Kayden
The very moment the rings clicked securely into place, a massive burst sounded above us, and thousands of shimmering silver, blue, and cream confetti pieces rained down from the high ceiling, fluttering through the air like a magical snowstorm over the altar.
Cheers, loud applause, and joyous shouts erupted from the Avalanche teammates, our families, and our friends, echoing off the walls.
"Throw the bouquet!" Soren yelled out at the top of his lungs from the front row, waving his hands frantically.
Laughing softly through my tears, I finally pulled back slightly from the kiss, resting my forehead against Rhys’s for a quick second before turning around toward the crowd.
I closed my eyes, took a step forward, and tossed the heavy bundle of orchids and roses back over my shoulder into the audience.
The bouquet arced gracefully through the air, spinning over the heads of the guests... before dropping straight down and landing with a soft thud directly on top of Nico’s lap.
Silence fell over the front row for a split second as everyone stared. Nico sat frozen, looking down at the pile of flowers sitting squarely on his legs as if a live grenade had just dropped from the sky.
"Why... why is this cursed floral arrangement so aggressively attracted to me?!" Nico complained loudly, his hands hovering in mid-air as if he were afraid to touch it. He slowly turned his head to glare at Alaric, who was sitting right beside him, trying and failing to hide a smirk.
"Come on, cousin! The universe has spoken!" Leo advised loudly from his seat, pointing a finger at Nico. "The flowers clearly love you, which means you should probably get married next! Statistically, the bouquet throw has a high correlation with future nuptials! The earlier, the better!"
Nico let out a loud, dramatic groan, tossing his head back against the chair. "Oh, shut your mouth, you incredibly annoying pest!"
The entire hall erupted into a chorus of unrestrained laughter.
Our Teammates were clapping each other on the back, Coach Reddick was chuckling into his hand, and even the CEO was laughing along with the banter.
I turned back into Rhys’s chest, my heart light and completely overflowing with pure happiness. I wrapped my arms snugly around his neck, standing on my tiptoes to lean close to his ear.
"Hey there, dear husband," I murmured softly, my voice laced with affection.
Rhys’s arms tightened around my waist, a low, devastatingly attractive hum vibrating in his throat. "Husband..." he repeated, the word rolling off his tongue with deep satisfaction. "God, I love the sound of that."
He leaned in, capturing my lips once again in a tender, lingering kiss. "I love you, Kayden Vale Calder."
"And I love you, Rhys Vale Calder," I whispered against his mouth in between the kiss, my heart hammering with joy as I deepened the embrace, running my fingers gently through the soft hair at the nape of his neck.
"Alright, alright! Break it up, lovebirds!" Leo’s voice boomed through the speakers as he commandeered a microphone from the side of the stage. "As a medical professional, I must warn you that prolonged hypoxia from continuous kissing in tight wedding attire can lead to lightheadedness! Plus, we have a reception floor that is begging for a first dance! Move those fine burgundy-suited bodies to the dance floor!"
Rhys let out a soft laugh against my lips before pulling back, taking my hand firmly in his. He led me down the altar steps, walking hand-in-hand through the falling shower of silver confetti as our guests stood up, cheering and tossing rose petals over us.
The grand hall seamlessly shifted into reception mode. The ambient lighting dimmed into a magical, starlit glow, casting deep royal blue and warm cream hues across the polished hardwood dance floor.
The live band stationed at the front began playing the warm, acoustic introductory chords of Lego House by Ed Sheeran.
Rhys pulled me gently onto the center of the floor, wrapping one arm securely around my back while holding my hand tight in his.
I rested my head against his broad shoulder, smelling the rich blend of his cologne mixed with the soft orchids in the air.
We swayed slowly to the gentle rhythm, moving as one entity while the room around us blurred into a beautiful background.
"You look so breathtaking today, softie," Rhys whispered into my hair, his lips brushing against my temple. "I don’t think I’ll ever get over how lucky I am."
"I’m the lucky one," I replied, pulling back slightly to look into his dark, expressive eyes. "Though... as much as I love Ed Sheeran, I think it’s time for our song."
Rhys smiled, a knowing spark in his eyes. He raised a hand, signaling toward the DJ booth.
The soft acoustic melody faded out, replaced instantly by the familiar, soul-stirring opening notes of Ride Home by Ben&Ben.
The moment the music swelled, a collective cheer went up from our friends.
"Now that’s what I’m talking about!" Miller shouted out, grabbing Leo’s hand and pulling him right out onto the floor alongside us.
Within seconds, the quiet first dance turned into a celebration.
Soren and Rio joined in, laughing as they twirled, while Nico was practically dragged onto the floor by Alaric, still grumbling about the bouquet but unable to suppress a small smile.
Even Coach Reddick and Rhoda stepped onto the wood, dancing together under the twinkling fairy lights.
Rhys spun me around gently, catching me in his arms as the chorus peaked. The rhythm of the music filled the space, surrounded by the loud, joyous laughter of the people who had stood by us through every single trial.
I leaned my head back onto Rhys’s chest, listening to the steady, strong thud of his heart beneath his suit—the exact same heart that had fought for me, protected me, and loved me unconditionally.
I closed my eyes, letting the music, the warmth of his embrace, and the absolute certainty of our future wash over me.
Finally... I have found my home.
The End...
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