A Ballad of Love and Hate

I couldn’t believe the day had finally arrived.

I was finally going to be marrying the man who surpassed all of my dreams.

Today was finally going to be our day and nothing could ruin this.

“Okay I have coffee and donuts for us all this wedding morning!” Lily came bursting in with donuts and coffee, handing them to each woman in the room.

“I can’t eat, my stomach is everywhere with nerves and excitement,” I smiled, gladly taking the coffee.

Ryan’s sisters both gladly took the rest of what Lily had with their mother and sat next to me in their robes.

“What’s to be nervous about? It’s not like Ryan is new to you in any way,” Kristin laughed.

“He’s not new, but nothing can go wrong today. Like, nothing,” I sighed as I sipped my coffee. They all nodded in understanding.

Megan began sharing about her wedding day and all her fears as the hairdresser and nail technician came in to get us ready for this afternoon.

My hair was going to be pulled back from my face in waterfall braids. The free hair was going to be curled and my veil would be clipped in at the top of my head.

Simple and sophosticated, just as I liked.

For our nails, all of us would have golden painted nails that matched my ribbon and the ties that all the guys would be wearing.

“What’s the one thing you’re looking forward to being married?” Megan asked me as we got our nails painted.

“I don’t know, we certainly weren’t, you know, traditional, so I think I’m just looking forward to Ryan really promising me his forever, that he’s really tied to me always,” I gushed. Megan looked at me with a huge smile.

“You guys are going to have a great marriage and a beautiful family,” Kristin piped up. I smiled and looked down at my lap.

“Well, Ryan and I are of course all over the place as normal, but I hope that one day we can have that great family,” I said.

As we held light conversation while our nails dried, my make-up was soon being put on by a make-up artist. I was surely a blushing bride in the midst of the cool April day.

I curled into Ryan’s button up I was wearing for the day as my make up was finished and looked as the other women were getting their make up done.

I couldn’t help but think about what Ryan was doing right now. He was probably wandering around campus with his best friends, thinking back to the days we were there together. I could envision him stopping by the pool, thinking about the hours he spent there.

I could see him pondering with his bright blue eyes, thinking about what we were about to do and thinking about our super secret honeymoon to an offshore island in the caribbean. I pulled out my phone to text him when Lily snatched it away.

“Nope, no time to call or text anyone, especially Ryan, it’s time to go to the University,” she said, ushering me away to the elevator and to our limo.

Megan popped open champagne and handed each of us a glass.

“Here's to my baby brother marrying the woman he loves,” Megan announced as we clinked our glasses together.

"Oh Noah, we are so glad you can officially be in our family," Ike gushed. I smiled as I only took a couple of sips of my champagne, scared to drink like I did a few weeks ago.

"I'm happy to take the Lochte name, Ike. And did you see my heels yet?" I asked. She's hook her head no.

Lily handed me my shoe bag and I pulled out my sparkling diamond heels with the family name printed on the bottom. All the lochte women began shouting in joy.

"That is the definition of Ryan Lochte. Noah, you're brilliant!" Megan gushed.

"Tell them the best surprise part, Noah," Lily erged. I looked at my future family and grinned.

"It's so cheesy but right after the ceremony, Ryan and I are going to the pool and his green shoes will be there. We will walk the deck together, leaving our name on the wet deck," I shared embarrassed by my romantic side.

"Oh my gosh, Noah, you really thought about Ryan through this whole planning process," Kristin grinned, taking my heel to admire.

I was glad to see my efforts already paying off.

We arrived to the university where I was sneakily led to the back of the chapel. We went to a private room where Lily and Ryan's sisters quickly put on their dresses and heels so they could help me as Ike went to find Ryan.

The girls wore sleek black dresses with a golden ribbon and golden heels. While it was a spring wedding, I wanted black to go with my classic and chic style while of course, everything gold was for Ryan.

I slipped out of Ryan's shirt and remained in my white strapless bra and put on a silk slip. Lily unzipped my garnet bag to reveal my dress. Everyone awed at my design. I stepped into the strapless dress and lily zipped me up. I allowed the fabric to fall naturally, wanting it to flow the way it was designed. Megan clipped my grand veil in my hair and I held Kristin for support as I stepped into my heels.

"Well?" I asked as I was fully put together.

"Noah, you're perfect. Truly," Lily grinned.

A light tap came to the door and Megan opened it to reveal Devon standing with a small box.

"Lily, wow, you look amazing. Oh Noah, you look alright," he smirked, giving me a hug after kissing his girlfriend.

"Ryan probably looks stunning. Make sure he doesn't do anything stupid in his tux. Oh and his cuff links! Make sure that he wears them. And his shoes," I kept thinking of everything I knew Ryan would forget before Megan covered my mouth.

"Noah, shut the hell up and let Devon do his best man role," she said. I nodded as she removed her hand and Devond handed me the box.

I opened the small box to find that Ryan had bought me a beautiful ring with a pale blue diamond in the center. In the box was a small note in his writing.

“Something new, something blue. I love you, Noah,” I read aloud and put the ring on my right hand.

“He wants his bride blinged out,” Devon grinned.

Of course none of the guys had a clue about just how blinged I was with my shoes. Lily went into my bag and found the box I had prepared for Ryan.

“What is it?” Devon asked, taking the slightly larger box in his hands and shaking it.

“Well, thankfully it’s nothing breakable,” I said in a joking voice.

“It’s light, nothing fragile is light,” Devon pointed out as if it were obvious.

“Oh it’s certainly delicate,” I giggled, pushing Devon out the door, threatening that if he opened it, he would be standing next to his brother in pain.

“What did you get him?” Megan asked me.

“It’s for the honeymoon,” I smiled.

Ike came back in the room while Lily, Megan, and Kristin left to go make sure that Ryan looked accordingly and to greet some of the guests coming in.

“Oh Noah, you look so beautiful. Now, I know your mother isn’t here and I’m sorry for that but you can’t go out there without something old and borrowed,” Ike smiled and gave me a pearl necklace.

“I got this from my mother, she bought it with her first paycheck in Cuba as a teenager,” Ike explained as she put it on me.

“And every Lochte woman has worn it going down the aisle,” she smiled as it settled on me.

“Thank you, Ike, this is beautiful,” I smiled as she gave me a final hug.

“I’m truly excited for you and Ryan, Noah,” she squeezed my hand as she got up and walked away.

I was left by myself for the last few moments before walking out the aisle. I took a deep breath and checked myself out in the mirror once more.

This was it. I was finally going to be with Ryan. Now and forever.

[Ryan...getting ready]

Devon returned to my room with my sisters in tow who looked beautiful in their bridesmaids dresses.

I could only imagine what my bride looked like.

“Oh wow, Ry, you look good,” Megan smiled, giving me a hug. I hugged my sisters and straightened my tie.

“How is she?” I asked.

“She’s great, so excited to be your wife,” Kristin assured me. I smiled and took a seat.

“Oh, this is from Noah,” Devon said handing me a rectangular box.

"Dude, what did she get you?" Conor asked. But I honestly wasnt sure.

“Alright, that’s our cue, everyone out,” Megan pushed Cullen and Conor up with my brother and pulled them out the room.

“It’s just for you to see,” Kristin winked, closing the door behind her. I smiled as I opened the box to find a note from Noah.

-For the Honeymoon, where I’ll have you all to myself ;). I love you, meet you at the altar.- Her note read. I smiled as I removed the tissue and found a lacy see through number.

I laughed, pleased by my bride and how well she knows me.

I took one more final breath before I opened the door and made it to the altar.

I stood next to my brothers and best friends as the guests and family sat and stared at me. The music began to play. The classic Canon in D major as my sisters walked down the aisle.

I smiled widely as I saw how much my family was behind her. How much they all loved and accepted her into the family already even though she didn’t bare our name yet.

After the little ones came down, I saw Lily gracefully walk down the aisle which made my heart beat a little faster because I knew that Noah would be next.

The violins started up to a song by Ingrid Michaelson and the guests began to rise as the bride was about to make her grand entrance.

I first saw the shadow and then Noah appeared.

I was mesmerized. Her face was glowing brighter than anything in the room. She looked at me with a bright smile as she walked slowly down the aisle, allowing her dress to flow lightly behind her.

I was smiling as wide as I could as she came closer to meeting me at the altar.

"Damn, Ryan. She's stunning," Cullen whispered to me. I looked over to him and nodded.

Noah finally made it to me and I took all of her in up close. She was my height in her shoes and her hair was done in curls. Her dress had a gold ribbon and her veil had golden swirls. She was stunning. She was her in her element.

Noah placed her hands in mine as everyone sat and looked at us.

The minister was talking and going through scripture but I couldn't focus on that. I was stuck on Noah and a small part of me couldn't help but wonder what she was wearing under her dress and what she would look like in the gift she sent me.

"Ryan, repeat your vows," Devon whispered harshly at me. I looked at the minister as Noah giggled a little.

"Ryan just say I do," Noah laughed causing the whole crowd to laugh.

"Of course I do," I smirked. The guests laughed once more and I went back to gazing at Noah.

The minister kept talking and Noah had a bright smile on her face as she said "I do." Devon handed me the small silver band to place on Noah's delicate left hand that was still home to her engagement ring. Lily handed Noah my blinged out diamond band to put on my hand.

"By the power vested in me and the state of Florida, I now pronounce you man and wife. Ryan, kiss your bride," the minister said. I took no time cupping my hands around Noah's face and kissing her firmly on the lips.

The people began clapping as I pulled away from Noah catching her as she stumbled a little bit. The music began playing. The violins flared up to play Bruno mars "marry you" as I led her down the aisle and everyone watched us walk quickly away. I kissed her once more at the end of the aisle and she took my hand

"Come on, I wanna take you somewhere and show you something," she whispered quickly walking away from the chapel and across campus.

"Noah, why are you taking me to the pool?" I questioned as we came up to the extremely familiar building. We walked in and on the pool deck I saw my custom shoes waiting for me. I was so confused as to what was happening.

"Put your shoes on," she urged.

"Babe, you were very adamant about me wearing proper tuxedo shoes and now, you want me to put on these shoes that I know you think are dumb and I know you think should never be seen close to a tux, are you okay?" I asked. Noah rolled her eyes.

"Ryan Lochte, would you just listen to your wife and put the damn shoes on," she demanded, putting her hands on her hips and giving me that firm look.

I grinned at thinking this would be the rest of my life.

Obeying, I kicked off my tuxedo shoes and put on my comfortable and fun green shoes that bore my name on the bottom. Noah smiled and grabbed my hand.

"I love you Ryan, so much, that I can put up with your dorky shoes and even join you in your big ego for the rest of my life, see?" She smiled, pointing to the deck as we walked across. That's when I saw my last name printed on the deck in water twice. I looked at Noah as she lifted her dress to reveal the best heels I have ever seen in my life.

"You never left my mind in this planning process. And in future planning processes, you never will," she smiled.

"Let's just ditch our reception and leave right now because Noah Lochte, I'm tempted to just take you right here and right now," I smirked pulling her into my arms, using my last name with her first name for the first time ever. Noah giggled and pulled away from me.

"Come on sweetheart, we have the rest of our lives for that, but we only have one night to be bride and groom," she smiled, leading me back to our reception area.

"I will never be able to tell you how madly in love with you I am, Noah," I said to her as we walked to meet our wedding party and take pictures.

"Oh Ryan. I love when we are sappy and romantic," Noah laughed. We approached my family and the photographer to take our wedding pictures.

Truly, I was the happiest man in the world.