Epilogue
Havoc
“You ready to go, babe?” I watch as she grabs her purse, before waving a goodbye to Ernie.
“Yeah, I’m ready to spend the week, just with you,” she gives me a gorgeous smile, “then watch our friends get married.”
We never really got a honeymoon. I try to think back now to why, but I know a part of me worried that trying to make it look too official would somehow jinx us.
Today, a year and a half later, I’m no longer worried about that.
We’re solid, and I know we’re solid. Doesn’t mean there isn’t a part of me that worries her grandfather won’t manage to reignite the family business on his own, but knowing that Jefferson is behind bars lets me sleep at night.
For the first time since we got married, we’re planning, making a future a huge possibility. I want the whole nine yards with her – kids, growing old, grandkids later on down the road. Our lives are open, and there is no damn expiration date on anything.
“We’ll see you down there?” I yell to Ace, watching as he stands next to Violet.
No one is at all sure what’s going on with them, but I know from where he calls in his position every night, he sits outside her home when he doesn’t have anything else going on. He watches over her and I know he helps her sleep at night knowing he’s there.
“Yup, some of us weren’t able to get the whole fuckin’ week before the wedding off to enjoy the beaches.”
I take his ribbing in stride. “I had vacation time, and we never got a honeymoon. A week at Gulf Shores before the long-awaited wedding of Whitney and Renegade is exactly what I need.”
He gives me a shake of his head. “Handing over your man card.”
“She controls it,” I jerk my thumb back at Leighton, “and I have no problem with that. So don’t expect me to answer any phone calls the minute I walk out of that door.
” I point to the front door of The Café.
“It’s officially vacation, as soon as these feet step over that threshold.
” I point down to the feet encased in flip flops.
“And I don’t know about him, but I’m anxious to start it,” Leighton grabs hold of my hand. “We’ll see you?” She looks at Violet.
The two of them stare at each other for long moments. I have a feeling they are sharing a silent conversation that only victims of abuse can. “Yeah,” Violet offers her a small smile. “Anthony is bringing me as his plus one.” She averts her eyes to Ace.
“Awesome! I’m glad you’re joining the crew.”
Violet opens her mouth and I’m sure she’s going to tell my wife that she isn’t joining the crew, but Ace puts a hand on her shoulder. “Just let Leighton think what she wants.”
Leighton gives him a glare, and then pulls me toward the door. As we walk out the door and toward my truck, she leans in, kissing me right beside my ear. “A beach destination wedding is the perfect place for them to fall in love, Holden.”
I clasp our hands together, entwining our fingers, before I bring her hand up to my lips.
When we get to the truck, I open the door and pick her up, putting her on the passenger seat as I step in between her legs.
“Know what else it is?” I ask her, putting my hands on her thighs, caressing them softly.
“What?”
“The perfect place for us to fall deeper in love.”
She sighs, giving me this look she reserves only for me.
It’s a softening in her eyes, a tilt to her head, and a quirking of her smile.
Grabbing my hands, she pulls them around her waist, leaning in to put her mouth to my ear again.
The whispered words aren’t what I’m expecting at all, but it’s enough to make my heart race.
“Or for us to get started on that baby we’ve been talking about lately. ”
I’m speechless as I pull back and look into her eyes, searching them for the truth in her words.
“I stopped my birth control last month, Holden. I’m ready,” she whispers. “I’m ready to trust you with forever.”
Those are the best words I’ve ever heard in my life, and as I lean forward to take her lips with mine, I hope like hell the rest of my guys find this happiness I’ve found.
Doesn’t matter where it begins, it only matters how it ends. And ours is going to end fifty years from now when we both fall asleep together and never wake up. Because I know without a doubt, I can’t ever imagine my life without her in it.
She is mine.
I am hers.
And together, we are an unbreakable force that learned how to overcome every obstacle thrown our way. We are the love story that everyone wants, and I know we’ll never let that love go.