Hey everyone, it’s apology time again. There’s no excuse for me taking two months to write 11,700 words. I fear my writing (the process) is getting worse - not better. I swear to y’all that the final two chapters of the story have been written (along with an unexpected epilogue). We just have two or three fun sections before we get there. At my current pace, Ollie may be forty before I can write us to those final scenes.
Even worse, this section broke my thumb. Figuratively. Stupid arthritis. I’m going to be in the Caribbean myself next week and then have a big hand surgery two days after I get back. But I know everything that Ollie, Corey and their extended family are planning on doing. Riley doesn’t get left out either. Just forgive me for taking so long.
I hope you enjoy this super-sized section - it’s kept me up several nights. I went from loving it, to being appalled by it - to being bored by it. To finally being proud of it. I know reading it will be a big-time commitment, so I truly hope you feel it was worth yours when you finish.
Chapter 30 - Wedding Night Bonding
The rush of unexpectedly making two new friends in Miami had finally started to gentle down as the constrained reality of being back onboard a plane for our final flight of the morning settled in. I realized that the steady drone of the engines had suddenly become so very soothing. Given the brutally early start to our morning, the mesmerizing white noise worked a kind of magic I had no idea even existed.
In that surprisingly peaceful moment, I couldn’t believe that I had ever been even remotely nervous about flying - or, somehow - even more nervous about executing our daunting wedding plans just two short days ago.
Even more astonishing was how perfectly our wedding night and reception had unfolded. It all turned out so beautifully - nothing even came close to justifying any of my worry. Everything had simply been magical. And every moment was begging me to relive its every detail - to savor every minute of it, once again…
And of course, as I snuggled into my new husband’s shoulder, my sleepy, contented brain chose the most intimate moment of our wedding night to replay first. The most private one. The one that belonged only to me and my newlywed wolf.
…
Even with my perpetual good-boy mentality, I remembered thinking: Come on, dads… cut us some slack. In our defense, we had just been forced to spend an entire night and day apart from each other for the first time since my father’s nightmare had abruptly ended my two months of sleeping solo at the dads’ house - and that had been over a year ago now.
While Corey and I may officially be newlyweds, we were also about to celebrate our first anniversary of being a couple - of living together in our house - shower drain hair argument be danged. So going cold turkey without each other, even for just twenty-four hours - especially during one of the most emotionally charged days of our lives - hadn’t been exactly easy for either of us to handle.
Thankfully, in the end, Chris and Ted’s bright, loving faces betrayed their initial lighthearted chiding. They both understood there was simply no other way we could properly celebrate the end of our forced separation. And given the night’s tightly packed itinerary, they also knew there would be no real opportunity for us to reconnect later. It was now… or not at all.
Still, they didn’t make it easy for us…
****
The moment we stepped out of the limo, my eager wolf slipped into his most restrained - yet unmistakably urgent - alpha mode. There was no denying his intent. Every line of his body spoke of his singular need: to reconnect with his pup on a carnal, even primal, level - and to get to it as quickly as common decency would allow.
He gently stopped Ted and Chris by placing a hand on each of their shoulders as they turned to walk away. Our dads paused, clearly unsure of what the sudden interruption meant, and faced us. Meanwhile, the rest of our fellow limo passengers continued toward the reception in Chris and Ted’s backyard, blissfully unaware of the negotiation that was about to take place.
Corey skipped making any more eloquent speeches and went straight for a sincere plea instead. “Dad, can you make sure LG has everything under control? And maybe let the DJ know he’s got about twenty-five or thirty minutes before we make our grand entrance? We just need to change into our shorts and freshen up a bit.”
Ted rolled his eyes, but it was Chris who said what they were both thinking. “Seriously you two?” He leveled his eyes on his son, “Corey? Are you actually trying to convince us it’ll take y’all almost thirty minutes to change out of your pants and into a pair of shorts?”
My eyes widened as I tried - and failed - to stifle a chuckle. Corey didn’t quite growl at our loving fathers… but it was a very close thing.
“Dad. Ted. We love you, but come on. We haven’t seen each other for a whole day - a very long, very important one. And it’s going to be a very late night. By the end of it, we’ll both be way too exhausted for any, uh… proper marriage-night bonding.”
Chris seemed to be completely unimpressed with Corey’s plea.
My amusement softened into something much more appreciative as I watched my wolf rein himself in - almost like he was rolling over and baring his belly to his alphas.
“Dad… after everything we’ve poured into this incredible evening, we just need a few minutes to reconnect. Before we join the party.”
And then I saw it - the newly upgraded and freshly married version of the Rainer Family Smirk spreading across my Corey’s face. “And I promise we’ll shut our door. Hey, we’ll even close the blinds.”
Ted and Chris exchanged one final, dramatic eye roll before finally dropping their façade, smiling and pulling us each into warm, congratulatory bear hugs - exactly like we knew they eventually would.
“Twenty-five minutes,” Ted scolded us under his breath, though the proud glint in his eyes and the smile still tugging at his mouth totally betrayed him. They finally left us with assurances that the DJ had plenty of songs queued up and that our guests had more than enough food and drinks to keep everyone happily occupied.
Our ever-faithful - and far more perceptive than most humans - pup started to follow us inside. But after catching Corey’s unmistakable “daddy time” intensity, Riley paused, reconsidered, and pivoted back toward following his grand-alphas out to the backyard to continue charming our guests.
His sudden superstardom hopefully wouldn’t go to his fluffy little head.
****
Corey took my hand and we practically ran through the house toward my former bedroom - I mean, Corey’s childhood bedroom. When we finally made it to the room’s threshold, our change of clothes in hand, he suddenly stopped. My husband gave me a smile that melted my already dangerously gooey heart.
“My beautiful, sweet, amazing husband,” he said softly, voice low in his chest, “may I carry you across this symbolic threshold?”
I chuckled at my wolf’s endless supply of heartfelt, gloriously cheesy lines. I adored him for them. But he’d already carried me over a threshold once before - over a year ago.
This time, it was my turn. I playfully growled back at my alpha and shook my head. “My big, cheesy, protective husband… you’ve already carried me over our real threshold - the one to our house - on the first day we met. Remember?”
I maybe flexed all my new muscles just enough to make my point before testing out my own newly wedded smirk. “I think you may have noticed during your sweet surprise ending to our ceremony, that I’ve been working out just a little since then. In fact, I think I almost knocked you over…”
I softened my tease with a loving twist of a smile. “So, my wolf… how about you let me carry you this time?”
Corey’s face practically exploded into a bright - if slightly shocked - yet undeniably delighted grin. “Absolutely! My… er… pup?”
I gave a soft, restrained howl, careful not to alert our guests who were enjoying themselves just outside our room, my own grin stretching just as wide. I confidently continued.
“Yes my wolf. I will always be your pup. I’m just finally a full-grown one.”
And with that, I lifted him into my arms and carried him across our honorary threshold - into the bedroom that had started our story. A start that now felt like a whole fairytale of a lifetime ago.
Corey urgently, yet with unimaginable tenderness, gazed up into my crystal blues with his sky blues. “My husband, Mr. Oliver Aaron Rainer… Will you once again trust me with your maidenhood?” His mock innocence slowly snuck into a far more fitting, wicked smirk. “More importantly, did you remember to wear the most important piece of our wedding outfits?”
I couldn’t stop my excited chuckles as I gently set my wolf down on the first bed we’d ever shared. Hearing my new name spoken out loud - officially, even reverently - sent a warm flush through me.
“Sorry, my wolf,” I teased softly. “You’ve already taken that from me - and I couldn’t have given it to a more perfect, wonderful man.”
I flashed my second married smirk of the evening. “And you know I did, Nurse Corey.” But just as the heat began building between us again, my traitorous brain decided to interrupt our approaching bliss.
I winced as a sudden non sequitur realization decided to demand my complete attention. I focused my gaze before delivering my little buzz kill. “Um… Corey, as wonderful as it was to hear you just say my new name out loud. It hit me. DAMN. I’m going to have to make another trip to a DPS Super Center to get an updated Texas driver’s license.”
I groaned dramatically. “Lurd.”
After giving me with a quick, sympathetic chuckle, Corey’s expression shifted. It didn’t harden because of my concern; it deepened because of our mutual need. He stood from the bed and cupped my cheek; his thumb brushing just beneath my eye - trying to refocus my attention. He gently coaxed my gaze back up to meet his. “Ollie,” he said softly, “that doesn’t matter right now. The DPS will still be there next week. Or next month. There’s really no rush.”
His voice lowered. It wasn’t stern. It wasn’t playful. It was simply certain. “But, pup… Right now, our door is closed and so are the blinds - just as I promised to the dads. Listen, we just survived the world’s most over-planned, overly daring, overly furry wedding. And… We’re wearing exactly what we promised each other we would.”
The back of his fingers next traced the edge of my bearded jaw. “So now… my husband… now we get to finish our ceremony. Just the two of us.” He bowed his head down to mine and passionately kissed me.
As my wolf was giving me our newest “First Kiss,” I realized that I had always thought the whole wedding-kiss moment was totally theatrical, almost forced. But after nearly twenty-four hours of being apart from my man, I finally understood. It wasn’t for the crowd. It was for the couple. It was our new beginning. And the kiss we found ourselves now lost in wasn’t staged or polite or timed for applause. It was slow, certain and completely unrestrained.
We were finally being allowed to share the version of our kiss that we’d been holding back all day. His hands began to move with a new certainty - as if unwrapping a gift that he’d waited far too long to open. My shirt slipped from my shoulders and hit the floor. “Um,” I managed, slightly breathless, “Corey… I thought we were just changing into our shorts.” I couldn’t stop a grin from tugging at my mouth. “You really didn’t have to take my shirt off too.”
While I might have only imagined Corey growling at his dads earlier, there was no mistaking the sound he made for me now. It was low, possessive and reverent. A rumble that sent a shiver down my spine, right to my rising testicles.
Clearly in command mode, Corey gave me his first sensual order, “Ollie Pup - arms up, pits exposed.”
Every trace of teasing drained from me in an instant. This wasn’t us being playful anymore. Go Time was here. This was our private consecration of everything we had just promised in front of the world. “Corey,” My voice trembled despite myself. “I love you. I need you here and now. And then forever.”
The realization crashed over me in an instant - this wasn’t just our shared desire. This was permanence. I saw the wave of emotion hit him too - a barely-contained surge of animalistic desire, stalking just beneath the surface of his composure. For a split second I thought he might actually howl, all consequences be damned.
I slowly stepped back and let the last of my clothing fall away - everything except for the one symbol we had promised to keep. Matching blue jocks. Our shared, private, memory from our first afternoon together.
As I slipped my socks off, I understood something so simple and undeniable: even though I hadn’t physically changed during our single day apart, Corey still needed to see me now, tonight - completely bared - for the first time as his husband.
I couldn’t stop a soft snicker as I remembered Corey’s most determined promise: that he would never lose me. I presented myself to him without reservation. Elbows lifted, hands laced behind my head, offering my blond tufts and the steady rise and fall of my chest, as a reassurance. I’m here my wolf. I’m yours. I’m never losing you - I will always be there every morning when you wake...
Corey might have contained the howl building in his chest, but that bit of restraint was the only thing he managed. He crossed the distance between us in a heartbeat, gathering me into his arms as if anchoring himself. His mouth found my exposed pit, his beard gathering my scent as if it were his fuel to continue through the rest of our night. His arms tightened around me as though he could somehow press us into a single unity.
And I let him.
My euphoria commanded the room to fall away. To make all of the chaos and outside world fall away. I relaxed and allowed the certainty of us flood through me until it felt almost dangerous - almost too blinding, too overwhelming. I had never imagined that complete surrender could feel so much like simply coming home.
My poor blue jock was stretched past its limit - most likely lost forever - just like what had happened to Corey’s a year ago.
Even with Corey’s crazed intensity as he surrounded me, I could feel a shift in him. I still felt his steady, loving awareness breaking through his pheromone-fueled haze. He knew this moment wasn’t only about taking.
It was about also giving himself back to his pup. After reacquainting his nose, beard and lips with my scent, he finally pulled away, breath unsteady, eyes dark with desire, as he took a few steps back. And just like that… now it was my turn to unravel.
My body felt too aware. Too alive. Every nerve ending sparked and tingled as I watched Corey mirror my efforts - arms crossed, fingers hooking into the hem of his shirt, lifting it slowly over his head. He had managed to fully regain control; there was nothing rushed about him now. No desperation. Just a deliberate power. A quiet confidence that reminded me exactly why I had always, and would always, melt for him.
He didn’t need to declare himself my alpha, he simply was.
Even before Mrs. Miller’s embarrassing assessment of my chest hair last week, I’d already known I that would eventually be just as furry as my husband. But whether I ever completely caught up with his forest of hair or not, it didn’t matter. What mattered was the way he stood before me right now. With his still broader, hair-covered chest, darker blond pits, and triangular treasure trail. He was an absolute force of nature, glowing, and confident - presenting himself to me without any armor to protect or hide any part of him.
My Corey had always been beautiful; tonight, he was something more. He was my husband.
I stood there, trembling not just from desire, but from disbelief. Somehow, impossibly, the Norse god who I had once felt was out of my reach had chosen me. He had married me. And now he was choosing me once more.
Near the end of our first morning, I had broken down, sobbing because I couldn’t imagine that Corey could ever love me as deeply as I was already beginning to need him. I had been so certain that I was falling faster than he ever could, so certain that my heart was dangerously more exposed than his.
Now I found myself fighting tears again, but for the exact opposite reason. I no longer wondered whether he loved me as fiercely. I knew he did. I could feel it in the way he stood before me now, open, unguarded, and offering himself with the same trust I had given him.
It was as if no time had passed since that first morning together. And yet everything had changed. The nervous awe I’d once felt had matured into something steadier, deeper, and far more powerful. My anticipation bloomed into full-body shivers, not from insecurity, but from certainty. We had survived so much, grown so much, to ever doubt the strength of our bond again.
All I could do was watch him lace his fingers behind his head and lift his elbows in his silent invitation. It was trust - bold and unflinching. I stepped up to embrace him without hesitation, knowing that this wasn’t about being guided through another first experience. It was about using everything we had learned during our first year together.
Some things manage to find their perfect form the moment they manifest. Standing there in Corey’s arms, I finally understood that my body woven into his was one of those rare, unexplainable truths. It felt inevitable.
As if every lonely night in my Bronco, every moment of self-doubt, every test had been quietly moving me toward this perfect alignment. As I wrapped myself around my husband - for the first time as his forever - I could only hope that the universe would be kind enough to let us keep this perfect symmetry for the rest of our lives.
I didn’t hesitate. I buried my nose in the nape of his neck and slowly traced my way toward his still-bared pit, breathing him in like something sacred and grounding all at once.
My simple words rushed out before I could think to polish them. “I love you, my wolf.”
Corey’s reply came back softer, thick with emotion and heat. “I love you too, my pup… my husband.”
Despite our pheromone-fueled desperation, our bodies followed the steps of our intimate dance that they knew so well. Corey lowered his left arm to embrace me as I raised my right in an offering to him. Our lips slowly parted from our kiss to seek a feast in our grounding scent. After a day that had been stressful, exciting, romantic, and warm - neither of us was denied our reward as we once again buried our faces in each other’s pits.
Through our banquet of licks and nuzzles, my beard quickly became as scented as his. So much so that our next married kiss threatened to erase the memory of all the others that had come before it. But I couldn’t let that happen. Every kiss that Corey and I had ever shared was equally precious in its moment and worthy of being an eternal bead on the growing thread of our living tapestry.
Corey finally pulled back, softly chuckling into my glistening eyes. “Um, please hold, pup.” He blushed slightly, almost slipping into his class clown mode as he rushed over to the duffle that held our shorts. After a fit of rummaging, he quickly returned with a little bottle of lube. “So, Ollie… you first - or me?” He winked mischievously. “Or do we need another impartial coin toss?”
I could barely contain my own chuckles as I gave him my answer by jumping on the bed - on all fours, face down, butt up. I heard another growl rumbling from my wolf-mate’s throat as he frantically slicked his erection and my hole. A hole that was quivering almost as much as my whole body was. “No fingers, Corey,” I said, my voice husky with need. “I trust you tonight and forever. I need you to take me as raw and animalistic as possible.”
After my bold declaration, I sheepishly shot Corey a playful smirk over my shoulder, “Um, but still… Maybe don’t forget that you love me so much.”
Corey’s face melted into a loving, goofy grin. “Believe me, I’ll never forget that Ollie.” He positioned himself behind me and stilled for a moment. Then I felt the familiar warm weight of his slightly larger frame start its journey, gliding up and over my body. His pulsing cock finally nestling between my furry cheeks. He waited at my entrance, and I arched my back as an offering of trust and commitment. His tip pressed forward, testing, then slowly breaching me. Stretching my tightness with the sweet burn I desired.
Call it wedding night magic. Call it adrenaline. Call it selective memory while napping on a plane. There was no pain. Only a brilliant explosion of love and desire. I had to bite my tongue to stifle an almost instant hands-free orgasm - bathing in the unimaginable delight of having my husband take me for the first time as his married mate.
He found his rhythm, his hips confident and angled perfectly. Ensuring that each thrust would hit the spot that made my body sing. I met him stroke for stroke, squeezing my muscled ring around him. The sounds of our bodies filled the room - skin urgently slapping against skin, his soft grunts, my choked gasps. “Ollie,” he groaned, his rhythm finally faltering. “I can’t…”
His thrusts grew erratic, his attempt at speech turned into more low growls, and I felt a warmth flooding my still-squeezing tunnel. We collapsed onto the bed, both panting as he nuzzled my neck. “I love you, pup” he managed between hard breaths, his voice still thick.
I smiled into a pillow. “Love you too my wolf.” As his weight settled over me, I knew that every minute of our first married coupling would forever be among our most precious memories.
****
Corey’s sweat dripped onto my back as he recovered from the first half of our intense, post-wedding, coupling. As he slowly raised up, his nearly still erect cock left my satisfied hole with a reluctant wet pop. I rolled over to meet his eyes, with my own seven inches - still fully locked and loaded - pointing up at their customary forty-five-degree angle of attack. “Corey? Are you sure about this? You still look… enthusiastic. But I know that desire can change after a performance like that.”
My wolf’s smirk was brighter than ever. “Pup, I’ve never been more enthusiastic about anything in my life.” His gaze once again darkened with a fresh desire. “And if you let me ride you, there’s a good chance I’m not even close to being finished for the night.”
The twinkle in his sky-blues was all the permission I needed. I slicked my cock, trying to save the last few drops from our little emergency bottle of lube for Corey’s use. But before I could even pass him the bottle, he gave me a quick kiss and an unexpected apology as he suddenly reached between my legs, his fingers gathering some of his huge load that was already starting to drip from my hole. He quickly worked it into his own still clenched entrance. His movements were deliberate - making sure his ring would be as ready and slick as possible.
I raised a shocked eyebrow, but he just shrugged sheepishly. “Hey, I know you saved me a little lube, and I appreciate that. But think about it… What if we ever do somehow get to have puppies - or a real baby? Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could find a way that kept us from knowing who the biological daddy was until we were finally holding our baby in our arms?
I’d never seen such raw desire on my Corey’s face before. It humbled me.
“So let me use my contribution together with yours as a way of symbolically making my little fantasy wish come true tonight.”
My throat tightened unexpectedly at his deep sincerity. Before I could get too misty-eyed about it, Corey lowered himself onto my aching erection. Lurd! The man can take me almost as easily as I can take him now - especially when he’s in control.
My favorite position will always be face-down-ass-up. But I’m sure that Corey’s will always be with him riding me. On top - where an alpha is most comfortable. Even when his pup is thrusting up into his soul, making him whimper like the sweet puppy I know he really is deep down inside.
As soon as I saw the pleasure wash across his face, I took it as my cue and started jack-hammering up into my wolf. Keeping it real… I also think we agreed on only being away from our reception for twenty-five to thirty minutes. We were already cutting it close - and we both definitely needed showers now. But there was no rushing this. Not tonight.
When Corey’s eyes glazed over and rolled up, I knew I was giving him exactly the same pleasure he’d given me just moments before. Sensing his bliss, I doubled down, going deeper, faster. Aiming for his magic spot with the same erotic precision he’d just used on mine.
Even with my singular focus, the thought of Corey using his spunk as half of our lube pushed me over the edge. I lost control of my rut. I needed to breed my husband - to combine my contribution with his and make sure he knew he was just as securely mine as I was his.
I gritted my teeth and growled out, “I love you Corey Allen, and now you’re mine forever.” Then I flooded his velvety warm tunnel with millions of my little puppy-makers. As the waves of release subsided and my ability to think returned, I realized that Corey wasn’t just quivering - he was spasming around my still slowly-thrusting cock. I looked down at his beautiful masterpiece to witness my man shooting again, in barely more than five minutes after breeding me. I raised my shocked gaze to his face only to find that his eyes were still rolled back in the pleasure of his second release.
I grinned proudly before starting my predestined chuckles. Corey collapsed onto my cum-coated tummy as he lost himself in my arms - almost crying in his ecstasy. “Damn pup, I was just trying to give you a little boost of confidence. I had no idea you could actually make me cum twice in a row. I mean, I’m thirty now - I’m an old man!”
That instantly freed all my giggles, “I love you too - my old man. With a love I never knew I would ever be allowed to have - or maybe even let myself accept. Dayam, did I really just make you cum twice?”
“Hey pup, you’ve got a big dick too. You mashed my poor prostate to within an inch of its very happy life.” He smiled, just before his alpha look quickly returned. “Um, we should probably jump in the shower before we make our grand entrance. While I don’t mind sharing our musk with our close friends, we need to be a little less pheromone-drenched before presenting ourselves to our unsuspecting guests.”
…
Chapter 31 - Riley Comes Clean
I slowly drifted up and out of my, er, vivid, dream to the unmistakable sound of Corey’s low chuckle and the return of the plane’s engine whine in my ears. His gentle nudge quickly brought me back to full-blown consciousness.
I was already doing my best to win a hard-fought battle against my enthusiasm before even acknowledging his blatant smirk. I finally decided to just surrender to the moment as I heard his customary - and expertly repurposed - favorite line.
“Hey, pup! You up?”
I groaned and followed his pointed gaze. Only to discover that my poor khaki shorts were currently broadcasting my unguarded excitement just about as subtly as our bed sheets had to Ted last year when I was first waking up from my father-induced concussion. Lurd. My blush arrived instantly and at full capacity.
Corey squeezed my shoulder, managing to ground me - even at our current altitude. His smirk softened into something far sweeter. “So,” he asked gently, “what were you dreaming about, pup?”
Still shaking off my remaining sleepy haze, I met Corey’s gaze and admitted without any further ceremony, “My bad. I just maybe relived our wedding night in your bedroom at the dads’ house. You know. Right before we made our big entrance to our reception.”
His smile widened in immediate understanding. “Just remember, pup - after that night, it’ll never be ‘my room’ again. It’ll always be ‘our room’ from now on. Until forever.”
That did it. I melted into my soulmate’s eyes, letting his warmth wash over me. I surrendered to my happy memories as I allowed them to settle into my chest and carry me forward - suspended somewhere between Corey’s sky-blue eyes and my own that mirrored the deep blue of the sea we were flying over.
…
Chris and Ted had more or less refused to let us hold our reception anywhere other than in their fairytale backyard. It was almost a bit suspicious - as if they’d spent their entire married lives quietly preparing for Corey’s wedding celebration to take place right there, right under their protective guidance - no matter if he were marrying a guy or a girl. The only thing that really mattered to our dads, was making sure their son’s most important night was as special as anyone could possibly make it.
The big event was all still under the watchful eyes of the omniscient LG - the man who had flawlessly managed every detail we’d entrusted him with. The evening’s food was being catered by a special Italian restaurant that Chris had introduced Ted to a long, long time ago. The fact that they offered a meat, chicken, and vegetarian option - along with a killer appetizer - was all LG needed to hear before confidently taking over and ensuring everything would be perfect.
He moved around our celebration with a purpose, like a benevolent overlord. Seemingly being everywhere all at once while never drawing any attention to himself. His only goal was ensuring that everyone was enjoying themselves to the highest degree possible.
I hadn’t meant for my quick glance his way to turn so reflective, but after savoring a bite of the restaurant’s amazing bruschetta, I caught his eye and gave him a respectful nod - a quiet salute that I hoped conveyed what I couldn’t say aloud: that he deserved to enjoy the magic he was creating as well.
LG responded with a selfless chef’s kiss and silently mouthed, “All for you, pup.”
…
Corey interrupted my dazed, high-altitude look once again. “So, Ollie, I really don’t want to disappoint you about air travel any more than I already unintentionally have - but there’s just no way two guys our size are joining the ‘mile high’ club given today’s aviation realities.”
His ridiculously adorable expression made me laugh out loud. He immediately silenced my outburst with another quick newlywed kiss before continuing, “So, aside from what you were obviously dreaming about… what was your other favorite part of the reception?”
I couldn’t contain my sunshine-bright grin, my gaze bouncing everywhere at once as I tried to pick my winner. “Lurd, Corey! How can you even expect me to answer that? The whole night was beyond anything I’ve ever experienced. I loved all of it. Every single minute after we finally made our appearance is a moment I’ll never forget.”
I forced myself to settle down a bit, glancing back at him to make sure I still had his full attention. “But I will admit… I absolutely loved Officer Kevin’s forensic takedown of our secret Riley Plan before we could even start greeting our guests. I mean, come on. Our big burly patrolman needs to be promoted to detective ASAP.”
…
A year after my near arrest, I could finally appreciate just how clearly my sweet Officer Kevin had managed to see me during our fated early morning meeting. He hadn’t just appreciated my immediate cooperation; he had somehow been able to instantly understand all of the subtleties of my unfortunate situation.
From the first moment he looked into my terrified eyes, I had unintentionally won him over. Even through my shock, I had still offered him my complete honesty - along with a bold bit of humor. All before I had could have ever realized that he had already silently pledged that he’d always have my back.
Still, in that unexpected, incredibly tender and critical moment, neither of us could have fully understood just how much we’d come to mean to each other. At the time, we were just sympathetic strangers standing on opposite sides of flashing lights and a horrible misunderstanding - and yet something far deeper had managed to take root and grow.
LOL, even after Corey’s awkward first introduction to Kevin in my ER room, the four of us had somehow bonded in a way none of us could have predicted. His Anna may look like a sweet, blonde, delicate little thing - but like the alpha SHE is, she can easily keep her three favorite burly boys in line whenever necessary.
Somehow, we just work. Like one big, hairy, slightly ridiculous, extended family. A pack that isn’t afraid to give each other a hard time when someone smells a rat - or, in this case, when my favorite patrol officer smells a very well-trained pup.
****
As Corey and I were finishing up with our attempt at making ourselves at least semi-presentable, Officer Kevin - in full-blown Big Bro mode - casually slid into our room and stationed himself at my side. His detective smirk settled comfortably beneath his 5:00 shadow as he draped an arm around my shoulder while I wrestled with my still-damp curls in the mirror.
It didn’t take long for me to recognize his look. He was clearly - yet discreetly - signaling that he had an accusation to present. I slowly turned toward him with my most innocent expression and offered him my customary line. “Good evening, Officer. How can I help you?”
Kevin fought back a chuckle. “Son, I’m not going to ask you to step out of the vehicle… but do you have anything you’d like to confess about tonight’s little Riley shenanigans?”
I laughed - instantly relieved. For half a second, I’d assumed he was about to bust us for our pre-reception bonding session. Instead, I found myself unexpectedly thrilled to see where his line of questioning was headed. I absolutely adored Kevin when he was in his detective mode and I had to fight back a grin as his normally warm, all-seeing eyes narrowed into thin, accusing slits of judgment.
“I gotta say, Ollie,” he continued, “that ‘puppy accident’ felt a little, well… rehearsed.”
He patted my shoulder, then gave it a firmer clap before adding - this time with open admiration, “I can’t believe y’all were brave enough to pull that off. And manage to keep it a secret from everyone.”
My customary proud puppy-papa grin instantly spread across my face. “Well, my suspicious, should-already-be-a-detective brother, it’s like this - Corey and I decided from the very start that Riley needed to learn how to behave perfectly, especially off leash. And because of that training, he gets to run off leash with me every morning - once we get to the right places.”
I couldn’t suppress another glowing doggy-daddy smirk as I accidentally caught sight of my pup through our now open-blinded bedroom window. Riley was happily making his rounds, greeting each of our wedding guests like a gracious little host - welcoming them into his suddenly much larger extended pack.
I continued, offering a playful wink and a quick hug to my second-biggest protector. “He knows our visual commands by heart. But honestly? Everyone else in our audience tonight - who clearly won’t be making detective anytime soon - made it all way too easy.”
I pulled my attention away from watching my pup’s antics outside and returned it to Kevin’s still-searing gaze. We started walking down the hall toward the kitchen where Chris was pacing - almost patiently - waiting for us to reappear.
I nodded to him as I continued, “I swear, my biggest worry was that our guests would jump up and try to ‘help’ corral him. But as soon as the real show started, everyone was so focused on watching - and filming - a supposedly misbehaving pup who was adding some comic relief to a wedding, that they completely missed what was really going on.”
I shrugged with a soft chuckle. “Still, Riley’s first sprint up the aisle to greet his daddy Corey? Oops! That was completely unscripted. It startled all of us. But once he saw that his other dad was alive and well, we knew he could still perform his part. So we sent him back to Ethan and Daniel… and hoped for the best.”
I glanced back at Kevin and could tell he still couldn’t quite believe how bold we’d been. So, I pressed on.
“I swear, it really wasn’t all that daring. Riley loves performing in front of a crowd; it’s in his nature. He does it with me almost every morning. All that ‘unintentional training’ made tonight ridiculously easy. Corey and I just had to give him the signals to run back to Ethan and Daniel, and then they’d direct him right back to us.”
I shook my head, still in awe of our pup. “The only slightly scary part was when Daniel gave him the final ‘stop and behave’ cue. And that’s when Riley really shined - totally nailing his big finish. We had no idea he’d howl with us while waiting for his final command… and it couldn’t have been more perfect.”
I leaned in closer and gave Kevin a conspiratorial look. “So, Officer Kevin… don’t you dare tell anyone that all of tonight’s furry chaos was part of our master plan. Let them keep believing it was all spontaneous wedding magic. Lurd, I think Riley’s already looking for an agent…”
My pleading expression shifted into a playful mock glare - just as I noticed Chris suddenly paying far too much attention to our conversation.
Dad 2 strode over without even pretending he hadn’t been listening. “Lurd, Sport! I knew something had to be going on. Riley would never lose control like that. He’s the best boy on the planet - well, other than you. But I had no idea you and Corey had this all planned out to such a level. Y’all make me proud.”
I couldn’t miss our familiar smirk - the same one my husband loves to wear - spreading across his face as Chris continued. “Hey, pup, I think this means Ted and I are cleared for having our own little secret plan tonight.”
He gave me a bright wink and doubled down on the smirk. “So, no getting upset about our surprise, okay?” His loving fatherly gaze pierced straight through me as he added softly, “My now-official Son Number Two?”
I was confused by Chris’s cryptic but heartfelt question only for a moment before its meaning was revealed to the entire wedding crowd.
…
Chapter 32 - Wolves on Wheels
Corey chuckled along with me as we finished reliving the memory of our pup’s starring role - a moment that would stay with us forever.
We both knew exactly which part of the night deserved to be revisited next.
“We definitely have a very special pup,” he said with a grin. “Well… one in addition to you.” He booped my nose; echoing his father’s remarks and once again causing my instant embarrassment.
He cupped my cheek and gave me a quick kiss before continuing, “But come on - can you believe what Dad and Ted did? All I can say is, at least your wonderful grandparents weren’t the first ones to completely ignore our ‘no wedding gifts’ mandate.”
We shared a pair of wistful chuckles before he added, “Honestly, I’m not even sure why we made such a big fuss about putting that request on the invitations in the first place.
…
After one final check to ensure our pits had been tamed and all evidence of our private bonding ceremony had been washed away, Kevin escorted us out to Chris and Ted’s now-even-more-magical backyard. I couldn’t fully comprehend everything our dads had done for us.
A projector was already casting an endless stream of just-taken images from our wedding on the cliff wall on the far side of the pool. Our LG really works fast.
The crowd instantly hushed as we stepped onto the pool patio, which had seamlessly been transformed into a glowing dance floor for the night.
LG - always in complete control - strode confidently over to us for what was clearly his grand introduction. “Ladies and gentlemen… friends and family of Corey and Ollie,” he began, his voice carrying effortlessly over the crown. “Please allow me to present, Mr. Corey Allan and Mr. Olliver Aaron… Rainer!”
Our amazing coordinator gave us a private wink and offered a subtle nod of admiration for executing our bold plans so perfectly.
Applause erupted all around us. Glasses clinked. Corey and I shared another kiss for the crowd. But before we could step forward to begin greeting and thanking our guests, LG gently lifted his hand to stop us.
That was when we realized… We were about to receive our big surprise of the night.
LG was practically glowing as our wedding cake - which bore absolutely no resemblance to the one we’d agreed upon - was rolled out onto the patio. It was, well… perfectly unexpected and perfectly… perfect. Corey and I both felt our eyes welling up once again as we began to understand what our dads had done.
I was far too emotional to describe our cake the way it truly deserved - especially since it turned out to only be half of our surprise. But I tried. The top layer was a clean, elegant white. The second layer transitioned into a silvery gray, and the bottom tier settled into a stunning arctic blue - icy and bold. And instead of the traditional two grooms perched on top, there were two beautifully crafted white and gray wolves… with a little pup nestled between them. The pup didn’t exactly resemble Riley - not even close actually - but that hardly mattered; it worked beautifully.
Before we could even think to ask what the color choices meant, Chris and Ted appeared from the side of the yard, each proudly rolling out a brand-new Trek bicycle. The two identical bikes mirrored the cake’s color scheme perfectly. I’d never seen custom a custom paint scheme on bicycles before. My brain struggled to process what was happening while my eyes tried desperately to take in every detail all at once.
Ted caught the stunned look on my face and stepped forward first. “Sport… Corey… we know y’all didn’t need any typical wedding gifts. So, we figured we’d get you a couple of very non-typical ones instead.”
Both pairs of our newlywed eyes were growing dangerously damp as he continued. “We know how much you both love your long rides together. And we know how important those rides were in solidifying your relationship.” His smirk shifted squarely toward me, and I felt my face warm and redden immediately - remembering my first ride with Corey… and our visit to his little forest play place.
My adopted dad pressed on. “Now that you two are official…” He paused just long enough to flash his own perfectly timed fatherly grin. “Chris would officially like his bike back.”
The four of us who were in on his little dad joke chuckled through our tears as Ted finished. “So, we decided that our boys deserved a pair of their own ‘forever’ bikes to start their new journey on. These are Trek Domane 7 SLRs… with a few customizations.”
My overstimulated brain could barely process all I was seeing as I stepped closer to examine our unbelievable gifts. Like the cake, the front tube was a brilliant white. The top tube seamlessly transitioned from that white into a silvery gray, and the down tube and seat post settled into the same arctic blue as the base of our cake.
The bikes were stunning even before I could fully understand what I was looking at - and then my eyes caught the badge on the front tube. Instead of the standard Trek crest, there was an incredible silver emblem featuring a wolf’s head in profile. I opened my mouth to ask how in the world our dads had managed something like that, but Ted beat me to it.
“Boys, Trek now officially calls this paint scheme ‘Arctic Wolf.’ But since Chris and I designed it ourselves using their Project One software, they’ve promised to never sell it to the public. So these two bikes are yours and yours alone.” He paused just long enough to smirk. “And they also have no idea we swapped out the official Trek badge for the wolf… so let’s keep that little detail between us.”
Corey and I barely made it through our tears before pulling our dads into a tight embrace. There could never have been a more perfect wedding gift. I promised - through those tears - that we would ride these bikes for as long as our legs allowed. And when the day finally came when we were too old to climb into the saddle, we’d hang those Arctic Wolves on a wall in our home as proof of where our journey began.
…
Chapter 33 - Reception Toasts
Corey and I found ourselves chuckling through tears yet again - all at thirty-nine thousand feet above the sparkling blue Caribbean. I blurted out, “Don’t take this the wrong way - I’m still beyond excited about our time on St. John - but I cannot wait to get back, get kitted out, and take our amazing bikes for their inaugural ride.”
My wolf flashed a mischievous grin. “I don’t know, pup. What do you think? We’re a married couple now with matching, one-of-a-kind bikes… Do you think we need to get matching bibs and jerseys too?”
I allowed a big, charmed, laugh escape that made our flight attendant glance our way. Taking a moment to compse myself, I looked back at Corey. “Um… no. But maybe we can do what we did in Indy last year for our big steak dinner. You know, get complementary kits. I’ll take the blues, and you can have the silver-grays and we can both incorporate the whites.”
“Deal!” my wolf happily agreed before pensively adding, “I wonder if the dads know where we can get custom bibs and jerseys?”
We lingered in each other’s blissful gaze for a quiet moment before a softer, less flashy memory nudged its way into my thoughts. I gently leaned my shoulder into Corey’s and said, “You know… as amazing as the big surprises were, I keep thinking about the toasts. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so seen - and loved - in my life.”
…
In a completely unexpected move, our sweet neighbor Mrs. Miller was the first to stand and raise her glass. “My two favorite boys,” she began warmly, before glancing down at our ever-faithful fluffy companion sitting between us. “And my favorite puppy. We can’t forget Riley.”
The crowd chuckled as she looked back at us, her eyes bright and steady. “Now, I’ve lived long enough to know how most love stories go. After a fairytale beginning, there’s usually some big misunderstanding. Somebody storms off. Somebody does something foolish. Then there’s a lot of crying and gnashing of teeth before they finally get things all figured out.”
She shook her head gently. “But not you two.”
“You met in the strangest place I’ve ever heard of!” A look of playful disbelief crossed her grandmotherly face, “I think you told me it was a urology clinic?” She paused just long enough to wink. “I’m an old lady - I might get things a little confused.”
The yard erupted in warm laughter.
Her smile returned, “But the one thing I’m not confused about is, instead of making it complicated, you just… kept choosing each other. Day after day. No drama. No running away. Just steady, stubborn love.”
She reached out and took both our hands. “That may not make for a very exciting movie. But let me tell you something - it makes for a beautiful life.”
Her smile softened as she glanced at Riley again. “Watching you three build your life together has been one of the sweetest gifts I’ve been given in a long time. And at my age, I don’t take sweet gifts for granted.”
We pulled her into the tightest hug we could manage without cracking a rib.
****
Next, even after their big little surprise at our rehearsal dinner, Ethan and Daniel decided to offer another toast in our honor - this one without any hidden agenda.
Ethan started. “Ollie, not that long ago, you were completely on your own. You had nothing but your courage, your stubborn determination, and your Bronco. You had no place to live. No safety net to catch you. No family standing behind you.”
His voice tightened slightly. “For a while there, you even lost that Bronco. And your job.”
He exhaled before continuing. “But somehow through all that mess, you found a freaking Norse god and his two dads who saw you for exactly who you are. It’s wild, pup. It’s like you had to lose everything you thought you needed before you could find everything you actually did.”
I was already fighting my tears again when Daniel stepped in.
“Ollie,” he said more gracefully, “I don’t want to say we envy you. That’s not the right word. But what you and Corey have? It’s… foundational. It’s real. And it’s changed all of us.”
He leaned over to kiss his new fiancé before finishing, “Watching you fight through everything and still choose love - it reminds us that when life knocks us over, we don’t get to quit either.”
Ethan lifted his glass one last time. “So here’s to the two of you. Keep loving hard. Keep moving forward. And keep showing the rest of us exactly how it’s done.”
****
It was finally Kevin and Anna’s turn, and Kevin began the way I always imagined he would.
“Ollie, my heart dropped the morning I pulled you over and realized that the stolen vehicle report I’d received wasn’t what it seemed. In the time we stood there on the side of the road, I found myself thinking something I never expected.” He cleared his throat to make sure he could continue. “I remember, well, wishing I had a son like you. A smart, brave, respectful young man who would make any father proud.”
He glanced down, showing a slight hint of embarrassment before chuckling. “And yeah, I know - I’m only thirty-five. But you know what I mean.”
Our friends laughed softly as he regained his composure and turned toward Corey.
“Corey, when you burst into Ollie’s hospital room, I’d never seen devotion like that. You weren’t thinking about consequences. You weren’t thinking about optics. You were only thinking about him. You were ready to protect and reclaim your mate at any cost.”
He shook his head with a grin. “You looked like a Norse god about to declare war.”
The laughter settled as he finished more quietly. “Ollie’s father didn’t deserve the son he was given. But Ollie absolutely deserves the man he’s found.”
Corey’s blush was immediate before Anna stepped forward.
“In the year since our very awkward first meeting,” she began warmly, “we couldn’t imagine our lives without you two in it. Getting to witness the way you love each other has been a joy and…”
As it turns out, even our sweet Anna can smirk with the best of us. She slyly continued, “…it’s all very-well documented by those poor, overworked, teeny-tiny little speedos that y’all insist on wearing all summer long.”
Our guests erupted with laughter and jeers again.
She lifted her glass. “But truly - like Daniel said - your love doesn’t belong to just you. It spills over. It makes the rest of us believe that the kind of fantasy love people roll their eyes at - is actually real. And when you see something so real, suddenly the impossible doesn’t look so impossible anymore.”
****
We both thought that we might finally be allowed to just relax with a drink and a few bites of food, but not before Corey’s longtime colleague and friend, Paul, stepped forward to deliver the final toast of the evening.
“Corey,” he began simply, “you’ve been a protector your entire life. I’ve seen it when it mattered most - with patients who were scared, families who were falling apart, and moments where calm hands and a steady voice made all the difference. That’s who you are my man. Strong. Solid. Kind.”
He glanced toward me. “And then you found Ollie. Or maybe he found you.” A few knowing chuckles rippled through the crowd.
Paul gave Corey a familiar shoulder shove while rolling his eyes. “Lurd, I used to get so tired of you whining about never finding ‘The One’ like your dad did.” He shook his head, smiling. “Turns out you didn’t need to worry. You were just waiting for the right man.”
His voice softened just slightly as he finished. “I’ve never seen you this happy, my man. Not just smiling - but content. Like you finally know exactly where you belong.”
Paul lifted his glass. “Keep protecting each other. And keep building the kind of life that makes the rest of us all want to be better people.” Everyone raised their glasses once more, sealing their hope for our long, loud, and love-filled life together.
…
Chapter 34 - The Mile-High Club
The male flight attendant who’d noticed my burst of laughter at Corey’s suggestion of us becoming matchy-matchy cyclists made his way down the aisle to our row as soon as he noticed a natural lull in our conversation. He was tall, wiry, and curly-haired - not unlike me - and wearing a smile that could’ve powered the plane all on its own.
Wait… does that metaphor even work? We were apparently cruising at Mach ‘oh-point-eight’ at thirty-nine thousand feet - whatever that actually meant. I have no idea, so maybe it does work. Either way, he kept steady eye contact as he approached, and I couldn’t quite tell whether we were about to be congratulated… or gently reprimanded.
“Hello, boys,” he said disarmingly - knowingly - but thankfully without any judgment. Then, looking directly at me, he added, “I couldn’t keep from noticing your little… okay, big… enthusiasm while you were snoozing just after takeoff. And it’s fairly obvious you two are a couple.”
Then his nearly cocky attitude suddenly melted into something far friendlier. “Hi. I’m Sullivan.”
I awkwardly reached across Corey to shake his hand. “Hello, sir - I mean, Sullivan. I’m so sorry about that.” I felt the heat building across my shoulders and creeping up my neck. I knew my cheeks were glowing pink. “I’m Ollie Rainer. We just got married on Saturday, and I may have been reliving our wedding night in a dream.” I glanced at my seatmate with a grin. “We’re headed to St. John for our honeymoon. And this is my husband, Corey Rainer.”
Sullivan beamed as he took Corey’s hand. “You two look like you make an amazing couple. And it also looks like Ollie’s little turbulence from earlier has… stabilized.” He grinned. “So, what have y’all been discussing? Wedding memories or honeymoon plans?”
Corey took control - all too smoothly. “Ollie’s a fairly new flier, so we were keeping his mind occupied by reliving parts of our reception.”
I knew his smirk was forming before he even turned his head toward me. I also knew I was about to be thrown under the wings of our 787-8 “bus.”
“But,” Corey continued, “before we could even get to our reception memories, my sweet Ollie here decided to dream about the private little bonding ceremony we performed right before making our grand entrance.” He locked me in his most mischievous half-grin, just as I prepared for the metaphorical jet wash to leave tread marks across my back.
“And when he woke up,” Corey went on calmly, “my pup nearly begged me to help him join the fabled ‘Mile-High Club.’ Sadly, I had to explain that modern aircraft lavatories just aren’t engineered for two men of our… structural integrity.”
He squeezed my nervously bouncing knee. “He was disappointed, of course. But after a short debriefing, he accepted the operational limitations and settled down.”
I couldn’t stop myself. I punched my smirking wolf square in his shoulder - maybe not sweetly, but still with nothing but love. “At least that’s my former husband’s version of the event,” I said, turning to Sullivan. “Do you happen to know what the statute of limitations is on a marriage annulment?”
Corey and Sullivan both broke into an easy laughter. Sullivan tried to regain a professional posture, though his grin refused to cooperate. “You two have absolutely made my morning. There’s something about you - I don’t know what it is - but it’s like a sparkle that lights up the cabin.”
Then he leaned in, lowering his voice conspiratorially. “Now… I’m just saying… I can clearly see you’re both very… solidly built. But I happen to know that the lav right behind you - this side of the aircraft, between our cabin and premium economy - is slightly more… accommodating.”
The glint in his eye carried just enough mischief to qualify as a challenge. My jaw may have dropped a little.
Corey, of course, couldn’t resist. He twisted in his seat to glance back - then immediately started laughing and waving. As he turned back to us, he chuckled, “You mean the one directly across from our two dads and Ollie’s grandparents?” he asked sweetly.
Sullivan blinked. “Uh… You’re… honeymooning with your family?”
Corey nodded proudly.
I felt compelled to gently pull the conversation back to something resembling normal. “Yeah. I guess we’ve never really been big on traditional celebrations. We figured the people who helped us begin our life together deserved to share the first chapter of it with us.” I smiled. “And that includes another couple way back in regular economy - Kevin and Anna Barrett. They mean the world to us.”
I swear, Sullivan’s eyes started glistening almost instantly. “Okay, so… you two really are the real deal, aren’t you?”
He straightened up quickly, clearing his throat and fully reclaiming his professional composure. “Give me just a moment. I need to… adjust something.” His grin returned. “You really have made my trip today.”
With that, he winked at us and headed briskly back toward the front of the cabin.
Before Corey and I could even think about replaying another memory, Sullivan reappeared, this time carrying two flutes of champagne. Behind him, I noticed two other flight attendants moving down the aisle with trays holding additional flutes, clearly headed toward our dads and the rest of our unsuspecting travel companions.
Sullivan held up a finger, silently instructing us not to sip just yet, before pivoting smoothly back toward the front galley and reaching for the cabin microphone.
That’s when we heard his voice over the airplane’s speakers. “Ladies and gentlemen, this is Sullivan, your Cabin Service Director. If I could borrow just a moment of your time and attention, we have a very special couple flying with us to St. Thomas this morning.”
He paused barely long enough for a few curious heads to turn.
“They were just married this weekend and are celebrating their honeymoon - not alone - but with the family and friends who helped them build the life they’re now about to begin together.”
He glanced toward us and grinned.
“Most newlyweds choose privacy for their special trip. But these two amazing men are a very unique couple. These two chose to share their gratitude instead. So please join me in congratulating Ollie and Corey Rainer as they start their next chapter.”
The cabin filled with applause.
Corey and I clinked our glasses before standing, raising them high as we searched for familiar faces - Ted and Chris smiling proudly, Joe and Laura glowing, and even Kevin and Anna craning from farther back in the cabin.
We were both blushing again as we sat and took our first celebratory sips of champagne - before noon. Sullivan returned a few moments later, bending down to give us each a quick, warm hug.
“Keep sparkling, boys,” he said softly. “The world needs more of whatever it is you’re radiating.”
I felt my eyes sting again.
And just as I settled back into my seat, I found my thoughts drifting toward the boldest declaration of love Corey and I had ever made in front of a crowd - and the very unconventional song we chose for our first dance.
Chapter 35 - No One Else on Earth
…
We had done our very best to connect with as many friends as possible during our reception. It felt like every conversation began with someone telling us how amazed they were with our venue, our ceremony, our pup, and the love and commitment we had so openly promised each other. It was all wonderful to hear. But before we could finally just sit down, breathe, and satisfy the hunger in our still-nervous bellies, there was still one final test waiting for us - our first dance.
When we saw the DJ subtly motion in our direction, we knew the time had come. We hugged the friends we were speaking with and made our way toward the center of the patio that had so magically been transformed into a dance floor. The DJ introduced us once more, and once again the applause from our family and friends washed over us in a way that made both of us blush.
As we stepped into position, my eyes instinctively found my mom. Her maternal gaze was filled with pride, love, and something else - a flicker of nervous anticipation. Along with her steady smile, she gave me a look that reminded me that she and Jordan were on also on call for the next bold event of the evening.
I smiled back at her reassuringly, subtly gesturing with my arms to remind her how to hold Jordan when their moment came. Then I turned my attention forward and allowed our musical guide to take control of the night once more.
With our subtle nod of permission, the DJ leaned back into the mic once more. “Alright friends and family of our two interstellar grooms. Everyone listen, if you thought their earlier wolf-and-pup hijinks were bold, just wait until you hear what these two have picked for their first dance. Trust me, nothing about Ollie and Corey is typical or predictable.”
A ripple of laughter made its way around the patio as he continued. “Most couples choose something slow. Something safe. Something that doesn’t require much coordination from two tall white boys, and something that comes with lyrics sweet enough to make everyone sigh. But when these two told me their choice, I had to ask them twice to make sure they were serious.
“These two assured me that their first dance needed to be ‘No One Else on Earth’ by Wynonna.
A few cheers instantly broke out from the older crowd, and the DJ smiled before shifting his tone slightly. “Sure, yes, it’s a love song. A powerful one. But it’s not just about sweet hearts and fairy tales. It’s about a love so deep that there truly is no one else on earth who could ever take that place. And it’s also about the other side of that promise - that when you let someone into your heart so completely, when you trust them with every unguarded part of you, you’re giving them the ability to hurt you more deeply than anyone else ever could.”
The patio quieted as his words continued. “That kind of love isn’t casual. It isn’t safe. It’s fierce, and it demands something in return. I believe these two chose this song as a reminder to themselves that a love this strong can - must - never be taken for granted. To remind them that when you hold someone’s heart so tightly, you have to protect it just as fiercely as you claim it. It’s a very wise and powerful statement.”
His grin returned, lightening the weight of the moment. “So, consider yourselves warned. When the music starts, y’all had better be ready to two-step - or at least fake it convincingly.”
He lifted a hand with finality. “Let’s dance, y’all.”
My not-quite-as-confident-as-usual wolf did his best to look perfectly alpha as he took my hand and led me onto our dads’ pool deck, now transformed into a proper dance floor. As the bluesy opening guitar riff filled the backyard, Corey began guiding us through our first steps and turns.
All I could do was repeat the dance steps in my head like a mantra: step and step, slide… step and step, slide. Lurd. Why is the Texas Two Step a three-beat pattern meant to be danced to a four-beat song? It makes absolutely no sense.
And no, please don’t try to explain it to me again. Corey, Chris, and Ted had already taken their best shot at clarifying that particular mathematical mystery to me. I’d finally learned to stop fighting it and just keep counting.
Corey glanced down and immediately caught the fact that my lips were moving - quietly counting out my survival instructions: step and step, slide…
He pulled me closer against his chest and whispered into my ear, “You’re doing great, Ollie. And you’re looking good doing it. You’ve got this, pup.” Then he leaned back just enough to lock eyes with me and asked softly, “You ready?”
And in that moment, I realized that I was.
It was simply yet another Go Time - and I’ll admit, one we had also been practicing for in secrecy. I felt Corey twirl me around before expertly lowering me into a dramatic dip, as though it were the most natural movement we’d ever performed. As though no one else on earth could execute it quite as seamlessly as we just had. As though our roles were already perfectly assigned - Corey leading, me following - and our world had simply accepted that directive without question.
Right up until we decided to prove everyone’s assumption - perfectly wrong.
In one smooth, well-rehearsed motion, we switched. Now it was my turn to lead. My turn to guide my husband. The shift was so fluid that it took the crowd half a heartbeat to realize what had even happened - and then the cheers erupted as I spun my wolf around and lowered him into an equally dramatic dip of his own.
And just as his head and shoulders neared the floor, Riley bounded into the center of the patio to enthusiastically serenade his other daddy with a flurry of licks and tail wags, officially becoming the first to join us in our wedding dance.
The laughter easily broke whatever spell still lingered over the crowd, and within seconds our friends and family poured onto the floor - two-stepping, shuffling, or simply swaying in joyful surrender - exactly as we had hoped they would.
Kevin and Anna were among the first to rush the floor, closely followed by Kevin’s “backup” partner from our early morning meeting a year ago - Officer Calhoon - who had arrived to our celebration with a very unexpected and very handsome plus one man of his own.
Catching the officer’s eye, I couldn’t help but beam at the realization that, at the time of my impending arrest, I had no idea that I had not one, but two caring officers quietly looking out for me. In this precious moment, even that frightening chapter had somehow turned into another cherished thread woven into the fabric of this night.
In one final burst of playful exuberance, I spun my groom around again and pulled him back into me as the dance floor filled beyond anything we could have orchestrated. Boots shuffling, laughter ringing out, skirts swirling, toes tapping in imperfect rhythm.
Even those who had no business attempting to two-step had joined in anyway. What had begun as our first dance together, no longer belonged only to us; it had become something bigger, louder, and far brighter. Wynonna led the way, the laughter rose, and the joy of the night seemed to lift straight up into our starry Texas sky, refusing to be contained by a single song, a single dance, or even a single day.
…
The soft ding of our pilot’s announcement gently interrupted our final memory and pulled me back into my very excited present. We were beginning our descent into St. Thomas - the next step on our journey to a week in paradise.
I turned toward my window and could hardly believe what I was seeing. As we approached the island, a small rain cloud - barely more than a passing shower - hovered over the edge of the shoreline. And somehow, with our angle to the sun just right, that gentle rain transformed into an unexpected rainbow welcoming us to its home.
The colorful arc stretched from the happy cloud down toward the tip of the island, as though Bob Ross had accidentally painted it there, just for us. And for the first time, I really looked at the Caribbean below. I had never imagined water could hold so many impossibly beautiful shades of blue. My own crystal blues began to dampen again, overwhelmed by the sheer beauty of everything I was seeing.
I nudged Corey and motioned for him to look out my window, just to confirm I wasn’t somehow imagining the entire scene. He leaned across my chest and took it in for himself. After only a moment, he straightened and pressed a soft kiss to my once again tear-tracked cheek. “Welcome to paradise, Ollie,” he whispered. “This is exactly where we’re meant to be.”
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