First

Chapter 56

"Okay, if one more person asks me what our wedding colours are or what kind of cake we've chosen, I'm going to lose it," he whispered, snagging a marshmellow off the table and lounging against the railing on the deck after he had finally extricated himself from all the wedding talk.

"Blue and burgundy and we haven't chosen a cake yet," I replied automatically, smirking at him.

Jace shook his head in amusement. "Come here," he commanded, opening his arms for me. I instantly wrapped my arms around him. "I feel so out of the loop about my own goddamn wedding." He sighed. "I'm sorry I haven't been around to help."

"Don't worry," I said, pressing a kiss to his chin. "You've got five months to get caught up," I assured him. "I'll get you up to speed in no time."

Jace laughed and rested his forehead against mine. "I'm sure you will."

"Besides, I haven't made any big decisions yet. Just the colours and dress. I've narrowed down the caterer and venue to three choices. They've agreed to hold the date for us after I explained our situation to them. And cake testing we can do when we get back. I wanted to make sure you had some say," I laughed lightly.

Jace still sighed. "Seems like an awful lot I've missed. I don't want to be like other guys who leave all the planning to the fiancée and her family. I want to take part too."

I lay my head on his chest, listening to my favourite sound in the entire world—his heart. "Jason... you know that I want you to be a part of the planning as much as you do. I tried to leave as many decisions as I could until you got home." I leaned up on my tiptoes and pressed a kiss to his nose. "Trust me Jace, I'll make sure this is our wedding, the way we want it."

Jace nodded and turned with me in his arms before placing us back to front; once again looking out over the lake. "I trust you. I cannot wait to make you my wife. We can finally start our lives together—move out of that apartment and buy our own house, start making babies..." I laughed and let my head fall back against his chest. "Or at the very least, get lots of practice making those babies."

"We already do that," I replied, pulling a full belly laugh from Jace. "But we'll get there in all due time," I assured. "I want that too."

Jace and I stood like that for what seemed like hours, once again wrapped in our own little world as we watched the sun set over the lake. It was moments like these that made me appreciate life that much more. Things could have gone so differently this year—and even in our lives. Jace may not have made it home or something that happened in the past could have derailed our lives and separated us forever. God knew there were plenty of chances. But somehow, against all odds, we made it here together and in one piece. Just the thought that we could have been separated was enough to make me physically ill. He may have been mentally damaged but he was physically here and that was all that mattered. Jace was here, with his arms wrapped around my middle. I had his breath tickling my ear. I could feel his heartbeat against my back. Jace made me value and treasure the little things; things that I had once taken for granted and thought inconsequential now made my world blaze with light.

Eventually, Jason and I moved back to the fire to warm up, Jace pulling me into his side and dropping a kiss onto my head. I smiled, completely at home in his arms. The conversation ebbed and flowed around us and pulled us into its folds. It was so easy being here with my friends and family; I had everyone I cared about here—the most important being the man beside me.

But like all good things in life, the bubble of contentedness and happiness Jace and I had inhabited all night burst. "Hey everybody, look! They're setting up the fireworks," my cousin called, pointing across the bay.