“I don’t need one, Lib.”
She gave him a short scowl. “Yes you do.”
Angelica climbed up onto the platform, taking photos with a small click and shoot camera, but from the looks of it, she was putting more of Tito in the frame than the bride and groom.
Libby ignored her and plucked a daisy from her bouquet and stuffed the stem into Noah’s coat pocket. “It’s not perfect, but it will do.”
“It fits this crazy wedding.”
She looked up at him, her face radiating happiness. “It fits us.”
He beamed with his own happiness. “Yeah, it does.”
“Are you ready for the vows?” Tito asked, sounding annoyed. “I have a beautiful service prepared for you.”
“I’m kind of curious what he’s got,” she whispered to Noah.
“Then by all means, let’s do it.”
Libby bit her upper lip, probably to hold in her laughter. “Yes, we’re ready for the vows. But can we do our own after?”
“Well, I guess.” Tito sounded miffed, but he lifted his chin. He leaned over and set the harp on the floor. “Angelica. The vows lighting.”
Angelica had been moving around getting photos, but now she hurried to the back corner.
Tito was still spotlit in his golden glow, but two softer spotlights now shone on the floor in front of him. He curled his fingers and motioned for Libby and Noah to move to their positions.
“I feel like I’m in the plot of a horror movie,” Noah muttered. “And it doesn’t end well.”
Libby burst out laughing again.
Tito’s forehead furrowed into a deep frown, but he took a deep breath and lifted his hands at his sides, holding his arms horizontal to the ground, palms up. A light shot out from behind him, putting him in silhouette as a bright light surrounded him. He closed his eyes. “And lo, I descend from above to join you two in holy matrimony.”
Libby grabbed Noah’s hand and held tight.
“Do you Elizabeth . . . uh . . .” He pulled the top of his loincloth away from his stomach and looked inside.
Noah leaned close to her and whispered, “If he takes that thing off, I’m leaving, Lib.”
She lifted her hand to her mouth and bit the side of her index finger. “Deal.”
Tito looked up and cleared his throat before returning his arms to their previous positions. “Do you, Elizabeth Gabriella St. Clair, take this man, Noah Michael McMillan, to be your husband?”
She looked up into Noah’s face, her eyes dancing. “I do.”
“To have and to hold in the angel’s glowing light?”
She took a deep breath, her shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter. “I do.”
“Will you stand by his side until his aura fades?”
She grinned. “I will.”
“Will you let his wings spread wide so that he can take flight?”
She tilted her head and gave Noah a mischievous grin. “It depends on where he’s flying off to.”
Tito’s head jutted back in surprise. “Oh.”
“I’ll take it,” Noah said, squeezing her hand. “I’m not planning to fly anywhere without her.”
Tito looked confused by the alteration to his vows.
“Noah Michael McMillan, do you take Elizabeth Gabriella St. Clair to be your wife?”
The words filled him with more hope and joy than he thought possible. “I do.”
“To have and to hold in the angel’s glowing light?”
Her eyes twinkled with mischief. God, he loved her. He never suspected he could ever love anyone this much. “I do.”
“Will you stand by her side until her aura fades?”
He shook his head, lifting his hand to cup her cheek. “Her aura will never fade. Impossible.”
Her eyes glistened as she looked up at him with unabashed love. “Oh, Noah.”
“Um . . . okay . . .” Tito fumbled, clearly unsure what to do.
“I’ve got this, Tito.” Noah reached for Libby’s hands and held them gently in front of him. “Libby, I’m so grateful Josh tricked Megan into letting him be her fiancé.”
Tito’s eyes widened. “Huh?”
“If he hadn’t tried to steal information about her father’s business, we might never have met.”
Tito’s eyes widened even wider.
“I’ve had more fun with you in the last five months than in the previous four hundred and ten combined. But more importantly, I’ve found my best friend. You make me a better man, Libby St. Clair, and I can’t wait start our lives together in Seattle—you, me, and Tortoise.”
She smiled up at him, tears in her eyes. “Noah, you’ve been there for me when everyone else almost gave up on me. Thank you for the last two days, which were exactly what I needed. You’re the only one who’s ever really understood me. But more importantly, you’re the only person in this world I can completely trust. Thank you.”
“Oh, Lib.” He brushed away a tear. “I promise I’ll never let you down.”
“I’m counting on that.”
Tito studied them for a moment and shrugged, then picked up his harp. “The rings.”
Noah tilted his head and grinned. “If he pulls them out of his diaper,” he whispered into her ear, “I’m not using them.”
“We have rings?”
Tito began strumming an unrecognizable tune on the harp, then said in a theatrical voice, “Release the doves.”