms my senses. 

The whole world dissolves away as she moves toward me. It's just me and her. When she reaches the top step she gives me a tentative smile. I can't help but shake my head in awe of her. I reach out to place my hands on her hips, to pull her closer as I say, "You're the most gorgeous woman I've ever seen in my life."

Her giant smile reminds me of how much she loves praise. I bring a hand up to cup her cheek and bring my nose down to hers, "I've been such an idiot, Buttercup."

Her eyes go wide, "No," she whispers, "Ry, don't say that." She rests her hands on my shoulders.

I chuckle at her reaction, "It's true. I don't know how I didn't see it before." There is an adorable confused expression on her face. "I love you..." Her expression morphs into surprise. "...so, so much. I thought I wasn't capable of love but all this time I've loved you so deeply, so very dearly." A small smile has replaced her shock, as hope enters her beautiful hazel eyes. "These last days have been torture for me, Baby. I was miserable without you. I missed you so much I ached. I want to be with you everyday from now until the day I die." Tears start running down her cheeks. I shake my head again. "I don't know how I didn't see it before, except that it was so new to me, a completely foreign feeling. But it's true, I love you Buttercup and I'm sorry I didn't recognize it sooner."

I lift my head and she leans her face on my chest, "Ry." I wrap both arms around her and lift her up. She buries her face in my neck. "Oh Ry, you make me so happy. I've been miserable without you too. I slept terrible. You have no idea how many times I wanted to crawl into your lap on the plane. I almost decided to be your girlfriend, even though you'd never love me because I wasn't sure I could live without you."