23

Colt watched as Holly made her way down the aisle with Wraith. Cyrus would walk with Isis to give her away. Holly was wearing a lovely pink lace bridesmaid dress that Colt was sure she probably hated as she looked at him and stuck her tongue out with a yuck-face pointing at the dress. She looked lovely, but Colt could see she didn’t even know it. He smiled to himself and her silliness. It was a refreshing change that had grown over the past couple of weeks.

Holly’s eyes didn’t leave his as she walked down the aisle and made her place at the front of the wedding guest by the preacher.

The Chicago cityscape behind them from the top of IWX headquarters was a beautiful view of Lake Michigan. The wedding planner had done a magnificent job of making the wedding look perfect without the guest noticing that the IWX cameras were there.

Holly smiled sweetly, blushing as Colt winked at her. She imagined what it would be like to stand at her wedding and marry a man like him. Maybe that perfect wedding with the man of her dreams was looking right at her.

Since Holly and Isis were children, they had planned their perfect weddings. Down to their favorite colors and the perfect dress. Isis pink and Holly purple. As the wedding march started, Holly remembered playing Barbie dolls and dress-up with Isis, and how there was always a beautiful wedding as they played.

All Holly ever wanted was to have a love like her parents once had. Those days seemed so long ago, and the years without them had been painful for the Evans family. Looking at Colt, she realized she had never changed from those days as a playful little girl with purple bows in her hair. In fact, she missed it.

As Isis strolled down the aisle with her brother, Cyrus, Holly remembered what it was like then. When their parents were still alive, and Isis and Holly were the best of friends.

-Flashback-

“Okay, Icy. This time you are Ken. I want to wear the mermaid dress and you will be the bridesmaid. You can wear the purple dress.”

“I like the pink one.” Six-year-old Isis pouted as her little lip quivered.

“Okay. Don’t cry, Icy. You can wear the pink one. It’s pretty on you.” Holly hugged her.

“Thank you, Holly. What is your husband’s name going to be? Mine is going to be Thor. I like his long hair.”

Holly laughed inside, remembering that. Thinking about how much Isis used to love Thor as a kid, reminding her that Gage did sort of look like him.

“You always like long hair on boys.” Little Holly giggled. “Okay. My husband’s name is… Colt. He will be a wrestler, just like we want to be when we grow up.”

“Cool. Me too. My husband will be one too. And he will be big and strong like my daddy.”

“Holly and Colt. I pronounce you husband and wife. You can kiss now.” Little Isis giggled pretending to be the Ken doll and Holly kissed the doll giggling.

-End Flashback-

Holly’s eyes shot up. She had forgotten that day until that moment. She looked at Colt in awe.

“Mom and Dad sent him to me. It’s him. The man I pictured back then. Even then, I knew. It was always him.” She whispered almost too loudly.

Wraith cleared his throat, and Holly looked over, seeing him frowning at her.

She mouthed the words, “Oops. Sorry.”

She watched as Isis smiled at her as she made her way from the back of the aisle. Isis went back to looking at her groom, as Holly realized they found the true loves they had always dreamed about. Holly watched the wedding, witnessing her future. And that future she wanted was with Colt.

Isis made her way to her spot next to Gage, smiling with pure love and bliss. Gage looked at her as if he had never been so happy in his life. It was true. He hadn’t. He had found his true happiness with Isis.

While the wedding proceeded, Holly kept looking at Colt, who had never stopped looking back at her the entire time. As the couple said their I do’s and kissed, Holly felt emotions rushing over her like a tsunami. Holly covered her mouth as Isis always did when she was nervous.

She whispered the words, realizing what she had hidden from her heart. “I love him.”

Colt could see the look in her eyes but not make out the words she was saying to herself. His heart was beating out of his chest since she walked down the aisle, and all he could hear was the pounding of his heart in his ears. The beautiful, feisty woman before him was becoming all he wanted. He needed desperately for her to truly be his. Watching his buddies, Gage and Slade, be so happy over the past months made Colt think about his future. How they had changed for the ones they loved and became better men for it. Holly had done the same for him without even realizing it.

He glanced over, seeing Candy blowing a kiss to his best friend who was standing beside Gage. It was refreshing seeing Slade happy. After his injury, things had been hard for them. Candy was always by his side, even when he had a short drug relapse a few months ago from pain meds. Candy made Slade finally deal with his addiction on a deeper level. He had been working hard to stay sober since he met her, and he seemed to be in a better place. Now they were starting a family and Slade was stronger than he had ever been.

Looking at Holly, Colt wanted what his friends had. Love. Sure, she was tough and a little bit of a hard cookie, but it was part of what drew her to him. She wasn’t a pushover like other girls he dated. She was strong and independent. For the first time, he found that endearing. He didn’t need some submissive women. He needed someone strong like Holly. When they had been alone recently, she was more at peace and her anger was seeming to fade away. Holly was slowly becoming his one desire and Colt wanted her more than he wanted anything.