Chapter 306: Best Pose
** Harper **
They had planned for an extended hour-long session of couple’s portraits right afterward. Which turned out to be a great idea, given how greedily Harper wanted to keep every moment of the present locked behind a camera lens.
The weather was also cooperating perfectly. As they followed the photographer’s instructions and stepped out onto the terrace, the westering sunlight wrapped around them like a golden blanket, making everything look softer and almost storybook-like under the warm glow. The air was cool as well for an early summer afternoon, crisp and refreshing with the gentle breeze brushing against the skin.
"We’ll start with the more casual pictures first," the photographer reminded them. "Just hold each other’s hands and take a stroll wherever you like. Kiss when it feels right. We’ll go from there."
Harper liked that. Reaching for Eli’s hand and lacing their fingers together, she grinned and went straight for the vineyard.
"Before you ask, Eli — no, you don’t need to help me pick up my train or anything. I’ll stay on the central brick path, which is dry enough to keep the dress clean." She looked up at him with a wink. "So no need to worry. I’ve been waiting for this lovely stroll for months now, and I’ve got it all planned out."
"... Um, do I really look that anxious to you?" Eli blinked, clearly not seeing that comment of reassurance coming. He looked back at her with a half surprised, half sheepish expression as he lowered his voice, to a volume that hopefully wasn’t audible to the photographer’s team.
Harper chuckled, squeezing his hand in lieu of a reply.
"... Darn, your brother was right." The groom sighed helplessly. "I suppose I’ve had almost a year to prepare for this day, but still ... Everything just feels so surreal that I barely know what’s happening anymore. Guess it’ll probably take until the end of the day for my head to fully wrap around all this."
"Hey, you know nothing is really changing after today, right?" Harper slowed down a little. "We’ll have some pretty pictures to frame and some new rings to wear. And some new titles to finally start using. But we are still us. That part will never be different."
This time, it was Eli’s turn to stop in his tracks, turning toward her with a look in his eyes so soft and ... so full of love that it stunned her to silence.