Guy Next Door

46

One last look into the mirror. I see a woman standing, hair tied up in a complicated bun. Makeup covering her face, slight nervous smile on her lips and a long white dress.

I look over my shoulder and almost jump, I turn around. "Dad, you scared me!"

"Getting cold feet?" he asks and walks towards me, grabbing my hands. "You look absolutely perfect, Ilah."

"Oh really? Because I freaking out" I squeeze his hands.

Dad's expression goes from astonished to something else. His teeth bits into his under lip and his eyes, show guilt or regret of some sort. "I'm sorry."

"Sorry?" I draw my eyebrows together. "For what?"

"If I knew six years ago we would be standing here like this, I wouldn't have given you such a hard time."

"Dad" I say lowly. "I didn't know either. I mean, yes, I was mad and devastated but I wasn't sure it was going to be like this."

"Yet here we are" he smiles shyly. "My daughter getting married."

"Are you supposed to be this nervous?" I ask trying to wave air into my face, I'm literally burning up under my makeup. "How was it when you and mom got married?"

He looks away, deeply thinking about it all. "Of course you're supposed to be nervous, I was freaking out standing in front of my whole family, confessing my love to another person, in front of her family."

"Good to know" I chuckle humorlessly.

"But I was sure and as long as you are sure, it's all that ever matters" he places his hand on my shoulder. The church is so cold and I'm happy because the nervousness is making me all warm. But I'm sure I want this to continue exactly as it is going.

I nod. "I am sure. I've always been sure it's what I want."

"Then let's go, they're waiting" he hooks his arm in mine. "He's waiting."

My heart skips a beat at that. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. "Oh god."

"It's going to be okay" he grips my arm tighter around his and steer me to the door.

"Oh wait, the bouquet" I run back and grab it, then hooking my arms with his. My head is spinning, I can't even think clearly. It's really happening.

We walk to the opening, seeing the rows of seats, the people turning around to facing me, standing up. All eyes on me, Ilah Brooke, soon to be Ilah Hayes.

We kept debating which name we would take and Hayes just works better for both us. It wasn't much of a debate really. I'll gladly take his name.

Up front are my three favorite girls are standing, Luna, Harper and Carla. All dressed in dark green long, simple dresses.

It's disgusting how time goes by so fast, how Carla is eleven and I'm twenty-four. On the other side is Tyler and Sam's other friend John, dark green bow ties.

And then my eyes move over to him. Standing there tall and handsome, with a smile on his lips. I've never seen this man in a tuxedo before, he's not really a tuxedo kind of guy.

Which is totally fine because now he's looking more hot than ever and it will be impossible for me to freak out and run out of here. Dad stops when we get to the first row and looks over at me. "I love you, Ilah."

"Love you too" I say and he slips out of my hands and sits down next to a crying Vivian. I smile at her and then look up at Sam again, feeling all alone and exposed, I walk up to him grabbing his strong hand, feeling safe, like I belong right here in his hands.