Do Simple Better (Anthony Rizzo)

Chapter 72: The Wedding

-Anthony's POV-

Today's the day I'm marrying my best friend, and I don't mean Kris. I mean the woman who I thought needed me but I needed her a hell of a lot more. The woman who always said the right thing at the right time. Through the highs and the lows, she's been my rock and I couldn't wait to marry her. I stand at the front of the wedding by the pastor while we wait for things to get started. There was only about 50 people here, close friends and family only. Joe paused his RV tour to come to the wedding and the boys who weren't with the 2016 team anymore still showed up. It was a beautiful day for December, about 50 degrees, nice and sunny with a small breeze. From the columns in millennium park you could see the tall buildings and the bean from where we stood. I look out to the smiling faces and think of the first time I saw Vanessa at opening day in 2015. She looked so amazing and I remember it vividly, I can't imagine how amazing she's going to look today. The music plays lowly as the bridesmaids and groomsmen walk out and find their spots in the front. Naya was a great flower girl and I couldn't help but pray we have a little girl. The music starts back up and Vanessa appears with my dad on her arm. It feels like forever that she walks down the isle, but I enjoy it because it gives me more time to admire her. Her long blonde hair was curled in a updo and her makeup was simple, complimented by a light pink lip stick. The beauty was dripping off her, I feel my breath hitch as she literally took my breath away. Those same eyes I saw that day in 2015 was now staring me down the isle, so full of life and love. How lucky am I? As I continue to admire the woman who would be soon known as Mrs. Rizzo I feel someone tap my shoulder. A tissue is placed on my shoulder and I didn't even notice I was crying. I wipe my tear and open my eyes to see Vanessa already in front of me. She takes her thumb and wipes a tear away before I grab her hand kiss the back of it. "I love you" I mouth and she mouths it back. My dad hands her off before taking a seat and she takes to her spot across from me. The pastor talks but I don't hear much, just taking her in. I was in my favorite city surrounded by my favorite people across from my favorite girl. This was bliss. Time comes for vows and she decides to go first. "Baseball had been my life, and more specifically the Cubs. I've been around for some good championships, the bulls dynasty and the one the Blackhawks are in right now, but there was nothing more I wanted was to see the Cubs build one too. But in order to create a dynasty you needed a star to build it around, like Michael Jordan or Jonathan Toews. So when the Cubs got a young player by the name of Anthony Rizzo, something told me to look up. My dads last wish was to get season tickets to watch these new young guys play and last year we did. It turned out being a blessing in disguise when he got lost the first day and I needed help. Anthony decided to do a good deep and help me out, turned out he was doing more than he ever intended. What started as a friendship turned into something more and I fell in love. Much like the game of baseball, it wasn't easy, but always worth it in the end. Through the ups and downs of this season I go to see the real Anthony, the silly and emotional guy who just loved the game. We were lucky, we were a part of a family and a pretty great one too. And now I stand here, missing a part of me that is my dad but carrying a new part that is our child. I'm more than thankful the little one let me fit in this dress. Looking back, it's been a great time we've had together but it's what's coming next that I'm most excited for. There might not be any more worrying about next year for the Cubs but I know that I'm very much looking forward to it, as long as I have you with me" she says with tears threatening to fall. I squeeze her hand as she nods her head, without a word she understood me and that's why I loved her. Now it was my turn to say my vows and I was already crying. "Anyone who knows me knows that I'm never at a loss for words, I love to talk. But there has only been two times in my life I have ever been left speechless, one was when we won the World Series and the other was the first time I saw Vanessa. Last year I was so against being in a relationship, I thought it was a distraction and I wanted to be all baseball all the time. But with Vanessa it was more than baseball, it was all the things behind baseball. Like the lifelong fan who raised his daughter to be devoted and passionate and caring and eventually leaving her for me. I promised Ernie a bunch of things, and one was to show Vanessa the finer things in life. All I did was take her to the roof and she did the rest by herself. She looked to the sky and found herself among the stars. The light in her eyes reflected in the stars and I witnessed the beauty of a girl finding hope. If I were to name the reasons why I love you we would be here forever and I want to marry you as soon as possible but I really need to say this. Vanessa, you're everything I've ever wanted and more, when I was struggling you never gave up on me, you were always in my corner pumping me up. I could have done what I've done on or off the field this season without you, and now I'm ready to live my whole life with you" I finish and she starts sniffing. "I love you guys" David yells and we all bust out laughing. The pastor talks some more before we say I do and kiss my beautiful bride. "I love you so much" she whispers. "I love you more" I say and she giggles. "Not possible" she insists. I start to respond but she playfully puts her finger on my lips. "Oh this is not over" I laugh as I pick her up and carry her down the isle. We take pictures in front of the bean and around other nice things in Millennium park. Once we finished we head to the UC under the specific dress code.

We arrive to the UC sporting our jerseys or jerseys of our favorite players. Toews and Panarin are there in each other jerseys and I see all the boys sporting their Cubs stuff, even the ones not on the team anymore. We have a great time and Vanessa and I make it to each table to say hi to everyone before sitting down to eat. About halfway through dinner a spotlight shows up and I see David with a microphone and bury my face in my hands. This guys has a lot of shit on me and I know he is not going to hold back. "Hello, is this thing on" he says tapping the microphone as it falls silent. "Hi everyone, I'm David Ross but you can call me grandpa Rossy" he starts and everyone mumbles a hi. "Alright, I have a story for everyone. Just because I'm not on the team anymore doesn't mean I'm done tormenting you Tony, I'm never leaving" he jokes and I roll my eyes. "I want to tell you guys what happened the night of the Milwaukee game rain delay. So since Vanessa is a assistant manager she was required to attend manager meetings with Joe and wasn't with us during much of the delay. We were up in Wisconsin and I don't know if you know this but we're a fun group of guys. We start looking around for ways to pass time because the game was already in extra innings and we were a little slap happy. Anthony here decided to go mud sliding, but where do we find mud you ask? Rizz here decides to strip down to his now famous hotdog underwear and return to the surface of the field. There was a huge puddle in center field so Anthony sprints across and slips on the tarp but eventually slides straight into the puddle. As we cheer from the dugout I notice something was different and his underwear had come off. Ladies and gentleman, I present to you, Anthony VS the Puddle" he says and a picture of me butt ass naked covered in mud shows up on the scream. "I leave you for 10 minutes and you go naked mud sliding in the middle of a game" she asks turning to me. I let my head hit the table and I hear her crack up. I hate David. Once everyone settles down David gives a real speech and I forgave him pretty easily. It was time for the first dance and Vanessa didn't know what we were dancing to. She was wearing a jersey that said Rizzo on the back and had the number 14. "14" I ask as I take her hand in mine. "Ernie banks' number, also my dads favorite number" she responds easily and I nod. The music starts and she lets out a giggle. "Really? Smile by Uncle Kracker" she says as we sway together. I spin her and and she easily falls back in my arms. "Yes because you love this song and I know you want to sing along" I say once she's in my arms again. "You make me smile like the sun, fall outta bed, sing like a bird, dizzy in my head, spin like a record, crazy on a Sunday night. You make me dance like a fool, forget how to breathe. Shine like gold, buzz like a bee. Just the thought of you can drive me wild. Oh, you make me smile" she sings and I do smile. Everyone joins us and eventually the dance ends. We still cut the cake but that was also the gender reveal for our baby. As Vanessa and I cut a piece and take it out we see pink as she looks up to me bright as ever. "It's a girl" she says and I nod. "A baby girl" I say as she kisses me. Before I can process what's happening she smashed the cake in my face and I laugh. I love my best friend. It starts getting late so we thank everyone and around midnight the night ends. We head home and try to get some sleep because we were leaving for Venice in the morning for the honeymoon. "Are you sure we can't take Wrigley" she says messing with his ear as he sat between us in the bed. "Yes, he needs time with grandma and grandpa" I says referring to my parents who would be staying here while we were gone. "You're my husband" she giggles and I laugh at her. "And you're my wife" I respond as she looks at me with those piercing blue eyes. "I love you" she reminds me and I smile bright. "I love you to the moon and back.