Updated Dec 4, 2025 • ~9 min read
Barry straightened his tie for the fourth time, staring at his reflection in the groomsmen’s suite mirror.
He had a girlfriend.
After ten years of friendship and pining and almosts, Savannah Mitchell was his girlfriend.
The words still didn’t feel real.
“You’re smiling like an idiot,” Zane observed, adjusting his own tie. “It’s disgusting. I love it.”
“I can’t help it.”
“You told her you loved her and she said it back. Of course you can’t help it.” Zane clapped him on the shoulder. “I’m happy for you, man. Really. You’ve been miserable for years.”
“I wasn’t miserable—”
“You were absolutely miserable. Watching her date other guys, pretending you were fine, making spreadsheets to track your feelings.”
Barry winced. “You know about the spreadsheet?”
“Everyone knows about the spreadsheet. You’re not subtle.”
Roman appeared, looking nervous in his tuxedo. “How do I look?”
“Like you’re about to have a panic attack,” Barry said honestly.
“That’s because I am. I’m getting married. Actual married. With vows and rings and forever.”
“You love Skylar,” Zane reminded him. “You’ve been planning this for a year. You’re ready.”
“What if I mess up the vows? What if I cry? What if—”
“You’re definitely going to cry,” Barry interrupted. “We all know it. Skylar knows it. Just embrace it.”
Roman took a shaky breath. “Right. Crying is fine. Emotional is good.”
“You’ve got this,” Zane said. “And if you don’t, we’ll be right there to catch you.”
The coordinator knocked on the door. “Five minutes, gentlemen!”
As they lined up, Barry’s thoughts drifted to Savannah. She was getting ready in the bridal suite with the other bridesmaids. He wouldn’t see her until the ceremony.
He couldn’t wait.
The ceremony space was even more beautiful than last night’s rehearsal. Afternoon sunlight filtered through the vineyard, everything golden and warm. White chairs lined both sides of the aisle, filled with guests. The altar was draped in burgundy and gold, flowers cascading down the sides.
Barry took his place with the other groomsmen, scanning the crowd. His parents were in the third row, beaming. Savannah’s parents sat across the aisle. Friends and family everywhere, all dressed up and ready to celebrate.
The string quartet started playing. The first bridesmaid appeared.
One by one, they walked down the aisle in their burgundy dresses. Audrey, Emery, Thea.
Then Savannah.
Barry’s breath caught.
She was stunning. The dress hugged her perfectly, her hair swept up with soft curls framing her face. But it was the way she looked at him—like he was the only person in the entire vineyard—that made his heart stop.
She walked down the aisle slowly, bouquet in hand, eyes locked on his.
When she took her place with the other bridesmaids, she mouthed: Hi.
Barry mouthed back: Beautiful.
She blushed, ducking her head.
Zane elbowed him. “You’re staring again.”
“Don’t care.”
The bridal march began. Everyone stood.
Skylar appeared on her father’s arm, radiant in a lace wedding gown. But Barry barely registered it. He was too busy watching Savannah watch the bride, her eyes misty with happy tears.
Roman, predictably, started crying the moment Skylar reached him.
“Told you,” Barry whispered to Zane.
The ceremony began. The officiant spoke about love and commitment and choosing each other every day.
“Marriage,” Sirius said, “is not just about finding the right person. It’s about being the right person. About showing up every day and choosing love even when it’s hard. Especially when it’s hard.”
Barry’s eyes found Savannah’s again. She was already looking at him.
Choosing love every day, Barry thought. I choose you. I’ve been choosing you for ten years.
“Roman and Skylar have written their own vows,” the officiant announced.
Roman went first, voice shaking but steady. “Skylar, I’ve loved you since you spilled coffee on me in that bookstore and blamed the barista. Since you laughed at my terrible jokes and made me want to be funnier. Since every day with you became the best day of my life.”
He took a breath, tears streaming down his face. “I promise to love you in big moments and small ones. To be your partner and your best friend. To choose you every morning and every night. To build a life with you that’s full of laughter and adventure and ordinary beautiful days. I promise to always see you—really see you—and love every version of you that exists.”
Barry saw Savannah wipe her eyes. Hell, he was getting emotional too.
Skylar’s vows were just as beautiful. “Roman, you’re my home. My safe place. The person who knows my coffee order and my anxious thoughts and exactly when to make me laugh. I promise to love you fiercely and gently. To be brave with you and vulnerable with you. To build our dreams together and support yours. To choose you every single day for the rest of our lives.”
The rings were exchanged. The vows sealed with a kiss.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” Sirius announced.
Everyone cheered.
As Roman and Skylar recessed down the aisle, the wedding party paired up to follow. Barry found himself walking beside a cousin he barely knew instead of Savannah.
But when they reached the end of the aisle, she was waiting.
“Hi,” she said, beaming.
“Hi yourself.” Barry wanted to kiss her. Wanted to pull her close and never let go.
“Those vows,” Savannah murmured as they were ushered toward the photo location. “They were beautiful.”
“Yeah.”
“Did you—were you thinking what I was thinking?”
Barry met her eyes. “That I’d promise you all of those things and mean every word? Yes.”
Her breath caught. “Barry—”
“Photos!” the photographer called. “Wedding party! Let’s go!”
The next hour was a blur of photos. Wedding party with bride and groom. Bridesmaids alone. Groomsmen alone. Family shots. Couple shots.
Thea, the photographer, positioned everyone with cheerful efficiency. “Barry and Savannah! I want you two front and center for this one.”
They moved into position, Barry’s hand settling naturally on Savannah’s waist.
“You two are dating now, right?” Thea asked, adjusting her camera. “Skylar texted me this morning.”
“We’re dating,” Savannah confirmed, blushing.
“Perfect! Give me that newly-in-love energy. You’ve been secretly pining for years, and now you’re finally together—let’s see it!”
“How does everyone know everything?” Barry muttered.
“You’re not subtle,” Zane called out from behind them.
The photos continued. Barry tried to focus, but Savannah kept catching his eye and smiling, and every time she did, he forgot where he was supposed to be standing.
Finally, they were released to the reception.
The terrace had been transformed. Round tables with burgundy linens, gold candlesticks, centerpieces overflowing with autumn flowers. A dance floor in the center, surrounded by string lights. The vineyard stretched out beyond, everything bathed in late afternoon sun.
Barry found his name card at the head table, right next to Savannah’s.
“Skylar strikes again,” Savannah said, laughing.
“I’m not complaining.”
Cocktail hour melted into dinner. Plates of filet mignon and roasted vegetables, wine flowing freely, laughter and conversation filling the air.
Barry was hyperaware of Savannah beside him. The occasional brush of her hand against his. The way she leaned into him when she laughed. How natural it felt to have her this close.
During dessert, the speeches began.
Audrey went first, talking about Skylar and Roman’s love story. Then Zane, telling embarrassing college stories about Roman. Skylar’s father got emotional thanking everyone for coming.
Then Thaddeus stood up, glass raised.
“I want to talk about taking risks,” he said, his eyes finding Savannah’s. “About being brave enough to reach for what you want, even when you’re scared. Skylar and Roman took that risk. They chose to be vulnerable and trust each other with their hearts.”
His gaze shifted to Barry. “Sometimes the person you’re meant to be with has been there all along. You just need the courage to see them. To take that leap. To risk everything for the chance at something real.”
He raised his glass higher. “To Roman and Skylar. And to everyone else brave enough to choose love.”
Everyone drank. Savannah was crying again.
“Your brother’s a romantic,” Barry observed.
“He’s also making sure everyone knows we’re together. This is his version of a blessing.”
“I’ll take it.”
After dinner, the dance floor opened. Roman and Skylar took the first dance to a song about forever and coming home.
Barry watched them sway together, Skylar’s head on Roman’s shoulder, Roman’s eyes closed like he was memorizing the moment.
“That’s going to be us someday,” Savannah whispered beside him.
Barry turned to look at her. “Yeah?”
“Yeah. If you want it to be.”
“I want it to be.” Barry stood, offering his hand. “Dance with me?”
She took it. Let him lead her to the dance floor.
They swayed together to the music, close enough that Barry could feel her heartbeat. Her arms around his neck, his hands on her waist. Perfect.
“This weekend has been surreal,” Savannah murmured against his shoulder.
“Good surreal?”
“The best surreal. Three days ago we were friends. And now—”
“Now we’re more.”
She pulled back to look at him. “I keep thinking I’m going to wake up and this will all be a dream.”
“Not a dream. Promise.” Barry kissed her forehead. “This is real, Sav. You and me. Finally.”
The song changed to something upbeat. Other couples flooded the dance floor. But Barry and Savannah stayed locked together, swaying in their own bubble.
Around them, the reception continued. Cake cutting and more toasts and dancing and celebration. But Barry was only aware of Savannah in his arms and the overwhelming certainty that this was right.
This was everything.
Later, as the night wound down and guests started leaving, Barry and Savannah escaped to the terrace edge. Overlooking the vineyard, string lights glowing overhead, music drifting from the dance floor behind them.
“What a weekend,” Savannah said softly.
“We should probably talk about what happens when we go home,” Barry said. “Figure out what this looks like in real life.”
“Scared?”
“Terrified. But also—” He turned to face her fully. “Also sure. More sure than I’ve been about anything. I want this, Sav. I want us.”
“Me too.” She touched his face gently. “We’ll figure it out. Together.”
“Together.”
They kissed under the string lights, the wedding celebration continuing behind them, the future spreading out uncertain and terrifying and perfect ahead of them.
Ten years had brought them here.
To this moment. This choice. This beginning.
And Barry wouldn’t change a single second of it.
Because every almost, every missed moment, every year of friendship had led them exactly here.
To always.
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