JAY POV — THE ROOM WHERE I BECAME A BRIDE
The bridal suite smelled like roses and something sharper—hairspray, maybe. Or nerves.
The door closed softly behind me.
And there it was.
My dress.
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Hanging by the window like it didn't belong to this world—ivory lace catching the light, thin straps delicate against the structured bodice, the skirt falling in soft, endless layers that promised weight and grace all at once. The veil draped behind it, long and sheer and dramatic enough to make my heart stutter.
For a second, I just stood there.
Then—
"Ohhh no," Grace said from behind me. "She's gone quiet."
Celeste grinned. "That's it. We've lost her."
My mom—Reycee—came up beside me, hand warm on my back. Her eyes were already shining.
"Baby," she whispered. "You're ready."
I exhaled slowly. "I think I forgot how to breathe."
Tita Gemma laughed softly, shaking her head. "That's how you know it's right."
They moved fast after that.
Shoes off. Robe on. Hair pinned. Makeup brushes everywhere.
Grace circled me like a menace. "Okay, tradition time. Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue."
Celeste clapped once. "I've been WAITING for this."
Something old came first—my grandmother's ring, slipped onto a delicate chain and placed gently against my collarbone. My mom's hands trembled a little as she fastened it.
"She wore this when she married your grandfather," she said softly.
I swallowed.
Something new was obvious—the dress itself. The veil. The future.
Something borrowed—Celeste's bracelet, slipped onto my wrist with a grin.
"You're borrowing my luck," she said. "Give it back married."
Then—
Something blue.
Grace smirked.
Celeste did not smirk.
Celeste cackled.
"Oh no," I said immediately. "Absolutely not."
Celeste held up a tiny ribbon, eyes gleaming. "Relax. It's tasteful."
"It's blue and it's hidden," Grace added helpfully. "That's the point."
My mom covered her mouth, laughing. Tita Gemma pretended to look away but very much did not.
"I hate all of you," I muttered, cheeks burning as they fixed it discreetly.
Makeup followed—soft, glowing, nothing heavy. My reflection slowly shifted from me to… bride. My lips trembled when they finished my eyes.
Then the dress.
They helped me step into it carefully, layers whispering around my legs. The bodice settled, snug and perfect, like it had been waiting. When they zipped me in, I felt it click—something final, something certain.
I looked up.
And that's when Cole walked in.
He stopped.
Just… stopped.
His mouth fell open. His hands froze mid-motion.
"Wow," he breathed. "Jay."
Grace immediately went, "Don't cry. Don't you dare cry."
Too late.
Cole blinked hard, then smiled—the kind of smile that said family.
"You look…" He shook his head. "He's done for."
I laughed, tears blurring my vision. "Good."
They fixed my veil. Adjusted my train.
Then the door opened slightly.
A coordinator's voice, gentle but firm.
"It's time."
The room went still.
My mom kissed my forehead. Celeste squeezed my hands. Grace whispered, "Go get married."
I took one last breath.
And stepped forward.
---
KEIFER POV — THE MOMENT BEFORE EVERYTHING
My suite was loud.
Too loud.
Cin was fixing my cufflinks like he was defusing a bomb.
"Don't move."
"I'm not," I muttered.
Eman paced. Rory leaned against the wall, arms crossed, smiling like he knew something I didn't. Edrix adjusted his tie for the third time. David was quiet—respectful, steady.
I stood still.
Suit immaculate. Hands calm.
Heart absolutely not.
Something in my chest tightened.
"She's ready," Eman added.
I closed my eyes for half a second.
I thought of her laugh. Her chaos. Her warmth. The way she slept curled into me like she trusted the world again.
The door opened.
"Watson," the coordinator said. "It's time."
I straightened.
Cin clapped my shoulder. "Go get your girl."
I stepped forward.
Every step felt deliberate. Heavy. Sacred.
I wasn't afraid.
I was steady.
Because I knew—
At the other end of that aisle was the woman who chose me back.
And in a moment—
I'd see her.
And nothing in my life would ever be the same again.
The aisle stretched longer than it should've.
White petals lined the floor, neat and ceremonial, like they thought they could contain what this moment meant. Sunlight filtered in through the high windows, warm and slow, settling over the guests who were already seated—family, friends, names that carried history and weight.
I barely saw them.
Cin leaned in from behind me.
"You good?" he murmured.
David cleared his throat. "Blink. You're not allowed to pass out."
Edrix smirked. Rory didn't even try to hide his grin.
"Relax," Rory said. "You've faced worse."
I exhaled through my nose. "None of them wore a dress like hers."
They laughed softly. It grounded me. Just enough.
The music shifted.
The room stirred.
Grace stepped forward first—confident, sharp, black dress like she was guarding something priceless. She met my eyes as she passed and gave me a look that said don't you dare mess this up.
Then Cole.
He walked slower. Purposeful. Eyes already glassy. When he reached me, he paused just long enough to murmur, "Take care of her."
I nodded once. No jokes. No bravado. Just truth.
Celeste followed—maid of honor, spine straight, smile trembling. She dabbed at her eyes and whispered, "She's breathtaking," like it was a secret.
Then—
The music slowed.
Everything else fell away.
Everyone stood.
And the doors opened.
I stopped breathing.
There she was.
MY JAY.
For a second, my mind refused to process it—like the image was too bright, too holy to land all at once. Ivory lace. Soft layers moving with each step. The veil catching light like it was alive. The bouquet steady in her hands even though I knew her heart had to be racing.
Her arm was linked with her father's.
But her eyes—
Her eyes were on me.
The noise vanished. The teasing behind me disappeared. The room blurred at the edges like someone had turned the world down to make space for her.
She took a step.
Then another.
And I swear—every step rewrote me.
My chest tightened. Hard. Sharp. The kind of ache that wasn't pain, just overwhelming truth. I'd seen her angry. Laughing. Broken. Drunk on a bar shouting about marrying me. Curled into my side at three in the morning like the world couldn't touch her there.
But this—
This was her choosing me in front of everyone.
Cin muttered behind me, "Oh, he's done."
David said nothing. Didn't need to.
I couldn't move.
I couldn't blink.
I watched her walk toward me like gravity had decided she was its center. Like every road I'd ever taken had only been a long way of arriving here.
Her father's hand tightened over hers when they reached me.
I finally remembered how to breathe.
He looked at me—really looked. Measured. Careful. Protective.
"Take care of her," he said quietly.
I didn't hesitate. "With my life."
He nodded once. Then he placed her hand in mine.
The moment our skin touched—
I steadied.
She looked up at me, eyes shining, lips trembling just a little.
"You okay?" she whispered.
I smiled. Soft. Ruined. "I am now."
That was when I knew this was it.....