EPILOGUE 1
Madison
ONE YEAR LATER.
“Oh my god, that’s the dress!” Chyler squealed with untamed excitement, rushing over to me as I exited the dressing room.
“It’s a little… tight.” I paused, turning to see myself in the full-length mirror as she tugged at the creases along the waist of my long silk dress. “Is the train necessary?”
Chyler frowned, twisting her lips as she circled, inspecting me like a hungry vulture.
“Yeah… no, you’re right, the train is a bit much. But how’s the color, at least?”
We had been dress shopping for weeks, and her indecisiveness started to agitate me the longer it took her to make a final decision.
Alexis got off easy, not being required to join us on our dress-shopping adventure today. She had already found hers for the wedding. Chyler wasn’t being as picky with Alexis’s as she was with mine .
“Chy…” I sighed, searching for a chair to take a break on. The heels she had me try with this specific dress style were strangling my feet. “This is your wedding, not mine. You pick the dress. I’ll wear whatever you tell me to.”
Chyler had chosen me to be her Maid of Honor and suggested I needed a unique gown that fit the role, something not to upstage her but glamorous enough to shine just as bright.
“I get that, but I want you to love it too. Not just for me. Besides, just wait until Marcus and Dean see you in that. They’ll probably drag you into the nearest closet before the ceremony even begins.” Her bubbly laughter was something I had come to admire over the past year.
She was always laughing now; not a single day had passed that she didn’t have a beaming smile on her face.
“Those two can most certainly be… impulsive at times.” I giggled, rolling my lips together as I reminisced.
Cherishing every heartwarming memory that now lived rent-free at the forefront of my mind.
What a difference a year could make—for everyone.
Until now, I didn’t think normal would ever exist for Chyler, Alexis, or me, that we would always just be the three unhinged badasses hunting down our next paycheck.
Who would have ever thought that the dark and twisted version of Charlie’s Angels could ever be loved unconditionally by the four golden retrievers who were initially chasing us to put us behind bars?
That we would ever settle down and be the perfect —
“It looks good on you.” Chyler’s hand wrapped around mine, and I returned my full attention to her.
“Hm?”
“The glow. I don’t remember ever seeing you as light as you are now.”
She was one to talk. Chyler radiated everything she was now feeling with Atlas, and soon the two of them would be married and living their dreams out in full glorious bloom.
I admired her so much. I was now looking up to her.
Marcus and Dean had changed everything for me.
My perspective on life, on love…
Even going as far as thinking about raising a family together. Although, I don’t know how that discussion would go… who would get the first shot at putting a baby in me… then again—
“So when am I to expect a mini Chyler or Atlas to make their appearance?” Changing the subject off me and back on her where it belonged.
Today was her day; the whole reason we were out shopping, to begin with, was to finish planning her dream wedding.
Most of the essential arrangements had already been made, including the venue, flowers, catering, and limousine services that would shuttle us around all day and night.
Chyler was ready for her big day. The last item on our list was just my perfect dress.
“Atlas and I have talked about it… We’re thinking… honeymoon baby?” She giggled, biting her lip at the thought, her eyes creasing with sheer joy. “Or at least trying for it. If it happens, it happens. ”
“You’re going to be an exceptional mother…
You know that, right? Your mom would have been so proud to see you right now.
Like this.” My voice softened as I felt my eyes warm with tears at the heartfelt moment brewing between us.
“I know you never opened up to me about her—their accident. But I know she’s looking down on her little girl right now, and her heart is full knowing that her most cherished daughter is finally getting her happily ever after.
The dream she always held close to her soul. ”
“You promised you wouldn’t make me cry,” Chyler whined as a tear fell down her cheek.
“I promised I wouldn’t make you cry on your wedding day once you had your make-up done. Until then, your emotions are free game.”
Chyler shoved me playfully before standing and pulling her phone from her back pocket.
“Oh shit… Get dressed; we’re going to be late.”
“For what?” I arched my brow, confused.
We didn’t have anything else planned today, at least, to my knowledge.
Was I forgetting something?
“Don’t worry about it; get your clothes on, and let’s go.”
With a sigh and a shrug, I hauled my ass back into the dressing room and changed back into my clothes.
This better not be another cake-tasting appointment… on second thought…