With eager eyes, Tyler took a deep breath, his smile perfect, showing his brilliant white teeth. His bruises and scars had mostly healed over the past several weeks that he spent in the hospital and then recuperating here, soaking up the late autumn rays. His skin was tanned, his dark hair disheveled in the way that had attracted me to him from the very beginning.

“Mackenzie,” he began before leaning in and whispering, his voice barely audible, “Serafina…”

I warmed when my name rolled off his tongue in such a delicate manner.

“The last thing I was looking for when I took an assignment a little over a year ago was to fall in love, especially with the woman who was supposed to be the asset.”

Polite laughter sounded around us.

“And I am certain I was the last person you wanted to infiltrate your perfectly ordered life, but then something magical happened. We both let down our guard. I stopped caring about my job, and you finally threw out that blasted timetable. We finally did something we both thought we’d never do again. We loved… And that love has only grown stronger through the truth, lies, tears, miles, and heartache. And I know it will only continue to grow with every day that passes.

“I’m not perfect. I make mistakes. I can be stubborn as hell. I have good days and bad. I lose my temper. I can be completely irrational at times. However, you chose to look past all my faults and love me anyway. Every day from this day forward, I promise to do everything I can to make you fall in love with me all over again. You deserve the fairytale, princess, and that’s what I intend to give you each and every day until I’m turned into dust.” He closed the distance between us once more. “Serafina Galloway,” he whispered so no one else could hear him, “I love you.”

He pulled back and I met his eyes, nodding. I love you, too, I mouthed as I tried to maintain my composure, but it was impossible.

“How do you expect me to follow that?” I said through my tears.

Everyone laughed politely.

Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath before focusing them on Tyler, the one man who had seen my demons and had embraced the darkness within. And he would always be at my side. With him, I could get through everything, no matter what the future held.

“Once upon a time,” I began, my eyes remaining glued to Tyler, “there was a little girl. She dreamed of men in black tuxes, dancing in the moonlight, and falling in love. Then her world was ripped apart and she lost everything. Her friends, her family, her life. Worst of all, she lost hope. She stopped dreaming and believing in the fairytale because her life had turned into a nightmare, and she lived that nightmare for years. Then, one day, a charming and annoyingly persistent man woke her up from the spell that had been cast over her. She finally experienced what she dreamed about for years. Love.

“Tyler, you may not think you’re perfect, but you are in my eyes. I’ve loved you since I felt your soul. When you just wouldn’t take no for an answer, I fell in love with you a little bit more. When you thought you lost me and I saw the look of terror on your face, I gave you another piece of my heart. Even when I walked away from you after finding out the truth, I still loved you. Through all our ups and downs, my heart has been and will always be yours. From this day forward, I promise to hold you when you’re having a bad day or memory. I promise to love you even when you don’t think you deserve it. And I promise to give you everything I have…my heart, my soul, my love…because there’s no one more deserving of it than you are, Tyler Joseph Burnham.”

A look of serenity washed over his face and he leaned down, his lips hovering over mine. “I don’t deserve you, but I’m glad you think I do.”

“You do,” I murmured as he kissed me softly.

“Hey!” Brayden interjected. “Not yet, kids. There’s still a few more things to get through, isn’t that right, Padre?” He winked at Father Slattery.

“He’s right. The rings please,” he said, looking at Jenna, then Alexander, who stood beside Tyler. They both handed over the rings.

“Tyler, repeat after me,” Father Slattery said, handing him my wedding band. I lost myself in Tyler’s eyes as he made his vow to me, promising to remain true and honor me for the rest of my life. I barely made it through my own vows, the emotion overwhelming me as I thought back to the roller coaster ride our relationship had taken over the months. Regardless of the lows, the heartache of finding out the truth was worth it as I stood here, marrying my own Prince Charming.

“By the power vested in me,” Father Slattery said after I finished my vows, “I am happy to call you husband and wife.”

I grinned excitedly, looking down at the diamond band that now sat above my engagement ring.

“You can now kiss your bride,” he said, and before I knew what was happening, Tyler pulled me into his arms, his lips on mine, our kiss passionate and intense as the world disappeared around us. And that was what life with Tyler was like. My troubles vanished. I could live in the moment with him and our love. It was exactly what being in love was supposed to be like. He shielded me from everything, protecting me and keeping me safe.

“Thank you,” he murmured against my lips.

“For what?”

“For chasing away the lonely, once and for all.”

~~~~~~~~~~

“WELL, SINCE I’M THE man of honor,” Brayden’s boisterous voice broke through the chatter at the large table set on the upper deck of the house overlooking the beach. “I suppose I should say a few words.” He stood up, his tall and lean stature poised. A dapper smile on his face, he looked at all the important people in both Tyler’s and my life. He finally met my eyes, and his expression warmed. It brought me back to the day he moved in with Jenna and me.

“I’m beat from all that unpacking.” He plopped down on the couch in our living room, surprising me with the ease in which he made himself at home, even though he barely knew us. “I think I deserve a drink. You girls game?” He raised his eyebrows, looking between Jenna and me.

“You know what?” Jenna exclaimed excitedly. “I think a drink is exactly what we all need.”

“You two go ahead without me,” I mumbled, not looking up from the book I was barely reading. I had spent the past few months of our summer break moping around the apartment, having just lost my mother and finding out that my boyfriend wasn’t the man I thought he was. “I’m not in the mood.”

Huffing dramatically, Jenna grabbed the book out of my hand and threw it on the coffee table. “You’re never in the mood. I’ve put up with your excuses all summer, but I’m not going to do it anymore, Mack. It’s our sophomore year and it’s time to bring back the old Mack. That includes going out and meeting some hotties with our fake IDs. I can’t make you have a good time, but I can try my damnedest to at least get you out of this apartment. Especially now that we have a tall, strong man as a roommate who can probably carry you out of here.” She looked over her shoulder and winked at Brayden.

“Damn straight I can,” he replied jovially. “Just look at these guns!” He pushed back the sleeves of his t-shirt and began to flex. “Feel ‘em,” he said, coming up to me. “I know you want to.”

“Nope. No desire.”

“Feel ‘em,” he repeated, shoving his arms directly in front of my line of sight.

I tried to pretend I was irritated, but it was useless. A small smile cracked my lips and I reached out to squeeze his toned bicep.

“See,” he said, heading down the narrow hallway toward his bedroom. “Told you I’d be able to get you to smile.”

“Thank god you came into our lives, Brayden. I’ve been trying to get a smile out of her for months.”