Epilogue
JAXON
Six months later
I t’s August and we will be getting ready for the new hockey season soon enough. The doctor has signed off and I am good to play. I’ve been practicing, familiarizing myself with the ice, puck, and stick all over. It’s almost like riding a bike, but I’m glad for the extra time.
Today the team is together for another reason. A wedding. I was so glad Wes gave his blessing when I asked if I could have Aubrey’s hand in marriage. I would have preferred asking her father, but since that wasn’t possible, I asked the next man in her life. Of course I told him I would marry her with or without his blessing, but we both preferred he blessed off on it.
He’s currently my best man, with a broken arm. He’s going through his own physical therapy. The last game of the season a player on the opposing team hit him in the arm with the stick. Broke it in two places. I hear he had a wonderful time at a beach resort recently.
The doors open and I see Emily, Aubrey’s maid-of-honor, walking down the aisle and as soon as she gets to the front, the wedding march song plays and the doors open again.
Aubrey has a hold of Wes’ good arm as he walks her down the aisle. I am mesmerized by how beautiful she looks. I can’t take my eyes off her. The light coming in off the stained glass window seems to surround her and she looks like she’s glowing.
I see her look at me and a bright smile takes over her face. Once they get to the front where I am, Wes passes her hand to me and I’m speechless.
She smiles up at me and I can’t take my eyes off her as the preacher speaks.
I hear the preacher ask for objections, and I know no one will say anything, but I see her shoulders relax when no one objects.
The preacher asks, “Jaxon Wilde, do you take Aubrey Phillips to be your wife from this day forward. To love and honor for the rest of your life until death do you part?”
“I do,” I say.
“Aubrey Phillips, do you take Jaxon Wilde to be your husband from this day forward. To love and honor for the rest of your life until death do you part?”
“I do,” she says and smiles so big.
Wes gives the preacher the rings, then he gives them to us. We place the rings on each other’s fingers, then the preacher says, “I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
Before he can tell me to kiss the bride, I’m already pulling her in and kissing her senseless.
We pull apart when I remember we are not alone and I whisper to her, “You look absolutely stunning, my wife.”
She smiles and says, “You don’t look so bad yourself.”
I pull her in for another kiss before we walk up the aisle.
I couldn’t be happier, I have the career I love and the woman I have always loved. I can’t wait to start building our lives together.