Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 46875 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46875 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
A tiny velvet box.
“Open it,” Zak whispers hoarsely, urging me with a movement of his flexing jaw.
His eyes are wide and clear.
The face of a man about to bare his soul is staring back at me as I suddenly connect the dots in my mind.
“Oh, Zak…,” I whisper, reaching for the box. My fingers are trembling so much that I can hardly hold it, let alone open it.
But his hands join mine, and as he speaks, we both lift the tiny lid.
“I do want you to move in, Jade. And I do want kids. But every kid needs a mom and a dad, right?” he asks.
I feel my mouth hanging open. I feel like Zak’s about to ask me the one thing we both know would make all these past few weeks a dream come true.
“I want you to be my wife, Jade. Not just my best friend or superstar programmer, I want you. All of you, like I’ve already told you a hundred times. And the only word I need to hear from you right now is….”
I don’t need him to prompt me or coach me.
I don’t need my mom’s blessing or Joey’s approval either.
My heart swells, and I finally feel it actually burst. Feeling his hands slip the ring onto my finger before I hug him tighter and longer than I ever have.
“Yes, Zak. Yes! The answer is always yes!”
EPILOGUE
THREE MONTHS LATER
Zak
It was Jade’s idea to have a themed wedding, but her mom was quick to draw a pretty firm line in the sand on that one.
At first, she was anyway.
Once Jade reminded her just whose wedding it was and hinted we might just elope instead, May was equally quick to compromise.
Especially when Jade casually reminded her who was paying for the whole thing too.
Not that it’s going to break the bank. Both of us want something plain and low-key.
I also want to make sure Jade has her special day just how she wants it, which is her in a different kind of wedding dress.
So it’s been decided that our side of the church is going to be cosplay or other suitable wedding guests in costumed attire. Favorite character from a game being the only rule.
And on her mom’s side of the church, it can be all the regular folk.
Suits, uncomfortable shoes and neckties, that sort of thing.
But peeking out into the crowd before the ceremony, it’s pretty clear that not everyone who was invited has actually shown up.
And at a glance, the only ones who have are dressed up as their favorite gaming character, making the gathering look more like a gaming convention than a wedding.
Which isn’t a bad thing on our big day, but having Jade’s mom looking so alone and embarrassed isn’t what Jade would want either.
I make my way over to Jade’s mom, the cheers of my guests almost drowning me out.
I’m wearing the only original costume ever made for the lead character from the game I originally made.
The one that got hijacked.
Anyone who knows me also knows what it means to me and what it represents for Jade and me.
“Maybe we should just…?” May shrugs, having to smile and eventually laugh at the way things panned out.
“Would you mind?” I ask her. “I mean…is it okay if everyone just does their thing?”
May crimps her mouth, holding back emotion. “Of course they can, Zak. This is your day. Jade’s special day. Just do whatever makes you both happy.” She smiles, her eyes glassy with tears.
I lean in and peck her cheek. Feeling like she’s not such a bad mother-in-law after all.
“Thanks, May. It’ll mean the world to Jade,” I assure her.
“Oh no, Zak. It’s you who means the world to Jade,” she corrects me, dabbing her eyes and shooing me away again, telling me to go get ready before she really starts bawling.
“We just need Joey,” I smile, turning to go.
“I- I thought he was with you?” May asks. Joey’s mom, Sheree, appears behind May. And overhearing us, she only adds to the drama.
“What!? You’ve lost Joey? He’s the ring bearer!” Sheree cries out so loud the entire church turns to look at us.
“I’ll find him,” I assure them both, letting everyone know to take their seats as well.
We’re not running on a tight schedule; I just want that ring on Jade’s finger and us out of here on our honeymoon.
Knowing Joey a little better after these past few months, I make for the one place I know I’ll find him.
The nearest power outlet.
And there’s not too many of those in the centuries-old church we’ve booked.
True to form, Joey’s found the only outlet and is charging his phone while playing a game.
His game now, really. We’ve made so many changes, and all of them for the better.
I know the future of gaming programmers is safe in Joey, at least for now.