CHAPTER 102: We Have The Rest Of Our Lives CHAPTER 102: We Have The Rest Of Our Lives


    It''s our first dance as a couple, and Julie''s arms are draped around my neck, her warmth melting into mine as we sway to the soft rhythm of the music. Her dress catches the golden glow of the chandeliers, shimmering like something out of a dream. But it''s not the dress or the lights that have me mesmerized-it''s her.


    Her cheeks are flushed, a shade of pink that makes my heart stutter, and her eyes, those deep, captivating pools, glisten with unshed tears. I open my mouth to say something, anything, but all I can manage is, "You''re beautiful."


    Julie''s blush deepens, and she looks away for a moment before meeting my gaze again. You''ve already said that. Twice."


    ""Because it''s true."


    Around us, everyone is watching.


    Julie bites her lip, a nervous gesture that only makes her more endearing. "It''s strange, isn''t it? Feeling this... shy?"C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    I chuckle. "Like teenagers on a first date."


    "Exactly. The entire room is watching, and I don''t know where to look."


    "You''re doing great so far," I say. "Just keep looking at me."


    And she does. She never takes her eyes off even once.


    The song seems to end too soon. Apuse erupts around us, loud and exuberant, but for a split second, I swear it''s just her and me, lost in our own little world.


    As the pping swells, I take her hand and lead her back to our table. The MC''s voice booms over the speakers.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, I think we can all agree that was a first dance for the books! And judging by the teary eyes around the room, I''m not the only one who felt the love. Give it up for our happy couple!" The crowd''s cheers grow louder.


    The MC continues, "We have a special member of this family who''s requested the microphone. Someone who calls himself the couple''s guardian."


    Julie nces at me. "Guardian?"


    I shake my head, equally puzzled. "Beats me.


    But I do have a wild guess.


    "Ladies and gentlemen," the MC says, "please wee Retired General Javier Martinez!"


    CHAPTER 102: We Have The Rest Of Our Lives


    The cheers grow deafening, and I let out a groan. "Leave it to Grandpa to steal the spotlight."


    Julieughs, squeezing my hand. "I think he deserves it.


    We both turn to watch as Grandpa rolls himself to the front in his wheelchair, his posture as straight as ever. He takes the mic from the MC.


    "I''ve known Lucas his entire life," Grandpa begins. "So whatever I needed to say to him has already been said. Repeatedly. And loudly.'' Laughter ripples through the crowd.


    "This speech," he continues, "is for the newest member of our family, Julie Martinez."


    The room apuds again, and Grandpa holds up a hand.


    "Cease your pping, people. I haven''t even said anything."


    Theughter grows louder, and even Julie can''t help but chuckle.


    Grandpa clears his throat. "The first time I saw you, Julie,ing into the house with Lucas, I knew you were different. Special. And that''s because Lucas actually walked into the house. He didn''t barge in like he''s trying to reenact a SWAT raid-which always grates on my nerve. No, he walked in. He was... calm. Dare I say, normal. I looked at him, then at you, and I thought, ''Well, he''s in trouble.''


    Moreughter, and Julie''s hand finds mine under the table.


    "I''ll admit," Grandpa continues, "I was worried. I thought, ''This woman is going to break his heart. Because Lucas, for all his bravado, is not as tough as he pretends to be. But then I watched you, Julie. I saw the way you looked at him, the way you softened his edges without dulling his fire. And I realized... you weren''t here to break him. You were here toplete him."


    Julie''s grip on my hand tightens, her eyes glistening.


    "Lucas," Grandpa says, turning his gaze to me, "you''ve always been a stubborn, impulsive man. But you''re our stubborn, impulsive Lucas. And now you''ve got someone who sees past all that, someone who loves you for who you are. Don''t mess it up.". The room erupts into apuse andughter again, and Grandpa rolls his eyes. "Alright, alright, I''m done. Enjoy the rest of your evening."


    As he hands the mic back to the MC, Julie leans into me. "Can I steal your grandfather?"


    "By all means," I say. "You''re one of us now."


    The evening flows on, a whirlwind of speeches,ughter, toasts, and spoons hitting tes. Marissa, Julie''s maid of honor, takes the mic next, her tone light and teasing.


    CHAPTER 102: We Have The Rest Of Our Lives


    "Julie''s kind of my boss at work," she begins, grinning. "And I''ll say this-she''s the least pain-in-the-ass boss I''ve ever had. Which, trust me, is saying something."


    The roomughs, and Julie shakes her head, embarrassed but smiling.


    It''s weird to see Julie making friends, but it''s kind of sweet too.


    I lean in, whispering, "I feel like everyone here came for you. All I''ve been hearing is Julie this, Julie that..."


    "Aww," she says, "don''t tell me you''re jealous."


    "I am. I''m the only one who should be calling your name."


    She presses a quick kiss to my cheek. "We have the rest of our lives for that."


    As Marissa wraps up her speech, the MC announces my best man, Kofi. The second his name is mentioned, I groan.


    "Hiii, Luke," Kofi begins, grinning.


    "See?" Julie whispers. "Someone remembers your name."


    "No," I say, "I don''t like it when Kofi has a microphone."


    Sure enough, Kofi continues with, "Luke has always been a charmer. I mean, he once stole my girlfriend."


    Everyoneughs, and I bury my face in my hands.


    The speeches and toasts continue, each one a testament to the love and chaos that brought us here. By the time it''s announced that it''s time to cut the cake, I feel like my face has been permanently flushed fromughter and embarrassment. We stand together, heading to the tiered cake at a corner of the room.


    Julie yfully elbows me. "If you smush that cake in my face, I will end you.''


    "Noted," I reply, smiling. It''s not like I was going to do it, but now that she''s mentioned it


    As we approach the cake, a hush falls over the room, the kind of silence that makes me feel like all eyes are piercing into us. The cake is a masterpiece-fivè tiers of decadent cream. Julie picks up the knife hesitantly, and I ce my hand over hers. "Ready?" I whisper.


    She nods.


    The MC counts down. "Three...two...one!"


    The room cheers as we slice through the cake. Julie nces up at me, her eyes sparkling.


    CHAPTER 102: We Have The Rest Of Our Lives


    "Should I?" she teases, holding up a small piece of cake.


    "Don''t you dare," I say. But the corners of my mouth twitch with a suppressed grin.


    She smirks and raises the cake to my lips instead. I take a dramatic bite, making an exaggerated show of savoring it, before returning the favor. The crowd oohs and aahs.


    Julieughs, brushing crumbs off her fingers. "I think we survived that unscathed."


    "For now," I say with a wink.


    When it''s time for the bouquet toss, Julie smiles as she''s handed the bouquet-a stunning arrangement of roses and baby''s breath. She steps onto the makeshift stage, ncing over her shoulder at the huddle of eager women behind her. "Ready,dies?" she calls out.


    The response is a mix of giggles, cheers, and yful threats. Julie pretends to wind up like a baseball pitcher, eliciting moreughter. She tosses the bouquet over her shoulder with a dramatic flourish.


    The flowers soar through the air in a graceful arc-until they smack directly into the face of one of my married third cousins, Jimena.


    There''s a stunned pause, followed by raucousughter.


    "I think it chose you, Mena!" someone shouts.


    Jimena, clearly flustered but not one to back down, clutches the bouquet tightly. Suddenly, another woman-another cousin-grabs at the bouquet.


    "I think it''s mine!"


    "No way! It chose me.


    "


    "You''re already married!"


    The room erupts into a yful scuffle as more hands reach for the bouquet, tugging andughing.


    The MC raises his mic. "Ladies,dies! Please! This is a wedding, not WrestleMania! If you must fight, let''s settle it on the dance floor. Because it''s La Hora Loca!"


    Confetti cannons explode overhead, showering the room in a kaleidoscope of colors. Balloons bounce onto the dance floor. The crowd erupts in cheers, and party props- feather boas, oversized sunsses, glitter hats are passed around. Julie stares at the chaos unfolding. "What in the world is happening?"


    Iugh, grabbing a glittery top hat and cing it on her head. "The Crazy Hour. Time to let loose those dance moves, Mrs. Martinez."


    CHAPTER 102: We Have The Rest Of Our Lives


    "This is a thing?"


    "Oh, it''s a thing," I say, spinning her onto the dance floor.