Epilogue One
Elise
Four Months Later
“For the first time ever, I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Moreno!” The DJ’s voice booms through the speakers of the botanical gardens as my husband leads me through the grand doors.
Cheers erupt from all around, but I barely notice the chaos as Joshua pulls me to a stop, dipping me for yet another breathtaking kiss. I feel, rather than see, the flashes of the camera capturing the precious moment in all its candid glory.
Thoughts of ditching this party to find some privacy are almost overwhelming by the time Joshua pulls away with a wicked smile that says his thoughts mirror mine.
The cheers finally subside as we take our place on the dance floor. Guests whisper amongst themselves, no doubt questioning the song choice, but it had been a no-brainer for me.
An orchestral rendition of Hostage, by Billie Eilish, plays through the speakers, and its violin intro romanticizes the originally gloomy song.
However, it’s difficult to focus on the music when my husband’s hand holds my lower back and his lips brush the shell of my ear.
“Have I told you how stunning you look?” he murmurs, eyes devouring me in a way that heats my cheeks.
I follow his gaze to the white dress that clings to my body like a second skin. I hadn’t thought the mermaid style would be for me, but something about the intricate lace and pearl beading had called to me the moment Rachel and I stepped into the bridal boutique.
“Only a million times,” I answer, biting back my wide smile while trying not to mess up my meticulously applied makeup.
“Never enough, Mrs. Moreno.”
Mrs. Moreno. Though it’s only been accurate for an hour, it feels more right than my birth name ever did.
As Joshua turns us on the dance floor, I take in the smiling faces of our friends and family.
Rachel and Ryder sit at a table with the other L.A. capos, and they send warm smiles our way. He and Joshua aren’t back to normal yet, but they’ve been closer since the incident two months ago, and it gives me hope that a full recovery is possible.
Damon is sitting with them too, a bottle of water in his hands as he tells an animated story to the other capos, who are laughing heartily with him. He hasn’t touched alcohol since our father’s funeral four months ago when Logan, James, and I told him we’d be sending him to rehab.
James sits at a table with the Consoli capos, who seem content to talk amongst themselves. The only person who isn’t smiling sits to James’s left.
Logan.
He’s leaning back in his chair, gaze focused on the amber liquid that fills his glass.
The past few weeks haven’t been easy on him for more reasons than I can count, but it means the world to me that he not only came today but gave me away at the altar.
He and Joshua are on barely civil terms, but they’ve managed to make it this far without maiming each other, so I’ll take what I can get.
The music fades, and Joshua leads me by the waist to our table. He pulls out my chair, and I wonder if I’ll ever get used to how effortlessly chivalrous he can be. I hope I don’t. I hope these moments still feel like walking on water, even when we’re old and gray.
“And now, the maid of honor and best man have a few words they’d like to say,” the DJ announces, and Rachel takes the microphone from him.
She looks beyond stunning in her pale-pink silk gown, her hair falling in straight sheets halfway down her back. I glance at Ryder, who’s watching her with awe and admiration.
She takes a deep breath, giving me a you’re lucky I love you because you know I hate public speaking look that makes me smile.
“I want to welcome you all here tonight and thank you so much for taking part in this special celebration. I’m Rachel, the maid of honor,” she begins, taking a long look at her note card before letting it fall to her side.
“Elise and I met four months ago, and though that might not seem like a long time, it feels like I’ve known her my whole life.
Elli is just one of those people that skips over the superficial and the small talk.
She gets right to who you are and accepts you no matter what—which came in handy for Moreno. ”
That prompts a round of laughter that even Joshua joins in on.
“I’ve known Mr. Moreno for four years, and I can honestly say I never pictured him settling down, especially with someone as strong-willed as Elise. But, as I’m sure you can all agree, I’ve never seen two people more perfectly matched for each other.”
Joshua squeezes my hand in agreement, and I return the gesture.
“It’s not that you always agree or get along—we all know you do not.
” She pauses for the chuckles before fixing us with a smile.
“It’s that, even in the worst arguments, you’re fighting for each other, not against each other.
A love like yours is rare—the kind of thing people spend their whole lives searching for—and I hope you never take it for granted. ”
Rachel sets the note cards down and raises a glass. “To the bride and groom—I can’t think of anyone who deserves a happily ever after more than you two.”
We all raise our glasses and I mouth my thanks to my best friend.
Rachel returns my gesture with a small nod and hands the microphone to the best man.
“Well, this should be good,” Joshua mutters, and I can’t help but agree as my shoulders tense.
“Did anyone approve his speech?” I whisper, though I’m fairly sure I know the answer.
Joshua shakes his head. “Like I said, this should be good.”
Damon clears his throat, his smile widening as he takes in the guests who are waiting on bated breath to hear what he has to say.
When the time came to name our wedding party, I hadn’t been surprised when Joshua picked Damon. Though a part of me was sad that Ryder wasn’t his first choice, I can’t say I’m upset that Joshua and my oldest brother have formed such a close friendship.
A week after our father’s funeral, Damon attended a rehab center in California.
Once his two-week program was over, he wasn’t ready to go home, so Joshua and I happily agreed to let him stay with us for a while—well, I happily agreed, Joshua was more or less forced into it.
Based on that reluctance—and the fact that he and the twins don’t get along—I was fairly certain Joshua and Damon would share the hostility.
I’ve never been happier to be wrong.
Since his first day with us, Damon and Joshua have clicked unlike anything I’ve ever seen.
It’s different than his friendship with Ryder since there’s no business talk allowed—per Logan’s rule for allowing him to stay with us—but I think Joshua prefers it that way.
Having that boundary stops him from feeling like he’s replacing his former best friend.
My brother gives me a look similar to Rachel’s, only his says you’re going to regret giving me a microphone, and I have a feeling he’s right.
“For those who don’t know who I am, my name is Damon Consoli. I am the bride’s oldest brother and the groom’s biggest pain in the ass,” he says with a wide grin.
“Most big brothers would take it upon themselves to threaten their little sister’s boyfriends, but since Moreno skipped the pick-up lines and went straight to kidnapping, I didn’t exactly get the chance.”
My cheeks flame red, and Joshua chuckles.
“By the time I finally had the opportunity to threaten him, she was wearing a ring, and he was wearing a leash, so it seemed like a moot point.” The guests erupt with laughter, but Joshua’s laugh lines are replaced with a daring glare that Damon waves off.
“All jokes aside,” Damon says, face taking on a rare seriousness.
“I couldn’t have asked for anyone better to marry my sister.
Sure, at first, I would’ve rather cut my own hands off with a dull knife than watch her tie her life to yours, but the weeks I’ve spent with you have proven three things to me.
First, love isn’t found, it’s built. Two people have to mutually agree to put in the work every day.
Second, last names can’t dictate matters of the heart.
When love and blood clash, love will always win.
And third, never walk into a room without making a lot of noise first. These kids are still learning how locks work. ”
I’m certain my face couldn’t possibly turn any redder, and I use both hands to cover my mortification, though Joshua seems to be muffling his amusement.
“To the bride and groom!” Damon announces, and the crowd cheers.
Joshua’s hands peel mine away from my face, and his lips hover just close enough that we share a breath. With each inhale I take in that scent that’s all him, and it eases the embarrassment.
“It honestly wasn’t as bad as I thought it’d be.”
I laugh. “I’m glad someone enjoyed it.”
His lips brush against mine. “Just think about it this way—speeches being over just got me one step closer to getting my wife home and all to myself.”
I hum my approval and steal a kiss, basking in the electricity that hasn’t faded since our first touch.
And somehow, I know that it never will.