The Good Life

Months later

*Jack*

My heart is pounding out of my chest. I was literally an hour away from marrying Alex. This felt like a dream and Cass helped me have the wedding of my dreams. We found private beach area to rent out and I found a company that came out to set up chairs and alter and even table, chairs, and a bar are for the reception. We had to have the wedding sort of late because I wanted the sun to set while the ceremony was taking place.

I was also nervous because I hadn’t seen Alex since yesterday morning and I’m not use to not seeing him for that long. I felt so alone when I went to bed last night and I cried myself to sleep about the thought that my father wasn’t here with me on one of the most important days of my life, but I’ll never tell anyone that. I wondered how Alex felt, he probably wasn’t freaking out as much as I was.

I rented two hotel rooms for us at a Hilton right next to the beach so we could get ready for the wedding and walk over instead of driving. My mom, May, Cass, Izzy, and David were here with me trying to help me and Rian, Oli, Alex’s dad, and Austin were in Alex’s room helping him. The rest of our guest were already sitting waiting on the wedding to start.

Cass offered to do Alex and my hair so she did Alex’s earlier and we currently doing the last finishing touches to mine.

“When you saw Alex earlier did he seem nervous?” I asked Cass.

“Yeah kind of. He told me he hoped today was perfect because he knew how much this meant to you.” She smiled. That helped my nerves a little bit, I guess I was just worried there was a chance he was having second thoughts about doing this but that was probably me just being paranoid.

“Jack where’d you find the dress Izzy’s wearing? I love it!” My mom said.

“Oh David made it!” I told her.

“It’s so gorgeous, you are very talented.” She told David.

“Thank you! It took forever.” He laughed. It mostly took forever because every time he tried to measure Izzy or alter the dress on her she wouldn’t sit still. The dress was very beautiful though it was a light pink color that was fitted against the top half of Izzy’s body and flared out at her hips. It looked like a dress for a princess.

“Okay I’m finished.” Cass said as she sprayed a little more hairspray on my hair. I looked in the mirror and loved it. She cut it a little because it was getting too long and put it into its normal faux Mohawk hairstyle.

“Thank you Cass I owe you so much.” I thanked her and she brushed it off.

“How are we doing on time?” My mom asked.

“Thirty more minutes before the start.” May answered.

My hands immediately started sweating I don’t know why I was still so nervous everything was simple. Alex and I were going to get married, have the wedding reception, then stay in a suite that I rented for us for the night, then we were going to wake up the next morning and catch our flight to Fiji for a week for our honeymoon. I let Alex choose the location for our honeymoon and I expected him to say Paris or somewhere like that, but he said Fiji out of all places. Izzy was going to stay with May and my mom for a few days then stay with Rian and Cass the last few days so my mom could go back home and May could go back to work.

“Are you ready to marry the love of your life, Jack?” May asked.

I laughed nervously and said, “I’ve been ready since high school”

***

*Alex*

“How are we doing on time?” I asked Rian.

“You have thirty more minutes.” He glanced down at his watch.

“Okay wow it’s almost time.” I took a deep breath I was nervous as shit.

I wasn’t nervous or anything before today, but now I can’t stop worrying. It seemed silly because this was just a little ceremony that was going to last no more than thirty minutes so why am I freaking out?

“Are you nervous son?” My dad asked me.

“No! Why? Do I seem nervous?” I lied.

“Yeah you’re shaking.” Oli chuckled. I looked down at my hands that were noticeably shaking and my leg that was bouncing up and down.

“Okay yeah I guess I’m a little nervous, but I should be fine everything will be fine right?”

“Yeah! I was scared too before Cass and I got married but as soon as she walked out all my fear went away.” Rian said and that honestly made me feel much better.

“Alright I think I’ll be okay.” I took a deep breath. “Dad can you tie my bow tie?”

“Yeah come here.” He said and I walked over handed him the tie. “You look so handsome, Alex. Your mother would have been proud of the man you’ve become.” He told me as he tied my bow tie.

“Thanks Dad” I blushed. That was something I really needed to hear.

I know if I was even freaking out a little bit Jack was completely stressed out. He and Cass worked for months to make sure this day was perfect so if anything went wrong he would probably have a heart attack. That’s what also made me worry I just wanted everything to flow smoothly today for Jack and usually with me that was impossible.

“Okay I’m going to go my seat next to Alan since it’s almost time. Good luck!” Austin came over to hug me and left.

“I’m going to go too so I can be seated with Tina. You’ll do great, Alex.” My dad told me. He came over to hug me too before leaving.

I was left in the room with Rian and Oli, I guess my two best men. I wouldn’t be able to choose between the two of them. I knew Oli the longest, but Rian and I had become just as close within the time we’ve known each other. Since we weren’t having people stand on alter with us so it wasn’t really important. They both planned my bachelor’s party three nights ago though and it was the most fun I’ve had in forever. They rented a limo that took us to Los Angeles and we went two three different night clubs and one strip club. Oli kept telling the girls it was a bachelor party so I got a few lap dances, but Jack doesn’t need to know that. We just wanted to do something wild crazy one last time since we were all heading in the direction of marriage and wouldn’t be able to do things like that again.

“Dude like twenty more minutes and you’re going to be married!” Oli exclaimed.

“I know it’s crazy.” I chuckled.

“Cass just text me, she said that we should start walking to the beach now so you can be in your spot before Jack gets there.” Rian told me.

“Okay.” I nodded. I put on my tux jacket and we walked out of the room.

The whole walk over Oli and Rian kept talking to help me relax which I really appreciated. It took us a few minutes to get there so they went to take their seats and I stood back waiting for the orchestra to play Cannon in D Minor. I was worried we would run into Jack while walking, but we didn’t so I guess they were waiting for us to come first then they would leave.

I looked around while waiting for the music and saw everyone waiting patiently. May was sitting on the left side holding Izzy sitting next to Joyce’s sister Julie, Jack’s Uncle Aaron, and their two kids June and James. Izzy was sitting calmly in May’s lap playing with a toy, I hope she stayed that way for the whole ceremony. Joyce wasn’t sitting yet because she wanted to walk Jack down the aisle and give him away to me which was very sweet.

The orchestra started playing right on time which meant it was time for me to walk down. I saw Cass sitting next to Rian which meant Jack was here now too. I took a deep breath and began to walk down the white the strip that led to the altar. I looked straight ahead of me at the Justice of the Peace guy who was going to marry Jack and me.

Which I reached the front I turned around to face our family and friends. I looked around and saw smiles on everyone’s face as we waited patiently for Jack. The music played softly in the background as I saw Joyce step out and right next to her was my soulmate.

Jack looked up and we lock eyes and we stared into each other’s eyes the whole time he walked to me. I completely understood what Rian meant when he said all his worries went away when he finally saw Cass that day. They stop at the altar and Joyce kissed Jack on the cheek and came over to kiss me on the cheek to before walking to her seat. Jack laughed lightly and grabbed my hand, we turned to face the Justice so he could start us off.

“We are gathered here on this beautiful afternoon to share Jack and Alexander as they exchange vows of their everlasting love. As Jack and Alexander take their vows today we are privileged to witness the joyous love of a new family. An important requirement of a healthy marriage is a strong bond of real friendship and trust. Jack and Alexander, your love for each other will grow stronger with every passing day, but it's important to remember that your love stands on a foundation of mutual affection for each other. To truly love one another is to be willing to accept both their strong points, and their weak points, with equal measures of understanding. The vows you are about to exchange, will serve as a verbal representation of the non-verbal emotions that you two feel for each other. For it is not the words that you will speak today that will bond you together as one but the strength of the love and commitment found deep within you two.” Jack gripped onto my hand tightly and we faced each other.

“Alexander, do you take Jack to be your Husband, your one true love? Will you cherish his friendship and love him today, tomorrow and forever? Will you trust and honor him, laugh with him and cry with him? Will you be faithful through good times and bad, in sickness and in health as long as you both shall live?”

“I do” I promised.

“And Jack, do you take Alex to be your Husband, your one true love? Will you cherish his friendship and love him today, tomorrow and forever? Will you trust and honor him, laugh with him and cry with him? Will you be faithful through good times and bad, in sickness and in health as long as you both shall live?”

“I do”

“Now you may exchange rings” The Justice said. We had rehearsed the line to say when it was time to exchange rings so I confidently said:

"I, Alexander, give you, Jack, this ring as an eternal symbol of my love and commitment to you." I reached into my pocket and pulled out a black box. I opened it and revealed the silver band with three small diamonds in it that had ‘Jack Bassam Barakat-Gaskarth engraved in small writing on the inside of it.’ He held out his hand and let me slide it on his left ring finger.

“And I, Jack, give you, Alexander, this ring as an eternal symbol of my love and commitment to you.” Jack said as he reached into his pocket and bought out a cream color box that had my ring in it. It was a silver band with a darker grey color in the middle almost identical to the one I gave him minus the diamonds. I held up my hand and let him slide it onto my left ring finger.

“By the power vested in me by the State of California, I now pronounce you husband and husband. You may now kiss the groom.” The Justice told us.

I reached for Jacks hips and pulled him close to me to kiss him. We settled for a sweet simple kiss so we wouldn’t make everyone uncomfortable by making out in front of them.

“I present to you the newly married couple Alexander and Jack Gaskarth.” The Justice said. I was shocked to hear ‘Gaskarth’ but I remembered Jack’s last name is hyphenated now like Izzy’s. There was applause from our family and friends and we held hands as we walked back down the aisle. They also threw rice up into the air as we went. We continued to walk as the sun set behind us.

Jack hired a photographer to take pictures of us after the wedding so while everyone was moving over to where the reception was being held we went over to take pictures. Joyce quickly brought Izzy over to us so she could also take pictures with us.

“Papa! Daddy!” Izzy yelled as she ran over to us. I could hear the photographer snapping pictures of her running to us.

“Hi princess!” I picked her up and kissed her cheek.

We posed for pictures for twenty minutes and then left to go to our reception. The sun was almost all the way down, but there were lights wrapped around the canopy and lights on all the tables so the place was well lit.

There was a rectangle table at the front for Jack, Izzy, and I while everyone sat at smaller round tables facing us. We sat down like everyone else and waited for our food to be served.

“I love you so much.” Jack leaned over Izzy and whispered into my ear.

“I love you too.” I said and kissed him. The room was immediately was filled with cheers and applause which caused Jack to blush and me to jokingly roll my eyes.

The food finally came out and we ate for a few minutes before Oli stood up and tapped his champagne flutes with his knife. Everyone quieted down ready to listen to the foolishness that was about to occur.

“You know when I first met Alexander tens of years ago at some concert I thought he was an asshole. He had barely said two words to me and I immediately thought the worse of him. The absolute only reason we hung out was because our girlfriends became close friends. I always told Hannah ‘I won’t hang out with some pretentious jerk who thinks the world revolves around him.’” Oli started off and everyone laughed. “And if you were to ask me ‘Oli why did you think Alex was such a jerk’ I honestly wouldn’t be able to tell you. Maybe I was jealous of him, he was good looking and had a great personality the whole package. Also Alex is one of those people who are naturally good at everything he does . . . except for math. Uh but without you, Alex, I don’t think I would have made it as far in life as I have. You even pushed me to apply for college and follow my dreams. And you’re still helping me today. I’m so happy to see that even a ‘pretentious jerk’ like you was able to find someone that you want to spend the rest of your life with.

Jack blink twice if he’s holding you against your will because I don’t understand why a person would willing want to wake up with this guy every day for the rest of their life. . . I’m joking! If Alex had to do this with anybody I’m glad it’s you. Someone that I can trust honestly loves Alex for who he is. And I know you two will love each other until your hearts stop beating.” Oli finished. Everyone clapped after Oli’s speech and Oli raised his glass to us. Jack and I grabbed our glasses too and everyone followed our lead and took a sip.

“Would you like to dance with me, Mr. Gaskarth?” I asked Jack.

“I would love to, Mr. Gaskarth.” He laughed and got up with me.

We took Izzy to Joyce as we walked over to the dance floor and started to slow dance with each other. The DJ quickly switched the song to So Close by Jon McLaughlin. Jack requested that song to play as we had our first dance together as newlyweds. I took it upon myself to learn the lyrics so I could softly sing to Jack as we danced. He laid his head on my shoulder while I sung the lyrics to him and we moved around the dance floor.

“Was this night everything you imagined it to be?” I asked Jack.

“This was better than I imagined!” He cried.

When the song ended Jack and I looked each other in the eyes, told each other we loved each other for the six hundred time that night, and kissed.

Notes

I like this chapter, but I don't know if I got the wedding part right so sorry if it's boring or just horrible. The part the Justice said I put together random templates I found online lol and the So Close song is from Enchanted if you haven't heard it you should go look it up it's so beautiful!

Also can you make sequels on this website, I'm trying to decide it should make the next part a sequel or just add it on to this story. It's fourteen years later, but I don't want to confuse anyone.