Epilogue
FLEX
Today is the day I marry the woman of my dreams, and my little bear legally becomes my daughter.
“Is my tie straight?” I turn to Dalton, who finds my current predicament hilarious.
“It’s not your tie you need to worry about. How hard were you fucking last night? Your hair looks like Helena was holding onto you for dear life.”
“She was… this morning before I left. Your wife and Freya didn’t kick me out until nine, so I had some time to remind Helena exactly why she’s marrying me in case she got cold feet.”
“Drag a comb through it or something. It is giving freshly-fucked styling right now.”
“That’s exactly how she likes it,” I say with a shit-eating grin.
“I can’t believe you’re actually getting married today.”
“No Venom jokes in your best man’s speech. I don’t need my new mother-in-law finding out all the ways I defile her daughter on a daily basis.”
“I guess I better start rewriting it then. I was planning to talk about the night you guys embarked on your journey to the altar. You interrupted a scene while she was getting herself off, and then let her ride your face like a champion rodeo rider.”
“A good old-fashioned fairy tale if ever I heard one.”
My heart is hammering in my chest, my nerves getting the best of me.
“You okay, bro? You’re looking a little pale.” Dalton is enjoying this entirely too much.
“Do you have the rings?”
“For the thousandth time, yes.”
“What about my gift for Gracie?”
“It’s in your suit jacket pocket.” I pat my chest, feeling the platinum bangle I picked out for her. I had it engraved with today’s date, her name as of today—Grace Maxwell Navarro—and on the inside, it’s inscribed with something special, just for us.
“What if she doesn’t like it? Or it’s too big. Or too small.”
“It’s fine, Goldilocks. It’ll be just right.”
“Were you this nervous on your wedding day? I don’t remember you being even a little ruffled. My palms are sweating.”
Dalton pulls me into one of our well-known bromance hugs, and it fucking hits me in the feels. “Take a breath, brother. I’m so fucking proud of you, Flex. You’ve overcome so much adversity and come out the other side a stronger, better man. It’s normal to be nervous, but I guarantee you, when you see Helena walking down the aisle, it will all fall into place.”
“She’s not going to get cold feet, right? Can you text Nad and make sure Helena hasn’t gone all runaway bride on me?”
“They are already here. The girls are doing photos. Everyone wants a million pictures of Gracie, who is clearly going to steal the show today, especially when she walks the aisle with Funcle Dally.” It makes me smile every time she calls him that. I swear to God she has every single one of my friends wrapped around her little finger, but she’s a Daddy’s girl all day every day, and I love it.
Both of my girls become official today, and for the first time in decades, I will have a legal family. Venom has given me a family over the years—friends who would walk over hot coals for me, but today is different. Today, Helena and Gracie will be mine to protect, love, and honor with all that I am and ever will be, now and forevermore.
“It’s showtime. Are you ready?”
“Bring it on.”
I watch as Dalton walks down the aisle and slips out the ornate double doors at the back of the church, and Ryder steps up beside me. He’s one of my groomsmen, and until Dalton walks my daughter to me, he’s in charge of calming me the fuck down.
“You okay, bro?”
“If I pass out, just tell everyone I had a heart attack. It’ll make it less embarrassing.”
“You whip out your cock on a regular basis in front of half the people in this room. If there’s something to be embarrassed about, that’s it.”
I stifle a belly laugh at that one. “Jealousy is a terrible thing. One day you’ll hit puberty, and your dick might be half as impressive as mine.”
“You got me. I’m asking Santa for a Navarro penis pump for Christmas this year. That’s what Helena said you use to get it up.”
“I can’t believe we didn’t burst into flames the moment we walked in here today.”
Ryder chuckles under his breath. “If that were the case, your mother-in-law would be the only guest, and every other pew would be piles of ash.” He’s not wrong.
The music commences, heralding the beginning of the rest of my life, and as the doors open, I’m met by the cutest sight I’ve ever seen. Gracie comes running down the aisle with Dalton hot on her heels.
“Daddy!”
“Hey, little bear. You look so pretty. I have a gift for you.”
“You do?” Her little face is beaming.
“Of course. I’m giving Mommy a present today, and I wanted to give you one too.”
“Can I see it?”
I reach into my pocket and pull it out. “Do you like it?”
“I wove it. Is it a bamgle? ”
“Yes, little bear, it’s a bangle. Can I help you put it on?”
“Yay!”
I slip it over her little hand. “Do you want to know what it says?”
“Yes, Daddy.” I’ll never tire of hearing that.
“It says Grace Maxwell Navarro. ”
“That’s me!”
“Yes, it is. And inside it says Daddy’s little bear. ”
“That’s me too!”
“It sure is. I love you, Gracie bear.”
“I wove you, too, Daddy.”
I look up to see my future wife looking ethereal in a stunning gown, her face lighting up when she sees me waiting for her with our daughter in my arms. She is breathtaking.
Helena picks up the layers of tulle and comes running down the aisle to me. As I hold Gracie with one arm, I have the other outstretched for the love of my life as she rushes to join us.
“I couldn’t wait for another second to start our forever. I love you, Flex. I always will.”
“God, I love you, pet. Let’s get hitched.”
In this moment, I realize true love isn’t quiet, tame, or by any means perfect. It’s messy. It finds you when you least expect it, and if you’re smart enough to recognize it, then hold on for the ride because it’s really fucking worth it.
The End