Epilogue
PAIGE
I either looked different or the mirror was defective.
Because I barely recognized myself looking this happy and so beautiful. The makeup artist had outdone herself, sharpening my features and making my hazel eyes pop.
Derek had recovered in a few days after the kidnapping, and thankfully, Lily was okay as well. As soon as he was back on his feet, he wanted to get married soon. And since Jack was rotting in prison, I had agreed.
The wedding dress hugged my curves and hid the small baby bump as ivory silk draped around me, whispering softly each time I moved.
“Cold feet yet?” Summer asked from behind me, adjusting the delicate veil that cascaded down my back.
Her reflection had a mischievous smile in the mirror.
“No,” I laughed, shaking my head. “Not even a little.”
“Are you sure? Because I’ve got the car running outside if you want to make a break for it.”
I smiled. “I’m not going anywhere.”
But even as I said it, a flutter of nerves twisted through my stomach.
Not about marrying Derek, but about whether he might be the one with cold feet.
Whether he might realize, in those final moments before I walked down the aisle, that this was too much.
That maybe I was too much, and it was too fast, too—
No.
I shook my head to clear my thoughts.
Derek had loved me for decades. He loved me when we were kids, when we were teenagers, and all the years I was with Jack. He never moved on, even if he tried. He fought for me and Lily and took care of us when I couldn’t.
He wasn’t going anywhere either.
The wedding venue was small and perfect with just family and close friends gathered in a garden where white roses climbed the gazebo, and sunlight filtered through green leaves.
Lily went first, my beautiful girl in her pink dress, supposed to be scattering rose petals down the aisle. Instead, she clutched the basket to her chest and dropped petals in random clumps, occasionally stopping to examine one before discarding it off to the side.
A ripple of soft laughter echoed through our guests, making my heart swell watching her. She was adorable, and Derek was going to be a wonderful father to her and her sibling.
The music changed, and it was my turn.
I swallowed the lump in my throat and held my breath as my father took my arm when we stepped on the grass.
My eyes found Derek immediately, and it felt like I was coming home with his warm smile and calm nature.
He stood at the altar in a perfectly tailored suit, Sean beside him as the best man, and when he saw me, his face changed. His eyes widened, then glistened with tears that he didn’t bother to hide. One rolled down his cheek, and I had to purse my lips to keep myself from crying.
Sean eventually helped wipe them off, but Derek didn’t care. He was cupping his mouth and trying to hold back his cries.
Oh God. I’m gonna sob.
No, I’ll ruin the makeup and—
My dad squeezed my hand, so I was able to hold it back. And with each step towards Derek, soon-to-be-my-husband, the rest of the world blurred away.
There was only him. Only us and this beautiful moment we had been circling around for decades.
Before Dad gave me away, he leaned close and whispered against my temple, “I’m so proud.”
My throat tightened as Derek’s hand was reaching for mine. It was warm, strong, and comforting.
The officiant spoke, but I barely heard the words. I was too focused on Derek’s thumb tracing circles on my palm, on the way he couldn’t stop looking at me.
When it came time for vows, his voice shook, but he didn’t stutter.
“Paige, I’ve loved you since I was eight years old and too scared to tell you.
I’ve wasted years pretending I didn’t. I won’t waste another day.
” He took a deep breath, his grip on my hands tightening.
“I promise to show up every single day for you, for Lily… for us. You’ve made me believe I can be the man I always wanted to be.
I love you and I choose you. Today and forever. ”
My vision had gotten blurred as warm tears streamed down my face. Chelsea appeared at my elbow with tissues, but I ignored her.
When I spoke, my voice was thick with tears.
“Derek, you’ve been my best friend, my partner, since we were kids.
You've seen me at my worst and somehow loved me anyway,” I sniveled, and he gently wiped my tears.
“I promise to build this life with you. You’ve taught me that love isn’t about being perfect, and I’m glad you waited. I love you. Forever.”
His blue eyes were gleaming with tears when we exchanged rings. For him, I had chosen an intricate gold band, and he had used the wedding excuse to get me another diamond and gold ring.
Derek pulled an envelope from his jacket pocket.
“What’s this?” I asked, confused. This was not a part of our marriage ceremony.
“Open it.”
My fingers trembled as I tore it open. Inside was the deed to a house, a new home with a swimming pool that Derek had shown me on his laptop, saying how wonderful it’d be to raise our kids in a place like that. I hadn’t considered that he was serious about it.
And now both our names were printed on the document in official black ink.
“Now this isn’t my home you’re moving into,” Derek said, his voice deep and soothing. “This is our home. Ours.”
I couldn’t speak and I could only throw my arms around his neck while he held me.
“You may kiss your bride,” the officiant finally said, his tone amused.
Derek’s hands cupped my face as he tilted my chin up. His lips met mine, and the kiss was soft, sweet, and full of promises. He kissed me like we were the only two people who existed.
When we finally pulled apart, we were breathless and grinning. I barely heard our guests erupting in applause because my heart was pounding in my ears.
We are married now. Derek is my husband.
During our first dance, Derek held me close, one hand splayed across the small of my back and the other cradling my hand against his chest.
I could feel his heartbeat through the shirt.
“I can’t believe you’re really my wife,” he whispered against my hair.
“You better believe it,” I said. “You’re stuck with me now.”
“Best thing I’ve ever been stuck with.”
I pursed my lips, wondering about the question that had been stuck with me for a while.
“What is it?” He asked, sensing I had something to say.
“It was you, wasn’t it?”
“Me?”
I nodded. “That night at the party. Seven minutes in heaven where I was blindfolded and someone kissed me.”
His arm tightened on my waist and I knew it. My lips parted in disbelief.
“It was you.”
He swallowed. “I…”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked, wishing he had. Then I wouldn’t have dated Jack, thinking he was the one who kissed me because he was standing outside the room when I stepped out.
“Because… you were my friend,” he said, brushing his hand on my cheek. “I didn’t wanna ruin our friendship.”
I kissed him, tilting my head and deepening the kiss until he took over, humming between the kiss and smiling. We pulled away breathless and giggling, just like our first kiss.
“Too late for that, don’t you think?” I asked, stroking his cheek and wondering why the hell I had mistaken this wonderful kiss and this wonderful man for Jack?
We swayed together to the soft song until small hands tugged at Derek’s leg. Lily had escaped from Richard, Derek’s father’s arms, and toddled onto the dance floor, her little arms reaching up and demanding to be held.
Without missing a beat, Derek scooped her up. She squealed with delight, and suddenly we were dancing as three… or four.
This. This was what I had been searching for my entire life.
And I found it with the person who was right beside me the whole time, and I had only noticed it when I had nothing left and nowhere to go.
Later, when we cut the cake, Derek fed me a bite and leaned in close, his breath warm against my ear. “I’ve been dreaming about this for years, and it feels better than any dream I’ve had.”
Heat pooled low in my belly at his proximity. I smiled and said, “Then let’s make it much better than your dreams.”
His eyes darkened as they glanced between my lips and eyes. “Mrs. Peterson, are you trying to seduce your husband at your own wedding reception?”
“Why, Mr. Peterson?” I asked with a raised brow. “Is it working?”
“Not fair.” He groaned softly. “We have to stay for at least another hour.”
“Then you better start counting down the minutes.”
His hand slid around my waist, pulling me flush against him so I could feel exactly how affected he was. “You’re going to be the death of me, Paige-bear.”
I rose on my tiptoes, brushing my lips against his jaw and feeling the slight scratch of stubble. “But what a way to go, no?”
He chuckled, making me smile.
Around us, our family and friends celebrated and everyone we cherished was here.
Charlotte and Summer talked animatedly while Damon, James and Cillian talked by the bar.
Emma and Mia joined Summer’s conversation while Ivy was eating the cake with Aiden.
My smile widened seeing Caleb and Kyle hovering over Anna.
Meanwhile, Dylan was feeding small bites of cake to Katie, who was talking to her older sister.
Chelsea caught my eye and winked. Sean raised his glass in a silent toast.
And Derek. My Derek, my husband, my forever, who looked at me like I was the sun.
It was perfect and everything I never knew I wanted.
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“I am asking you to marry me.”
“Are you asking or ordering, Sultan?”
“I am asking, Princess.” I smiled at her.
“For now.”