Epilogue
DECLAN - EIGHTEEN MONTHS LATER
“Are you nervous, Paddy?” Cash asks.
“Why would I be nervous?”
He shrugs a shoulder, adjusting his tie. “What if Alice decides she doesn’t want to marry you?”
I roll my eyes at him as Troy slaps him on the back of the head.
“You do realize we’re already married, right?” I ask him. “We’re renewing our vows.”
“Just making sure.” Cash winks at me.
“Asshole,” I mutter.
“Leave him alone,” Troy says. “Angie just texted and said Alice is ready to get this show on the road.”
I smile. “Of course she is.”
If it had been up to me, we would have done this last summer after getting knocked out of the playoffs. But with Froggie taking over Enchanted Petals, there weren't enough hours in the day for her.
Now that things have settled down for her, and with a good team at the shop, I convinced her the time was right to renew our vows.
That, and my mother was going to kill me if she didn’t get to see her only son’s wedding.
Minor detail.
Dad pops his head inside the room. “Ready, Declan?”
I smooth a hand down the front of my tie. “Hell, yes.”
He shakes his head. “Please don’t cuss in front of your mother during the service. I’ll never hear the end of it.”
“Why would you never hear the end of it?” I ask.
“Because I didn’t raise you not to cuss, so she’ll blame me.”
All the guys laugh, clapping me on the back as they start to head out. “Sorry, Dad. I’ll try.”
That ship has long since sailed, but if that’s what my mom wants today, I’ll try. For her, at least.
Following my dad through the house, I head through the doors to the back yard and stop dead in my tracks.
It’s like the shop exploded in our yard. White roses line the aisle toward the gazebo where the guys and my dad wait, ready to marry the two of us again.
“Damn.” I whistle, heading to the gazebo where swaths of fabric are draped over the wooden structure. Ranunculus and roses are mixed in together throughout it, matching the boutonniere pinned to my shirt. Twinkling lights finish it off.
Leon helped Alice get everything ready this morning. She didn’t want to leave this up to anyone else but her.
It’s fucking stunning.
Everyone is standing, waiting for Alice to come out. I try not to fidget. For someone who wanted to move things along, she sure is taking her time.
When the back doors open and the music starts, Alice takes my breath away.
The dress she’s wearing is simple. The strapless dress hits just above her knee, with lace flowers covering the fabric.
It’s perfect for her. Her blonde hair flows in soft waves.
But the best part? The smile she’s wearing as she walks toward me. It’s one just for me. The one that I fall in love with more and more each day.
When she steps up to me, I can’t help but sweep her into my arms and lay one on her.
“You’re not supposed to kiss her until after!” Cash yells.
I smile down at the most beautiful woman in the world. “I’ll kiss her whenever the hell I want.”
“Really, Declan?” Mom sighs. “It’s your wedding day.”
“Sorry, Mom.” I laugh, wiping the lipstick from my mouth.
“Are you two ready?” Dad asks.
Alice hands the bouquet to Leon before taking both of my hands.
“Ready,” Alice says.
I squeeze her hands as Dad begins.
“Friends and family, we are here today to celebrate the love of Alice and Declan as they renew their wedding vows. They love each other so much, they couldn’t wait to do it again.”
Alice and I share a smile. More like we don’t really remember the first time, but we’re not telling them that.
He talks about love and commitment before turning to Alice. “You’ve both written your own vows. Alice, would you like to go first?”
She smiles at my dad, tears lining her bright, blue eyes.
“Declan, you’re my favorite person in the whole world. From the minute I met you when I puked all over your shoes, we’ve been a team.”
“Puking and cussing?” Mom groans. “We’re going to have words, Declan.”
“Kathleen!” Dad hisses.
“Right. Sorry. Not the time. Continue.”
Alice laughs, shaking her head at them. “We’ve shared everything together since that night, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
We’ve had our ups and downs, but you’ve been by my side through it all.
You’re my family. As long as I have you, Declan, I’ll have everything I need in life. I love you.”
I love you I mouth back to her.
“Declan?” Dad nods at me.
“Froggie, I love you more than life itself. I think I’ve loved you since the night we met, but it took me a few years to figure out what it meant.
You’re my biggest cheerleader and support me in every way imaginable.
I know this life isn’t easy, but there is no one else I’d want to do it with.
Through the good and the bad, the wins and losses, we’re in this together. I love you.”
Alice wipes a stray tear from her cheek.
“Considering you already have rings and aren’t exchanging new ones,” Dad continues, “I can now pronounce you husband and wife. Again. You may kiss—”
I don’t wait for him to finish as I cup Alice’s cheeks and slant my mouth over hers. I pour every ounce of love I have for this woman into this kiss.
My best friend. The person I got so drunk with in Vegas, I don’t remember marrying her.
My wife.
Cheers rain down on us before champagne is passed around as hugs are given out. As servers place trays of food on the tables, a few people head to the makeshift dance floor that sits in one corner of the yard.
“You two are so damn cute, I can’t even handle it,” Leon says.
“Thanks, Leon,” Alice says, wrapping him in a hug. “And thanks for looking after the shop next week so we can finally go on a honeymoon.”
He shakes his head. “I can’t believe Declan hasn’t taken you anywhere before.”
“Hey!” I interject. “It’s not my fault that I can’t pull her away.”
Alice groans. “Not this again.”
“I would’ve taken you to Fiji last year if you let me,” I say.
“I thought you two were going to Hawaii?” Jacob asks, coming up beside Leon and passing over a drink.
“We are.” I nod. “But I would take Alice anywhere.”
“Hmm. Maybe we should go to Fiji once they get back,” Leon says. “That sounds pretty nice.”
“Scout it out and let us know,” Alice says. “I don’t want to be gone that long.”
“Sounds like your husband isn’t doing his job then.” He waggles his brows at her.
“Okay, now I’m offended,” I scoff.
“Trust me, he is more than doing his job.” Alice winks at them.
“Damn, Froggie. I didn’t think I’d ever hear you say something like that.”
She laughs, grabbing two glasses of champagne. “I don’t want them spreading any rumors.”
“You really think they’d do that?”
She sips on her drink, nodding her head. “Of course they would. They’re the biggest gossips, and we don’t need Cash getting wind of that.”
“He’d be insufferable.”
As our friends and family take to the dance floor, I grab Alice’s hand and pull her inside for a moment together. The first we’ve really had all day.
Her blue eyes are soft in the dark house, full of nothing but love.
“Any regrets?” I ask, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.
She nods her head, causing a moment of panic to erupt in my stomach.
“Only that we didn’t do this sooner.”
“Way to bury the lede, Froggie.” I breathe a sigh of relief. “You had me going for a minute there.”
Alice wraps her arms around me, resting her chin on my chest. “Sorry. Do you need me to get you another drink?”
I shake my head, resting my forehead against hers. “No. Because I have a lot of things planned for tonight and I don’t want to be too drunk to do them.”
She bites down on her bottom lip. “You know…”
“What?”
“I think two of the best things in my life happened because I got drunk.”
“Meeting me and getting married the first time?” I waggle my brows at her.
She nods. “Yeah.”
“Do you plan on doing it a third time?”
“No. Because I want to remember everything about this night.”
“We could always get really drunk again, forget it, and then renew our vows again.”
She bursts out laughing. “We are not making this a thing, Declan.”
“What’s wrong with wanting to marry you over and over again, Froggie?”
“Twice is good enough for me. I’m not going anywhere.”
I kiss her, tasting the champagne on her lips. I savor it. Commit everything about this night to memory.
Getting to kiss Alice like this is something I’ll never get over. I’m so thankful she took that chance on me. Because being with her is everything I want.
“Good. Because you’re stuck with me for life.”