“Oh my god. Lottie!” Arianna greets me with a squeal. “You’re getting married. You’re really doing it!”

“Yep. We’re really doing it.”

“You look gorgeous. You’d look gorgeous in a paper bag, but you look stunning. Spike is a lucky guy.”

I laugh, twirling around so she can see the whole dress. I chose a pastel blue, retro, sixties style dress, with a corseted bodice. Spike knows I don’t conform to the norm, and this occasion is no exception. The dress feels very Alice in Wonderland. Very fairytale. Very happily ever after.

“You like it?” I ask.

“I love it! It’s so you. I still can’t believe you’re getting married today, in a few minutes. Are you sure about this? You don’t want to wait and plan and” She rushes to get the words out, knowing that time is ticking away faster than ever.

“No,” I answer definitively and without hesitation. “I don’t want to wait. Not a month, or a week, or even a day. This is what I’ve wanted since Spike and I met. It’s always been him.”

“I know it has.” She steps forward and takes my hands in hers. “You’re so perfect for each other. I just wanted to give you the option.”

“Thanks, but I’ve never wanted anything more.”

She releases my hands and flings her arms around my neck. “I’m so happy for you. We’re actually going to be officially related now!”

“That clearly means there’s no getting away from you,” I say dryly, rolling my eyes in jest.

“Yep. You’re stuck with me.” She releases her tight monkey grip.

“Well, that’s good, because I want you to be my best woman.” She gasps and clasps her hand over her mouth and her eyes start to glisten. Good thing I have tissues at the ready. “My dad obviously isn’t around any more to give me away, and my mom probably couldn’t care less if I’m getting married or doing a sky dive, so that just leaves the next most important person in my life bar Spike,” I chirp nonchalantly.

“Of course I’ll give you away.” Her words burst out with a sob.

“You’re the best friend a girl could ask for, Ari. I love you.” I kiss her on the cheek and her bottom lip starts to quiver.

“I love you, too,” she cries, grabbing a tissue from me and blowing her nose loudly. “Ugh, you guys are going to ruin my makeup, I just know it.” She takes a deep breath, composing herself and I laugh. “Okay. You ready for this, babe?”

“You bet. Oh, shoes. I need my shoes.” I grab my heels from the box and slip my feet in to them. Ari comes to stand next to me and holds out her arm for me to link with mine.

“Let’s go.” She marches forward, taking me with her and the butterflies take up flight in my stomach. Not because I’m having doubts or second thoughts, there’s nothing I want more, but I’m so excited, and the happiness that I feel at the prospect of marrying Spike is quite overwhelming, even for a badass like me.

We make our way up to the private balcony on level 112. It’s as high up in the clouds as you can get in Las Vegas, and I can’t imagine a more perfect setting for us. The elevator opens and I see Spike immediately. He has his back to me, with Denham, Tara, who’s dressed in bike leathers ready to take off after we’ve tied the knot, and their mom, Dana, all standing by his side. The minister, who stands directly in front of Spike, smiles when he sees me and Arianna come out on to the balcony, and Denham grins and flashes Ari a wink before nudging Spike with his elbow. It takes a second for him to lift his bowed head, and he turns in his chair slowly. It feels surreal, like it’s all happening in slow motion and by the time he’s fully turned and looking directly at me, I have tears rolling down my cheeks. His lower lip quivers as he smiles and holds out his hand. I glance up at Ari who walks me forward and happily unlinks my arm with hers, taking my hand to give to Spike.

My skin is ablaze with feeling, my eyes full of happy tears, and heart is bursting with love. I’m surrounded by the only people that matter to me. My family. My future.

The minister speaks in a dulcet tone, putting everyone at ease, and pulling us together with his words about eternity and family. He recites the legalities then gives me a nod to tell me that the next part is all mine.

“Wait,” I say, and I feel everyone tense around us which makes me laugh. “These have to come off.” I slip off my shoes and kick them to the side of us. Standing barefoot in front of Spike, meeting his eyes, level, equal, it feels right. With my hands joined with Spike’s and our gazes locked, I swallow hard before the words come.

“When we first met, I thought you were crazy. I know what you’re thinking, I’m the crazy one in this relationship. But to put up with me, you have to be mental, right?” This draws a laugh from everyone around us, but I stay locked on Spike, his gentle gaze, his handsome face. “You know me better than anyone else in the world and somehow, you still manage to love me. You are my best friend, my one true love, and there is still a part of me that cannot believe that I’m the one who gets to marry you. I love you, Spike. I’ve always loved you and there’s nothing in this world that could change that. I promise to hold your hand every night, and always make sure you know how much I love you. Through whatever obstacles we might encounter, I promise to be by your side, always.” My words come through a wall of tears, and I know my makeup will be ruined, but I don’t care. Spike lets go of one of my hands to wipe tears from my cheek with his thumb.

“Don’t cry, baby,” he whispers, fighting to hold back the tears in his own eyes.

“I love you, Lottie. So damn much, it actually hurts. I thought I couldn’t be enough for you. I thought I couldn’t give you all the important things in life, to be what you needed from a man, from a husband. But you made me realize that all we need is our love. I don’t know what I did to deserve you, but I’m going to spend every day showing you how happy you’ve made me. We’ve got a lifetime to look forward to, and if I know you at all, it’ll be a crazy ride.” I laugh, sniffing tears back and wiping my cheek with the back of my hand. “Say goodbye to yesterday, Lotts, and look to tomorrow. I can’t wait to see what our future holds together. We see the same sky. You were right. We are Lovestrong.”

There’s not a dry eye in the house as we exchange rings. It’s the most beautiful moment in my life. I don’t know how we got lucky enough to find each other in this world. But I do know that we are meant to be. The finer details of our future may be uncertain, but we have each other and that’s worth everything.

“You may kiss the bride,” the minister announces as everyone cheers. Spike pulls me into his lap and I pull his face to mine, pressing my lips against his, solidifying my vows, and promising to love him forever.

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Acknowledgements

Spike and Lottie’s story was a journey for me. I went through a tornado of emotions with these two and this story would never have been written if it wasn’t for one person…

My secret squirrel. Zoë Lowdon. You were the nagging voice that brought Spike and Lottie back to me, that chewed my ear off wanting their happy ever after and that made me listen to those crazy voices in my head. Thank you for being a pain in my arse!

To my hubby, thanks for putting up with not seeing me for weeks, and also for my iMac, it’s a dream to write on even if I can’t always remember how to start a new document or where the hash key is!

T-Bird, NJ and Squirrel, don’t ever leave me. I almost don’t want to tell the world what wonderful, dedicated beta readers you are as I want to keep you to myself.