The Actress and the Athlete: A JJ Watt Story [ON HOLD]

Prolouge

"Oh honey, look at you. You look so beautiful!" my mother says, tearing up as she sees me in my dress.

Seeing her face, I begin to tear up as well. "Mom, don't cry! Your makeup!" I joke pulling her into a hug. This entire weekend my mom would cry over the simplest things. Whether it was seeing our entire family bonding with our new family, my dad's speech at the rehearsal dinner, or seeing me in my dress, she began to cry at the drop of a hat.

Handing her a handkerchief, she dabs her eyes, careful not to ruin her makeup. "I can't help it. You're getting married today. My baby's finally getting married!"

Cheers and laughs filled the hotel suite as the bridal party continued to get ready. While they were, I looked around and began to observe everything and everyone. I observed my cousins sitting on the bed reminiscing over the last time all seven of us were together, my maids of honor hiding in a corner practicing their speeches, my grandmother chatting with my other bridesmaids, and my adorable flower girls twirling in their dresses. My bridal party consisted of my best friends since 6th grade Britani and Rachael (also both my matrons of honor), Kristin, Jolanda, Angie, Crystal, Heather, Gabrielle (JJ's younger brother Derek's wife), and Emilia Clarke. I still couldn't believe it. After five years, with three of them actually being together, I was finally marrying the love of my life... JJ Watt!

"Sweetheart, you look absolutely breathtaking!" JJ's mother Connie agrees and hugs my mother. "My son is a very lucky man."

"No," I tell her, "I'm a lucky woman because you raised such an amazing man, Ms. Connie."

"I am so happy that you two found each other." She begins to cry. "I've never seen him as happy as he's been than when he's with you. I am so honored to welcome another daughter and to welcome your family into ours."

Once she said those words, I couldn't hold my tears back any longer. I hugged the neck of my soon to be mother-in-law, as well my own mother, and shared a sweet and intimate moment. When JJ first brought me to meet his mother, what I loved about her was that she treated me like a normal person. She saw me not as Nicole Marie, the mega movie star, but as Nicole, the girl her son had fallen head over heels for.

"Can I interrupt for a quick moment?" Gabrielle smiles, holding two glasses of a yellowy mixed drink. "We can't have a bridal party without mimosas!" I loved how close we had become over the past five years (I was even a bridesmaid in her wedding) and was thrilled to soon have her as a sister. In fact, if it wasn't for her, I don't think JJ and I would even be here right now. "So... the guys are officially on their way to the ceremony. "

"And...?" I ask, nervously. "Is he nervous?"

"Actually, the complete opposite. He's ready to see you already!" Gabi laughs.

I smile and hug her neck. "Thank you for helping me put all this together and being there for me Gabi. I don't think I would have made it this long without you helping me."

"You're welcome babe." She replies. "We're gonna be sisters after all! And with Derek getting traded to Houston this year, I'll get to kidnap you for endless sister bonding time!"

I laugh as she hands the glasses to my mom and Connie and goes to grab one more for myself. Mom calls for everyone in the room to gather around the couch while I grabbed the presents I had made for my bridal party. Once they were all gathered, I grab my glass and start my speech.

"Umm... Can you believe we actually got here guys?!?" I joke. "I mean; I'm getting married in less than... four hours!!" The room erupts in laughs and cheers. "All my life, I was taught at a very young age to keep the ones you love as close to you as humanly possible. Everyone,"- I begin to choke up, "Everyone in this room has touched my heart and my life in one way, shape or form. You have been with me in some of the greatest moments of my life, as well as some of the worst. I honestly don't know how I would have made it through most of it without y'all. Thank you all so much for being in my life and I couldn't think of any other people to share this special day with. I love y'all."

Now crying, we raise our glasses and toast. "To Nicole and JJ!" mom and Connie cheer, clinking glasses with everyone.

~~~~~~~~~

"Ok, everyone, quiet!" our wedding planner Chloe loudly whispers in the crowded hall. "We're close to starting! Bridesmaids get with your groomsmen." While everyone slowly begins to pair up, I quietly sneak past away to steal a peek inside the ceremony and of course, see my man. I reach the door but as I begin to turn the handle, I'm immediately stopped by none other than JJ's brothers and best men, TJ and Derek.

"What you think you're doing, little sis?" Derek jokes, then suddenly picks me up and princess carries me back to the hall. One of our wedding photographers quickly snaps a picture of the moment as they carry me back.

"Derek! Put me down! You're gonna mess up the dress!" I laugh.

"Got you covered, Nicki!" TJ shouts, grabbing the long train and bottom of my dress. I couldn't help but laugh at the two of them. Ever since JJ let it slip that he had a 'special surprise' during the ceremony for me, I've been trying by any means necessary to find out what it was. And every time I thought I was getting close, here came Derek and TJ to make sure I didn't find out.

"Seriously guys?" I say dryly. "Is this really necessary?"

"We're doing this because we love you, Nicki." Derek laughs.

"Come on D! I just want to see this 'surprise' your brother keeps talking about!" I pout as he finally sets my back on the ground. "And um...in case you forgot, I'm older than the both of you!"

"Yea, but you're shorter than all of us, so you will always be 'little sis' no matter what." TJ laughs; I playfully punch his shoulder making him laugh harder.

"How's he doing?" I ask.

"He's good." Derek answers. "Not nervous at all. Excited more than anything. Which reminds me..." he pulls a letter out his pocket and hands it to me. "This is for you."

They walk around the corner, giving me some privacy, and I begin to read.

"Nicole, on this day almost five years ago, you fell into my life (literally). Ever since then, my life has never been the same. If I had had it my way, you would have been my wife years ago. But I knew I had to wait. Wait for you to open your heart to me, for that wall of yours to coming crumbling down, for you to fall in love with me. I can't promise that our lives will be easy; that every day will be perfect. There will be days where we may not be able to stand each other. Days when we feel like giving up. I can't promise you sunshine and rainbows every day, but what I can promise is that no matter what happens, no matter what life throws at us, I will love you through it all. That I will never give up on us. That you will always be my best friend, my partner in life, and my one true love. I love you with all my heart Nicole Marie Urton and will love you until my dying day. I can't wait to make you my wife. Look for me; I'll be the handsome guy at the altar.

Love, your soon to be husband, J."

P.S. Stop asking Derek and TJ about your surprise. You'll know it when you see it.

Reading his words, I begin to cry again. There were so many times I wondered "How did I get so lucky as to have found a man like him?" This letter reminded me how lucky I really was. I feel the big arms of Derek and TJ pull me for a hug. "You ok?" I hear TJ ask. I nod my head yes and hug them back. "I'm so glad you guys are gonna be my brothers." I tell them. "So are we Nicole. So are we." Derek states still hugging me.

"Ok, everyone TWO MINUTES!" Chloe yells at us. "We're on in two minutes!!" Everyone was officially in line and in order, and I stood in the back holding my dad's arm.

"You nervous?" he asks.

"No." I smile at him. "I'm ready."

Smiling back, he looks forward. Standing there waiting, I begin to re-think every single moment JJ and I had together. To think, if I had gone with my original plan, I wouldn't have ever met him. We wouldn't be here at this moment in our lives. I think about the first time I ever laid eyes on him.