the morning of adelaine and jacob's wedding was a whirlwind. from the moment louis and i woke up in the little cottage we were staying in, the air was buzzing with excitement. adelaine had asked me months ago if i'd be up for giving a toast at the reception, and i'd nervously agreed, though now, standing in front of the mirror while louis adjusted his tie, i was starting to regret it.

"i'm going to trip over my words," i said, frowning at my reflection.

"nah, you'll be brilliant," louis said, his tone casual but his eyes soft. "you always know what to say."

i shot him a look. "easy for you to say. you're not the one standing in front of hundreds of people trying not to cry."

he grinned, stepping closer and adjusting the strap of my sage green dress. "if it makes you feel better, i'll be in the crowd making faces at you."

"helpful as always," i muttered, but his teasing made me feel a little better.

as we arrived at the venue, everything felt surreal. the decorations were stunning, the air smelled faintly of roses, and the sound of soft chatter filled the space as guests mingled. louis stayed close to me, his hand resting lightly on the small of my back as we found our seats.

"you ready to see your best mate cry?" he whispered, leaning in close.

"stop it," i hissed, though i couldn't help but laugh.

when adelaine finally appeared, louis nudged me lightly. "the crying starts now," he murmured.

sure enough, jacob's face crumpled, and i felt my heart squeeze at the sight. the ceremony was everything you'd hope for—emotional, heartfelt, and filled with so much love you could practically feel it in the air.

by the time the reception started, my nerves were starting to creep in. louis noticed, of course, because he always noticed.

"hey," he said, tugging me aside for a moment. "you're gonna smash it, alright? just speak from your heart."

"that's the problem," i muttered. "my heart's a mess right now."

he laughed softly. "good. that's what makes it worth listening to."

when the time came for me to stand up, my hands were shaking a little, but louis gave me a reassuring squeeze before letting go. i took a deep breath, looking out at the room full of familiar faces, and started.

"so, when adelaine asked me to give a toast, i thought, 'this'll be easy,'" i began, earning a few chuckles. "but as the day got closer, i realized it's impossible to put into words just how much these two mean to me."

i glanced over at adelaine and jacob, who were sitting side by side, their hands intertwined.

"adelaine has been my best friend for years," i continued. "she's the kind of person who makes everyone feel like they belong, who loves with her whole heart, and who somehow always knows when you need her most. and jacob—well, jacob's the only person who could ever keep up with her."

the room laughed again, and i felt myself relax a little.

"watching the two of you together has been such a privilege. you've taught me what love looks like when it's real, when it's messy, and when it's worth fighting for. so, here's to you—to a lifetime of inside jokes, spontaneous adventures, and the kind of love that makes everyone else believe it's possible too."

as i raised my glass, the room erupted into cheers. louis caught my eye from his seat, his grin wide and proud, and it made my chest feel warm.

after the toast, louis pulled me into a hug. "told you you'd smash it," he said, his voice low.

"you were right," i admitted, though i hated giving him the satisfaction.

"say that again?" he teased, smirking.

"don't push your luck."

the rest of the night was a blur of dancing, laughing, and sneaking off to quieter corners just to be alone for a moment. louis was glued to my side, his hand never straying far from mine, and every so often, he'd lean down to whisper something in my ear—usually a joke, but sometimes something softer, like "you look so beautiful " or "i'm so proud of you."

when the slow songs started, he pulled me onto the dance floor, wrapping his arms around my waist as we swayed.

"you've been staring at me all night," i said, looking up at him.

"can you blame me?" he replied, his voice a little huskier than usual.

i rolled my eyes, though i couldn't fight the smile tugging at my lips. "act like such a prince ."

"and you act like such a princess," he shot back.

and then, without thinking, i said, "i do. i love you."

he froze for a moment, his eyes searching mine, and i felt my heart leap into my throat.

"say it again," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper.

"i love you," i repeated, my cheeks heating.

his expression softened, and he leaned down to press his forehead against mine. "i love you too," he murmured, his voice rough with emotion. "so much."

we stayed like that for a while, the rest of the room fading away as the weight of those words settled between us. when the song ended, he kissed me softly, and i knew then that this was it—this was what it felt like to be completely and utterly in love.

later that night, as we snuck out of the reception to catch our breath, louis pulled me close, his arms wrapped around me as we looked up at the stars.

"you know you're stuck with me now, right?" he said, his voice teasing but his eyes serious.

"good," i replied, resting my head against his chest.

and in that moment, with the sound of laughter and music drifting in the background, i couldn't imagine wanting anything else.

the wedding was winding down, and i couldn't help but feel a little bittersweet. it had been such a beautiful day, filled with so much love and laughter, and now it was slowly coming to an end. the reception was quieter now, the music softer, and the dancing had slowed. people were starting to head out, but louis and i were still sitting at our table, side by side, the energy of the night still buzzing between us.

he was leaning back in his chair, one arm draped over the back of mine, looking over at me with that soft, teasing smile he always wore. "you did good tonight," he said, his voice low and sincere. "you were incredible during the toast."

i felt my cheeks warm at his words, a shy smile tugging at my lips. "i was so nervous. i thought i was going to mess it up."

he shook his head, his eyes never leaving mine. "nah, you nailed it. everyone could feel the love in what you said."

i shrugged, glancing down at my dress as i fiddled with the fabric. "i was just being honest."

"and it was perfect," he said, leaning in just a little closer. "you always are."

i looked up at him, my heart doing a little flip in my chest. "you're not so bad yourself," i teased, my voice soft.

he grinned, his hand gently brushing the side of my arm. "nah, i'm just a lucky guy who gets to be here with you."

i laughed, shaking my head. "no you're not, i'm lucky."

"try convince yourself that, love," he shot back with a wink.

the night seemed to stretch on as we just sat there, lost in our own little bubble while everything else continued around us. every now and then, louis would reach for my hand, his thumb brushing over mine in a way that sent warmth through me every single time. it was like he couldn't quite get enough of me, and i wasn't complaining.

eventually, the crowd thinned, and people began saying their goodbyes. louis and i stood up, ready to join the others for the last few moments of the night. just as we were about to leave, i noticed adelaine and jacob standing by the dance floor, a few of their friends around them. they both looked happy, relaxed, and completely in their element, as if they had been waiting for this moment forever.

"hey, come here," adelaine called out, waving me over.

i smiled, squeezing louis' hand before we made our way over to her. she looked radiant in her wedding dress, and i couldn't help but feel a little emotional watching her.

"how are you two holding up?" she asked, grinning at us both.

"we're good," louis said, his voice warm as he slipped an arm around my waist. "just enjoying the night."

jacob pulled me into a quick hug. "i can't believe it's finally happening," he said with a smile.

"i know," i replied softly, feeling a little overwhelmed by everything. "it's all been so perfect."

"you're gonna make me cry if you keep talking like that," adelaine said, her voice teasing, but there was a slight tremble in it too. "but seriously, i'm so happy you're both here with me today."

"of course," i said, giving her a hug. "it's been the best day."

jacob stepped forward and took my hand, his voice suddenly serious. "imogen," he said, his expression softening. "if he ever hurts you—"

"don't even say that," adelaine cut in, her voice sharp. "if he ever does, we'll have words with him. trust me, we'll make sure he knows what he's up against."

louis laughed, the sound low and confident. "don't worry, jacob. i'm not going anywhere. she's stuck with me."

"you better be," adelaine said with a smile, though her tone held a certain warning. "but honestly, imogen, if he ever gets on your nerves—"

"you know where to find us," jacob finished, giving me a wink.

i laughed, shaking my head. "don't worry, he's been on his best behavior," i teased.

"for now," louis muttered under his breath, and i shot him a playful glare.

"we're good, i promise," i said, my voice full of affection as i looked up at louis. "i love him, you know."

adelaine smiled warmly at me, her eyes a little misty. "i'm so happy for you two."

louis stepped closer, slipping his hand into mine, his fingers curling around mine gently. "me too," he murmured. "i'm pretty damn lucky."

as the night began to wind down, and the last few guests trickled out, louis and i found ourselves standing near the door, just talking quietly. the world felt a little quieter now, a little more real, as the weight of everything we had just experienced settled in.

"you look good in my jacket," louis said suddenly, his voice playful as he glanced at me with that signature smirk.

"you've said that three times already," i replied with a laugh, the warmth from his jacket seeping through to me.

"and i'll say it three more times if i have to. you really do look good in it."

"you're so repetitive," i said, rolling my eyes but not being able to hide the smile that tugged at my lips.

"yeah, but you love it," he teased, his grin never faltering.

"maybe," i said, squeezing his hand. "but you've definitely got a one-track mind."

"what can i say?" he shrugged, pulling me a little closer. "i just can't get enough of you."