The CEO's Rose

Vivian’s POV

Vivian had never allowed herself to dream of what a perfect wedding would be like for her. It had always felt like it was something that was out of reach, something that she would only be hurting herself by daring to imagine.

Besides, given that back then, the person most likely to be her husband had been Bryce, Vivian had not really wanted to imagine herself tied to him for life. So even in her wildest fantasies she’d never let her mind go there.

But now, with her wedding finally happening, Vivian was realizing that there was nothing she could have imagined if she had dared to that would have ever lived up to the reality.

She was dressed in a simple dress. The fabric pooling at her feet and dragging in the sand as she walked. The ends swishing lightly in the gentle breeze. There was a flower crown in her hair, and her flower necklace was carefully placed to hide the evidence of what she and Ryan had done.

As they had agreed earlier, she was not wearing any shoes. They had started closer to midday,( mostly because they had not wanted to rush Ryan’s grandfather despite the old man claiming to not be tired from his travel at all).

Given the time, walking on the sand should have been uncomfortable. But thanks to the shade of the giant palm trees, that was not the case. She was perfectly comfortable as she walked towards Ryan, her soon to be husband waiting for her near the largest tree.

"Go Viv!" Amy suddenly yelled out, startling the men and Vivian felt the nerves that had been threatening to ruin her walk vanish.

Deciding to lean into her fun side, she gave up on walking. Her bouquet held in one hand, she pulled up her dress with the other and ran towards her man.

No doubt when she finally got a look at the videos and pictures that the drones floating above them were capturing, she would look ridiculous but she did not care.

It was highly inappropriate for a bride to be running, but it got cheers from Mark and Amy, and when she came to a stop in front of Ryan, both of them were beaming.

Ryan, looked incredibly good for someone in slacks and an unbuttoned white shirt. His abs rippling as he shifted from foot to foot, Vivian smiled as she caught a glimpse of his hickey before the flower petals hid it again.

When the ceremony officially began, the two of them held hands as they exchanged rings and vows, never breaking eye contact. When all was said and done, the two of them leaned in for a kiss that was not at all proper, especially since Ryan’s grandfather was in attendance.

When they parted. They were met by happy cheers. But Vivian barely heard them, she was far too busy smiling at her husband.

***

"Shall we Mrs Terrell?" Laughing softly at hearing him call her by her new name, Vivian slid her hand into Ryan’s and the two of them began walking back down the sand, headed to the water, their guests walking a little behind them.

Even as she had been suggesting that they do a little ritual in the water after exchanging their vows, Vivian had not been too sure about it. She had thought that it would turn out to be a bit too cheesy.

But as she stood there, the now scattered bouquet floating away, her feet in the water, her hands Ryan’s, their gazes locked, everything just felt right.

"You and me, Ryan Terrell, always,"

"You and me, Vivian Terrell, always," He echoed back, and she found herself loving the way her name rolled from his lips. Unable to help it she leaned in for a kiss.

Just as it was about to get heavy, Vivian suddenly pulled back. A yelp ripped from her throat as water hit her side.

Turning, she found her attacker. Amy had joined them in the water, and did not look sorry at all for what she had just done. In fact, she was getting ready for another strike.

Not willing to let such a thing happen Vivian leaned over, scooped up some water, and launched it at her friend before the other woman could react. Soaking her blue dress and ruining her hairstyle.

For a split second after the attack there was silence. Then Mark and Ryan started laughing at the sorry state that she and Amy were in.

No words exchanged, she and Amy shared a look and turned on the men. In no time at all, a war had started, there were no sides. Everyone just got the person closet to them, the four of them laughing as they hurled water at each other.

Ryan’s grandfather, now sitting on the sand, was watching all of them with a fond look on his face.

By the time that they all stepped out of the water, all of them were soaked. It was a miracle that she and Ryan’s flower necklaces had not been destroyed.

"Alright kids, let’s head inside now," The old man said, and Vivian found herself holding the old man’s hand from her side, with Ryan holding the other.

Half way across the beach, the wind picked up, and they were instantly pummeled with sand. The grains sticking to their clothing and making them even more uncomfortable to be in.

Just as Vivian was about to start complaining Langston Terrell laughed softly.

"What a blessing, Mother Nature is throwing sand at you two the way rice is thrown at some weddings,"

Looking at it from that perspective Vivian found herself no longer being bothered by the sand.

Catching Ryan’s eye, Vivian smiled at her husband. As the wind got even harsher, the three of them continued to walk, relying on each other to stand upright.

Something occurred to Vivian as they walked. They were doing it. She was barely a few minutes into being a part of the Terrell family, and they were already doing something that families did together. Standing strong in the toughest of conditions, and helping each other along.

Her eyes squinted, she looked back, and Mark and Amy were leaning against one another as well. There were big smiles on their faces despite the damage that the wind was trying to do to them.

Her eyes sliding back to Ryan, Vivian found him looking at her, and again they shared a smile.

This was it.

These were her people, and they were weathering a storm together. They would weather many more in the times to come, and Vivian’s hope was that they always remained so strong...so united.

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