Later, after she and Sam had shocked both their parents, and probably most of their families and the town, they stood together under the pink magnolia trees, while her granddaddy said the words over them in the company of what seemed half the town.

Granddaddy stumbled over the no ring thing but recovered.

Word, video and texts had spread the news that she'd chunked the lawyer, leaving him at the altar, and Sam and her were finally together. Facebook and Instagram blew up and #Jam appeared on Twitter with the account picture of Sam kissing her in Gus's parking lot. The site had a links to countless YouTube videos, and they were currently trending.

Who the hell did that on their wedding?

Oh yeah, her and Sam.

And she couldn't help but smile. Her small wedding had grown into a hometown media event. Her perfect small wedding had become a free for all.

Which made their wedding perfect for them, and she loved it and her Sam.

Thank God, she hadn't married Dylan.

When the time came for their first dance, her daddy proudly introduced them.

Sam stood, his tie still pulled loose, and she placed her hand in his.

He led her to the dance floor, and he proceeded to sing Thomas Rhett's Happy Man song in her ear as they danced, and he pressed his arousal into her core.

Every last word he sang from his heart, but she found this part the sweetest.

"And if I never get to build my mansion in Georgia
Or drive a sports car up the coast of California
Oh, if all I got is your hand in my hand
Baby, I could die a happy man
Baby, I could die a happy man
Oh, I could die a happy man
You know I could girl
I could die, I could die a happy man."

Then Sam kissed her on the dance floor, and she kissed him back and everyone clapped and yelled.

Breaking apart, she grinned. "Talk about the perfect rush. Did you feel that?"

"Oh yeah, I'm feeling it. Can we leave now? I'm dying to get you out of your dress. You're killing me, you know?"

"Thought you'd never ask. Let's sneak out. You go first."

He kissed the back of her hand and murmured, "See you in two by the fountain."

"Done deal." And yes, she checked him out as he walked away.

Standing there, she looked around, taking it all in.

Everything finally perfect.

Nothing missing.

No itch that needed scratched.

The very air charged with the magic of the moment.

Every piece of the puzzle finally snapping into place.

The guests laughed, danced, ate and drank. Children ran outside the tent in bare feet, chasing fireflies and each other. Daddy, his shirt sleeves rolled up now, and Mama, her hair pulled back in a ponytail, swayed slowly to the music. Sam's smiling parents nodded and waved from a table as they ate cake and sat close. The liquor flowed and she knew soon Uncle John would start telling stories about his good old days. Aunt Kate would be singing a little off key pretty soon. And who knew which one would be mad at the other one tomorrow for a slight, a rumor or an outright lie. But all and all, most people would consider her wedding a hoot, a success.

Dinner with a show.

She smiled knowing that this was small town life or big city life.

Drama and love, they were the fabric of life. Family, friends, and the future all rolled into an event, a wedding. Today, Sam's and her wedding, while tomorrow belonged to someone else's story.

Slipping out of the tent, she hurried to find him standing forlorn by the fountain. His face lit up when she rushed to hug him.

"Hey, why the long face?"

He pulled her tight. "It's nothing."

"Come on. We're married now. Talk to me." She pulled away enough to look at this face in the low light.

"I'm better at not talking to you. Maybe we should have dated? Forget I said that."

She pushed away from him her stomach bottoming out and crossed her arms in front of her chest. "Are you getting cold feet? Do you not want to be married to me?"

"Yes." He stabbed his fingers through his hair and paced. "I mean no. Hell no. I'm in, all in, but today's been kind of surreal and . . ."

"And what? Finish it."

"I stood here wondering if I was whiskey drunk, if tomorrow I'd wake up alone and this," he waved his fingers pointing at each of them, "us, we'd be gone. I'd get up tomorrow and write another sad song, go to work and watch people get stoned and listen to their problems." He swallowed hard. "And I'd wake up to find you married to someone else. And all I'd have is this dream."

Sam looked at his shoes and stuck his hands in his pockets.

She hugged him to her, and he barely managed to get his hands of his pockets before she almost bowled him over. "I love you, Sam. And husband you're not whiskey drunk, though I've noted you have a flask in your jacket's pocket. But it's still pretty full. And I want you to know my wedding was perfect because I married the right man today. And this is not a dream."

"I love you too, Jennie. Well come on wife, let's go home because if this is a dream I don't intend to wake up."

Perfectly his jacket hung on her bare shoulders, her shoes dangling from her fingers by the straps, while his hand intertwined with hers. Heading toward the parking lot the crickets and tree frogs serenaded them, as they walked she broke the silence between them. "So, I hear you have an apartment?"

He slowed and hesitated. "Yeah, it's small, and I'm a guy, one who never dreamed you might visit me, let alone stay the night so maybe you should brace yourself."

"Okay, so noted. Please, tell me you at least own a bed."

He grinned. "Yeah, a queen sized and not much else, except a few guitars."

And, oh yes, she greeted that sweet rush as she smiled up at him. "Well are you planning to sleep with me tonight? If so you might brace yourself. I've waited a long time for you."

No answer and he jerked her to a stop and pulled her into his arms and buried his head in her hair.

She pushed him back. "Sam, are you blushing?"

"Jennie, the things you say sometimes."

"You'll get used to it." She sprayed her hands on his broad chest and gave a slight push. "Answer the question. You sleeping with me?"

"Jen, the truth is, I'm not planning on doing much sleeping."

He smiled wickedly and she wanted to melt in a puddle beside him, barely staying upright as she grinned. "Then that's all we need today, right?"

"Damn right. I love you, Jennie. Come home with me."

"Love you too, Sam. Let's move this along. Race you to the truck." She spun out of his arms and ran, giggling as he recovered and gave chase laughing.

She beat him but he caught her at the truck and caged her with his body.

"You cheated. I wasn't ready."

"Then you better get ready." And she laughed because she'd won all the way around. Then she didn't have the air to laugh but she loved the rush of his kiss.

He pulled back and laughed. "I'll work on that. Guess I'll get started right now." His mouth moved to the nape of her neck while his hands smoothed her bare back.

And her heart beat rushed like never before. "Now that's what I'm talking about. Let's go home, Sam."

"Home, huh?" He cocked at eyebrow at her.

"Yeah, home's where ever you and I are from now on. That's the way this work for me."

His sky blue eyes sparkled and he nodded. "I like the way you think." He took her hand, planting a kiss in her palm, his eyes blazing into hers. "Yeah, Jennie, let's go home."

And yes, she experienced the rush, the tingle of her skin, the drop of her stomach as her pulse raced and she giggled as hell, yeah, she welcomed the butterflies in her belly, and knew she always would with her Sam.

The End or Rather the Beginning.

I hope you enjoyed reading this story as much as I loved writing it. Love to hear your thoughts on this short story. Hope I made you smile. And as always thanks for the read.