Epilogue
Five weeks later
James
“You packed the box of diapers, right? What about the diaper wipes?”
Reaching across the center console, I rest my hand on Georgie’s thigh, giving her a little squeeze. “Darlin’, we packed the whole damn house. Stop fretting.”
“You remembered to put my bridesmaid dress in the car, right? God, can you imagine if we forgot that?” Georgie shudders at the thought. “Especially since it was so nice of Annabelle to include me in her wedding party.”
I smile. “I grabbed it and the bag beside it with your shoes.”
“Annabelle, Bailey, and Charlotte have been so welcoming.” Georgie glances at me with a smile. “You’ve surrounded yourself with some pretty good people, James.”
“I have,” I agree, glancing at Georgie seated beside me and in the rearview mirror where Weston sleeps in his car seat. We timed our travel departure with Weston’s nap schedule, so he’s been asleep throughout the drive up to Hayes’ ranch.
“So, what are the plans? Do you know what the wedding itinerary is?”
Today is December 29th. Hayes and Annabelle invited the band up a few days early so we can hang out and relax before the festivities start on New Year’s Eve. This was the first year in close to a decade that we didn’t spend the holidays together, so we need this time to reconnect.
At least that’s the story Georgie’s been told.
“Tonight is just us—Hayes, Annabelle, Josh, Char, Rowdy, and Bailey. And the babies, of course.”
“What about Annabelle’s daughters?”
“They’re driving up tomorrow with Annabelle’s parents. Tonight, Hayes is having a private chef come in to make us a nice dinner—”
“Oh! That sounds fun.” Georgie’s eyes light up at the mention of food. She skipped lunch because she was repacking her bag for the ninetieth time. “Do you know what we’re having?”
“Trying to get some new menu ideas for Deb’s?” I tease.
I was worried after she was attacked outside of the diner that Georgie may not want to return to Deb’s, but Georgie is resilient. She said she wouldn’t let Nolan steal that from her, so after taking a week off to heal, she went right back to work.
I may have escorted her to and from work for the first week. Just to be on the safe side.
Not that we had to worry about Nolan. He’s still in jail, and last we heard, his court-appointed lawyer is eager for him to accept a plea bargain. While I’d love to throw the book at him, Georgie would rather he take a deal, so we don’t have to live through a trial.
“Maybe. But I’m also just hungry. Starving, really.”
Popping open the center console, I toss her a box of Lucky Charms cereal bars I threw in there earlier because I knew she’d get hungry. Catching it, she smiles her thanks and tears into one.
“The menu tonight is surf and turf. Steak and sauteed shrimp smothered in some kind of crab sauce and served with mashed potatoes and broccoli.”
“Oh my gosh, those are all my favorite foods! I cannot wait!” Then, she turns to me with narrowed eyes. “How do you know all this, James? You never pay attention to this sort of thing.”
“Hayes emailed me the menu beforehand to make sure you didn’t have any allergies.” The lie falls from my lips with ease.
Less than thirty minutes later, we pull up to the black wrought-iron gate that reads Outlaw’s Retreat. Typing in the code, the gate rolls open as Georgie whistles her appreciation for the beauty of the ranch’s spread.
“It’s gorgeous,” she breathes out as her head zigs and zags, taking in every bit of the scenery—the rolling hills, the fields, the horses in the pasture, and the mountains in the background. “What a beautiful setting for a wedding!”
“Glad you think so,” I reply, smothering my smirk.
Cruising down the caliche gravel road, I point out things along the way.
In addition to the main house, there’s a house for the ranch’s caretakers and three cabins.
Hayes had the cabins built for the band, so Rowdy, Josh, Char, and I would have our own places to stay when we came.
Traditionally, Josh and I always shared one since each cabin has two or three bedrooms. But on this visit, Josh and Char are having to share a cabin since I didn’t want Josh in my cabin, listening to me ravish Georgie all night long.
Believe me, Josh didn’t want that either.
When I bring the Tahoe to a stop in front of the main house, there are several other cars already parked.
“Looks like we’re the last to arrive.”
“Looks like it. Let me grab the bags we’ll need, and then we can head inside.”
“The bags we’ll need,” Georgie repeats, scrunching up her nose. “If we’re staying in one of the cabins, why would we need anything here?”
“Seems smart to bring in the baby stuff in case Weston needs something before we go unpack at the cabin.”
“Oh, duh!” Georgie shakes her head with a wry smile. “This mountain air is making me stupid.”
“Never, darlin’. You’re just excited.”
Hopefully, she’s about to be a lot more excited.
I exit the vehicle and dig through the rear of the SUV, pulling out what we’ll need, as Georgie grabs Weston from the backseat. She’s so engrossed with the baby that she doesn’t even notice which bags I have in my hands.
The front doors swing open, and all my closest friends and family are standing there with huge smiles on their faces.
After handing off the baby to Josh, Annabelle pulls Georgie inside, Char hands her a glass of champagne, and Bailey takes the bags from me.
Then, the three of them lead Georgie down a hallway, jabbering away.
Georgie shoots me a concerned look over her shoulder before the women hustle her out of sight.
When I recruited help for this task, my band family jumped in, like I knew they would.
Annabelle and Hayes graciously gave me permission to steal the spotlight from them tonight.
Bailey and Annabelle met with me to discuss plans and hash out the string of lies we needed to organize everything while keeping it a surprise.
First off, Annabelle invited Georgie to be in her wedding party and took her shopping to find the perfect dress and shoes.
Later, Georgie remarked how unusual she thought it was that Annabelle wanted her bridal party to wear white, but she chalked it up to Hayes and Annabelle’s wedding having a winter holiday theme.
But my sweet Georgie didn’t know she was really picking out her own wedding dress.
After everything that happened with Nolan, I didn’t want to waste another second with Georgie. She and Weston are my whole world, and I want to start the next year with her wearing my ring and sporting my last name. For real this time.
Smiling, I picture the scene unfolding in the bedroom the girls absconded to with Georgie.
By now, Annabelle, Char, and Bailey are probably telling her they want to do a trial run with the hair and makeup artist Annabelle hired for the wedding—just to make sure the colors flatter her skin and the stylist can pull off the sophisticated updo Georgie has been dreaming about.
And then, they’ll convince her to try on the dress, just to see how it all comes together.
Josh claps me on the back and pulls me in for a hug. “I can’t believe you’re getting married.”
My finger slides between my neck and my collar, pulling on my shirt. “I still have to ask her, so she could shoot me down.”
Josh scoffs. “No fucking way. That woman loves you just as much as you love her.”
His words infuse my insides with warmth.
He’s right. She loves me, and I feel her love every day.
But she may still say no to my idea of getting married tonight in a micro-wedding at the ranch.
(Thanks to Reddit, I know what that means.) Since the world already believes Georgie and I are married, our official trip to the altar will be in front of only our dearest people.
Just us, our son, and my band.
I think it’ll be perfect.
About an hour later, after the hair stylist and makeup artist leave, I take a steadying breath, fidgeting with the sleeves of my suit that I changed into a few minutes ago.
Lifting my hand, I knock softly on the bedroom door where the ladies are getting ready.
Bailey whips open the door with a sparkle in her eye.
Quietly, she, Annabelle, and Char slip out of the room, leaving me alone with Georgie.
She stands admiring herself in the full-length mirror, and for a moment, I just take in her happiness.
Her bruises have faded and her outward injuries have healed from Nolan’s attack, but after hearing about the scars left on her psyche from the contents of Nolan’s group chat, I don’t take this moment for granted.
I love that the woman I love can look in the mirror and find herself as beautiful as I do.
“You’re a vision, Georgie. I’ve never seen a woman as gorgeous as you.”
Her hair, the color of espresso, is curled and pinned up with a few tendrils escaping to frame her face.
Most of her makeup is understated, accentuating her natural beauty, but her lips have been painted a deep rose.
Those bewitching ocean eyes find mine in the mirror, and she looks up at me, grinning.
But as she takes in my attire, her head tilts, and a quizzical expression crosses her face. Striding to where she stands, I take her hand in mine and drop to one knee.
Her jaw drops in a silent gasp.
“Georgie, you crashed into my life, spinning me out and setting me onto a different path—one I never would have imagined for myself, but one that has made the happiest man alive.” Fishing the engagement ring out of my pocket, I flip open the red and gold embossed ring box. “Will you marry me—”
“Yes! Yes, absolutely, one hundred percent yes!” Georgie throws herself at me, almost knocking me over with her enthusiasm. She winds her arms around my neck, squeezing me tightly.
“You didn’t let me finish, darlin’.” Georgie pulls back enough to look me in the eye. “Will you marry me… right now?”
Her brows jump to meet her hairline. “Right now? But I, I, I…” she sputters.
“You’re already dressed, and our friends are out there waiting. The world already believes we’re married. May as well make it legit.”
“James, this is—”
“Insane,” I supply with a smile.
Her lips curl in amusement. “Yes, it’s insane, and… yes, I’ll marry you. I don’t care if the wedding is today, tomorrow, or next year.”
She looks down at her dress, an ivory lace and shantung silk dress that wraps her curves in the most delicious way, amping up her cleavage and nipping in her waist. Shaking her head, she marvels, “I cannot believe you did all this.” She cocks her head.
“The dinner tonight. You picked the menu, didn’t you? ”
“I did.”
“And you coordinated with Annabelle to make the dress shopping happen. And this makeup and hair trial… it was all you.”
“It was.” A smirk splits my lips. “I even convinced Josh to get ordained online so he can officiate our wedding.”
She smirks. “You think the biggest playboy of the group is the best person to unite us in holy matrimony?”
“Well, when you put it like that… but for better or for worse, he is my brother.”
She beams, throwing back her head in laughter. “God, I love you, James.”
“I love you more, Georgette.”
Threading my fingers with hers, I pull her from the bedroom into the living room, which has been decorated with garlands of greenery and bushels of winter wildflowers I had flown in from Florida.
Hayes, Annabelle, and Char stand on one side of the spacious room while Bailey and Rowdy, who’s holding Ava, stand on the side opposite. Josh stands in front of the tall, two-story stone fireplace holding Weston, who’s dressed in a tuxedo onesie Bailey ordered online.
Since nothing about our relationship has ever been traditional, Georgie and I walk down the aisle together, our hands clasped.
There’s no one to give her away, but that’s okay.
Her heart was never meant to be handed over because it was always hers to give.
Somewhere along the way, she gave it to me, just as I gave her mine.
Walking beside her like this feels honest, like the truest reflection of who we are.
Not two people being joined, but two people choosing, every step of the way, to walk forward as one.
Although I hope we will be joined together later, if you know what I mean.