Ch14
Bella watched with her broken heart the way Candice sped through the vows the priest gave to her. She was excited, and anxious to be named Mrs. Lenox. The audience chuckled at how adorable and excited she was.
Now it was Luke’s turn to repeat the vows. His mind was still wondering and he stuttered over every word.
“I, Luke Lenox,” the priest began.
“I, Lenox Luke,” he said backwards. The audience chuckled at his slip. “Sorry. I mean, um…I, Luke Lenox.”
“Take you, Candice Duncan.”
“Take you, Bella Whi-“ he stopped in his tracks and Candice’s mouth fell open as the crowd started to whisper.
Bella, alarmed by the slip of his words, stood up. Surely it was an accident and really meant Candice. Of course it was an accident! Embarrassed, she began walking out the doors.
“No!” Luke yelled. “Wait! Bella!” He called after her.
“Luke!” Candice shrieked, holding his arm. “I’m willing to forget your slip, but you have to stay with me!”
Luke stared at her a moment as his mind cleared. He didn’t love her. He loved Bella. He turned away and ran away from the altar. “Bella!” He shouted in a panic as he exited the church. Had she already disappeared? She was quick, but couldn’t be that quick. “Bella?!” He screamed again, searching the streets. He spotted the brown curls that fell around her shoulders. “Bella!” He exclaimed as he ran to her.
As Bella walked down the street, she heard Luke’s voice calling for her.
“No,” she thought. “It’s just the wind playing tricks on your mind. He’s not coming for you.” She shook her head and continued to walk.
Luke was just a few steps away. One more steps and she was all his. He would be hers. He wrapped an arm tightly around her waist, but the gesture must have startled her, and she jerked her elbow straight into his nose.
“OH!” He groaned as he stepped back and held his nose.
“Luke?!” She shouted in shock. He came after her. She smiled a silly smile, but quickly frowned as she realized she had hurt him. “Oh! God, Luke are you okay?! How bad is it?!”
His voice was muffled as he spoke behind his hands. “I’m fine, I’m fine.” He assured, but wouldn’t drop his hands. Afraid there would be blood.
“Let me see it.” She urged as she gently pulled his hands away. It wasn’t bleeding, but it was still very red. She smiled softly. “I’m sorry.” She said.
He shook his head. “No, I’m sorry. I was stupid. I should’ve come after you that night in Paris. No, I should’ve waited for you to fall in love with me! Bella, I’m so sorry!
Bella smiled as she ran her fingers through his smooth hair, messing it up. “I’m hearing an apology, but how are you gonna make it up to me?”
Luke chuckled deeply as a smile played on his lips. “Well, how ‘bout I try making it up to you for the rest of our lives?”
“Sounds good to me.” She smiled just before Luke placed a soft kiss on her lips, the sparks rising around them. The kiss shook the very core of her being, “finally” she thought to herself. He was hers and she was his. Forever.
The kiss reminded her of a cold Christmas night in Texas when she was 14. The Lenox's came over to the White’s house for Christmas dinner. Somehow, by fate perhaps, Luke and Bella were whisked under the mistletoe. It happened fast, and neither one of them wanted to kiss each other, or at least she didn't. She had never kissed a boy, and thought it was weird to kiss her best friend, but their families encouraged them.
"You have to kiss!" Travis said as he laughed at his brothers red cheeks.
"No cheek! You're old enough!" Luke's father said in his husky voice and chuckle. He used to dress up as Santa Claus when the kids were young.
Bella looked up at Luke, both so shy and timid. She thought, “whatever”. If she was going to have her first kiss, it would be with someone she truly cared about and would know forever. She leaned up on her toes, Luke always 6 inches taller than her, and pecked his lips. Even then she felt that spark, but ignored it and shoved it deep into the back of her mind, burying it.
But Luke, he never stopped thinking about it. When Bella pulled away that Christmas night he desperately wanted to pull her back in, but thought it would only embarrass her and put her on the spot. But now, standing in the hot street of Virginia in late June, he could hold her close and kiss her as long as he liked.
But suddenly, a blood curdling scream echoed through the streets and the pair pulled away, alarmed. Bella looked over Luke's shoulder as he turned, they saw Blakely jumping for joy and clapping her hands like a little kid.
"Finally!!!" She screamed with a big smile. Bella and Luke both laughed and turned back to each other. She looked up into his clear blue eyes that always seemed to sparkle when he looked at her.
He smiled softly and brushed a strand of her brown hair behind her ear, getting a clear look at her dark green eyes. He slipped his finger under her chin and lifted her lips to his, kissing them again.
"Oh! I get it!" Blakely started. "You guys want to be alone! I’ll be in the church!! Call me if you need me!"
"Okay Blakely!" Bella blurted as she pulled away from Luke.
"Touch-ey." Blakely said defensively and flipped her blonde hair off her shoulder, turning on her heel and walking away.
Luke looked down at her with a chuckle.
"What?" She asked, smiling at his happiness.
"Nothing," he said, still smiling. He brought his hands up from her waist to her neck, cupping her face. "I love you," he said easily, rubbing his nose on hers as he rested his forehead on hers.
A smile crept onto her face as she bit her lip. It felt so good to hear those words without them haunting her, or being screamed into her brain. They were gentle and honest. She grabbed hold of the lapels of his jacket, feeling the silk on her fingertips.
"I love you too." She whispered before pecking his lips.
