EPILOGUE
Akio
“I CAN’T believe you,” Maggie said by way of greeting as she stormed into the room. Her blue dress billowed around her as she sat down on the futon between Akio and Addie with a huff, her gaze deadly as she pouted.
“What?” he asked, grinning because he already knew the answer.
“Why would you invite him ?”
“Am I not allowed to invite my friends to my wedding?”
She gave him a cross look. “No, because your best friend doesn’t want him here.”
“He misses you.”
“That’s on him.”
He shook his head, a smile spreading on his lips.
“Ryder stays.”
Maggie groaned and mimicked getting stabbed in the heart.
He only laughed.
“Me thinks the lady doth protest too much,” Addie said as she wagged her brows at Maggie.
Maggie flipped her off much to Addie’s amusement. Akio slapped Maggie’s hand down with a shake of his head. Maggie simply used her other hand instead.
His disappointed groan only made them laugh.
They had spent the morning getting ready together. Their hair was done, and they were dressed to impress. Maggie and Addie had chosen their bridesmaid dresses themselves. He’d once promised his sister she could wear whatever dress she wanted at his wedding, and she had indeed chosen a blue dress like she’d said she would. It was a gorgeous dusty blue with a very elegant silhouette. As was Maggie’s. Both had a slit high enough to make Diesel say a prayer.
The door opened and Chris poked his head inside, an excited look on his face.
“Are we good to go?”
“Yes,” Addie yelled and ran toward Chris who caught her with a chuckle. “Let’s go. Come on.”
She was jumping in place, her excitement making them all laugh despite her hurrying on them.
Akio stood and took a deep breath. He couldn’t believe it was actually happening. He was about to walk down that aisle and say I do. He was about to marry the man he loved.
He felt a hand on his arm and glanced at Maggie.
“You ready?” she asked.
A smile spread on his lips, and he looked at his best friend feeling like the luckiest guy in the world for having so many people who loved him and wanted to spend this momentous day at his side.
“I’ve never been more ready for anything in my life.”
Maggie chuckled and tugged him toward the door.
They walked out into the hallway where Diesel was waiting for them, nervously pacing back and forth until he saw them.
Maggie planted a kiss on Akio’s cheek and stepped aside for Diesel to walk up and hug him tight. He held on, surprised by just how much it meant to him that his brother was there.
All he could do was smile as Diesel fussed over him, straightening his tie and brushing dust that definitely wasn’t there off his shoulders.
He grabbed Diesel’s hands and when his brother met his gaze, he said, “Thank you. For loving me. For giving me such a wonderful life and family.”
Tears welled in Diesel’s eyes and his tough-as-nails brother did nothing to hide it.
“I love you,” Diesel said and squeezed Akio’s hands. “Let’s go get you married, shall we?”
Akio huffed out a low laugh and shook his head at his brother.
“Gladly.”
Diesel held out his arm and Akio took it, turning to look for Chris so the man could take his other arm. Chris was pushing Addie to the front and ensured she remembered her bouquet before he made his way to Diesel and Akio’s side.
The music began and his heart jumped, excitement thrumming in his veins.
The girls walked first and then it was his turn, the two men who’d changed his life and taken him in without hesitation on either side of him.
The white chairs filled with people he knew and loved were the first thing he saw, the next was the man standing at the end of the aisle waiting for him. The man who saw all of him. The one who loved him for who he was and not in spite of it.
He was looking fantastic in his dark suit, the tie matching his green eyes perfectly. Mo, Tahir, and Evan were standing by Lucas’ side, his groomsmen looking excited with their matching grins.
He knew he was blushing from the look Lucas gave him, but he couldn’t care less.
Once he stood in front of Lucas and held his hands, looking into eyes filled with nothing but love, he knew this was just the beginning and he was so ready to spend his life with Lucas at his side.