Bonus Epilogue Cooper
Two weeks prior (The Wedding Day)
Cooper
I take one last glance out the window at the sprawling vineyard. Everything is golden right now, warmly lit by the sun, and making this moment—the biggest moment of my life—feel like something out of a movie. It was Lucy’s idea to get married here, and I’ll never forget the look on her face when she told me about it. Okay, don’t freak out, she had started with her signature nervousness showing all over her pretty face. But the one place where I’ve always dreamed of getting married had a cancellation. It’s this perfect little vineyard over beautiful hills about an hour outside of Nashville. But here’s the catch…the date of the cancellation is next month. If we don’t take it, we’ll have to wait a year. Which is completely fine if you want a long engagement since we’re already being ridiculous by getting engaged so quickly but—
I cut her off with a kiss. Book it. I would marry you tomorrow if that were an option.
I still find it funny she thought there was even a chance I’d say no to her. Not only have I never been more sure of something in my life, but my soul is tied to Lucy in a way I can’t explain. Why would I ever want to wait a single day to marry the person I breathe for? Society says we’ve lost it—we’re out of our minds to marry this soon. And maybe we are. But who gives a shit what people think when we’re this happy? Lucy and Levi have so easily wrapped me around their fingers and I’m content to remain that way for the rest of my life.
Speaking of Levi, when I glance at myself in the mirror, tugging at the collar of my tuxedo, Levi does the same to his little suit. He’s been getting ready with me and Drew (Lucy and I are keeping the wedding really small, which means our wedding party is comprised of Drew and Jessie only) and continues to look up at me with eyes that someone should only look at their greatest hero with. I don’t deserve that look, but I’ll strive every damn day to be worthy ofit.
“Nervous, buddy?” I ask Levi, meeting his gaze in the mirror. He’s going to be walking Lucy down the aisle today because she wanted him to know how important he is to her, and so he knows that I’m not just marrying Lucy—we’re becoming a family.
“I don’t want to make Mom trip,” Levi says with sweet, wide eyes that make him look exactly like his mom.
“If it helps you feel better, I’m nervous about tripping too.” I turn to him and drop onto one knee to help adjust his tiny dinosaur-print bow tie. God, this kid is cute. I’m so excited to watch him grow up. He has a dad, and I’m not trying to upstage that role, but I love Levi more than I thought possible, and I will always make sure he knows I’m here for him in any way he needs during the years to come.
“You’re nervous too?”
“Oh yeah. But the good news is, every single person out there loves us both. Even if we mess up in front of them, it’ll be just fine.”
When we were making the guest list, Lucy and I decided we wanted it to be intimate. She’s not comfortable being the center of attention, and I didn’t want to force her into a stressful situation on a day that was supposed to bring her nothing but joy. There’s only about fifty people out there waiting for us, and it’s perfect.
Levi’s smile is a mix of excitement and nervousness. It’s also contagious because suddenly my stomach turns over and I’m hit with the very real thought that my life is about to completely change. And I can’t wait. His face says he’s thinking the exact same thing—just maybe in a less aware sort of way. We’re in this together, both trying to look relaxed and confident.
Today, Lucy is going to walk down the aisle with Levi holding her hand, and I get to be on the receiving end of both of them. How the hell did I get this lucky?
Drew pops his head into the room. “You two ready? The ceremony is about to start.”
Levi sucks in a nervous breath and bounces on his feet, looking like he might pee his pants.
“You good?” I ask him, not sure if I’m already failing at this parental gig and I should give him a better pep talk or what. “Do you need to go to the bathroom?”
Levi shakes his head.
“Do you need a high five?”
He shakes his head again.
I glance over my shoulder briefly at Drew and he just grins lightly, completely unwilling to help me out, even though he probably knows exactly what Levi needs. Jerk.
I take in Levi’s nervous face once again and soften. “What about a hug?”
This time Levi nods and he falls face first into my arms, burying his little face against my shoulder. I wrap my arms around him and squeeze, holding on until he’s ready to let go. “Thanks for letting me marry your mom, Levi. I promise I’ll always take care of her. And you.”
Because he’s a four-year-old, his response to this heartfelt sentiment is a simple “Okay.”
“All right, let’s go, big guy,” says Drew, holding his hand out for Levi. “Your mom’s ready for you to walk her down the aisle. Coop, we’ll see you out there.”
—
I’m standing at the front of the ceremony under an enormous flower arch, waiting for Lucy. I tap the side of my thigh in rhythm with the strumming guitar, trying not to look as nervous as I feel while watching Jessie and Drew walk down the aisle together toward their spots up here at the front. Not nervous because I’m getting married, though. Nervous because Jessie and Drew can’t be trusted to exist within a six-foot radius of each other because one of them is liable to wind up murdered. Even now, I can tell by the look on Drew’s face that Jessie is probably squeezing his arm with hers as hard as possible. He whispers something to her that has a scowl as cold as ice forming over her mouth.
I breathe a sigh of relief when they part ways and Drew takes up his spot behind me. Finally, the music changes, announcing Lucy’s arrival. My heart is a stampede as I wait for that first glimpse of her. We haven’t seen each other in twenty-four hours, and I’m starved for the sight of her. Heads turn and everyone stands, letting me know she’s there. I’m irrationally jealous of every single person at this ceremony getting to see my soon-to-be wife before me. And then, a flash of white emerges from around the trees and there she is. Emotions slam me in the stomach. God, she’s beautiful. Gorgeous.
She looks like an ethereal nymph, stepping right out of a story as she makes her way down the aisle in a glittering, gauzy wedding dress with her auburn hair waving down her back and wildflowers pinned through her hair. She’s clutching a bouquet in one hand and Levi’s hand in the other. The setting sun is at my back, lighting her up with a golden glow that leaves me breathless. And because Lucy is truly incredible, she grins down at Levi—making sure he feels important even though this is her wedding day.
I don’t deserve this woman.
A flood of panicked thoughts hit me in succession, one after another. Why did she choose me? How am I ever going to deserve her? Will I be able to love her like she needs to be loved?
But when she gets closer and her eyes lock with mine, a quieting certainty washes over me. We are meant for each other. Lucy is mine, and I am hers, and I will spend every single one of my days making sure she knows just how hopelessly devoted I am to her. And with every step she takes toward me, I feel my heart and breath settle. I just want her in my arms. I want her forever.
When she gets close, she mouths hi, like we’re casually meeting on any old day. The gesture is so Lucy that it makes my eyes well. Does she know she has me in a choke hold? That she could tell me to jump into a volcano for her and I’d doit?
I mouth I love you while holding her gaze. Finally, when she makes it to the front, I step forward and take her hand from Levi. But not before giving him a hug and a high five and telling him what a great job he did, bringing his mom down the aisle.
“I didn’t trip!” he whispers, eyes lighting up like fireworks.
“You did great, buddy.”
He gives Lucy a kiss on her cheek and then runs over to Drew. I bring Lucy with me to stand underneath the canopy of flowers overlooking the rolling hills of the vineyard. And yeah, there’s family and friends sitting out there watching us, but as far as I’m concerned, it’s only me and Lucy now. Her full lips tremble with a smile and she’s blinking a thousand times. It’ll be a miracle if we make it through this thing without sobbing.
“You okay?” I whisper quickly, and for some reason that question makes her laugh, easing the tension in my chest.
“I’m so good. Are you having second thoughts? Now’s your chance to tell me. I’ll let you run off into the sunset with no hard feelings if you do.” She pauses. “Actually, that’s a lie. I will be upset. Probably for a while. But I’ll likely get over it in time. You shouldn’t let that stop you, though, if you need to—”
As much as I love to listen to her blabber about literally anything, I cut her off because I don’t want her to think there’s even the slightest hesitation on my part. “Lucy, there is nothing else in this world I would rather do than marry you. You’re stuck with me now.”
“Thank goodness,” she breathes out, briefly shutting her eyes. Her eyelids sparkle in the light, and I have never felt more captivated by a person. My gaze roams her face and collarbones, down to the low dipping neckline of her dress. She is absolutely perfect.
Lucy squeezes my hand and I look back up to her eyes. “Caught you,” she whispers with a twinkle.
The officiant steps closer and bends her head toward us. “Are you ready?”
We both blurt the word yes maybe a little too loudly because everyone gathered laughs.
The officiant gives her intro speech, having written it after spending some time with Lucy and me and learning our story. It’s simple and real, explaining how our love story started like a wildfire, leaped into the unknown, and ended up here as a family. And then Lucy begins the vows.
“Cooper, I promise to love you with all my heart, mind, body, and soul. I promise to love you with all I’ve got, today and every day after,” Lucy says, her voice cracking over half of the words. The force of her promise hits me in the deepest, fleshiest part of my heart. She’s mine.
I run my thumb up and down her wrist. “Lucy,” I start, my voice miraculously steady despite my swirling emotions. “From the moment I met you, my world changed. You brought color into my life and furniture I never knew I needed into my house.” We both chuckle. “I promise to love you fiercely and wholly. To give you all of me and hold nothing back for the rest of our lives.”
Her eyes glimmer with tears as I continue. “I promise to stand by your side, no matter what life throws at us. I promise to love Levi with that same ferocity, and to provide a home filled with laughter and warmth. I’m so honored to be your husband.”
Everything happens in a blur after the vows. We exchange rings, are pronounced man and wife, and I get to kiss my bride. In every wedding I’ve been to, everyone rushes this moment or makes a joke of it. But I want to start this marriage off with letting Lucy know I will cherish every damn second I get with her. Every time our lips touch. Every night I get to share her bed and make love to her. I want her to feel it all in this kiss.
I step closer, slide my hand up her arm, and settle it against her jaw, looking in her shimmering eyes and hoping she can see everything that stirs inside me for her.
“My wife,” I say in an awed whisper before dipping my head and pressing my lips to hers. Cheers and applause erupt around us, but I’m not done yet, and neither is Lucy. Our lips push and pull against each other, and Lucy quickly goes up on her tiptoes, looping her arms around my neck. I cinch my forearms tightly around her waist, hugging her and feeling every inch of her glorious body press into mine as we kiss the hell out of each other. We finally pull apart when we hear Levi whisper to Drew, “Ew. They’re kissing a really long time.”
The outdoor reception is a mix of wild and heartfelt. Of course Jessie stands up and gives a toast that has Lucy bawling her eyes out (and only I catch it, but she definitely flips Drew the bird behind her back as she walks away from the mic). And then Drew gives a toast that ahem might have made me tear up a little too. After that, I don’t think any of us stop laughing and dancing until it’s time to close everything down.
Levi is passed out on Lucy’s mom’s lap, and we wake him up gently to give him hugs before our send-off. Lucy promises him we’ll call him every day and that he’s going to have a blast with Grammy and Grandpa while we’re gone. Levi, however, is back to sleep before she’s even finished talking, and it’s clear she’s having a harder time leaving him than he is with her leaving for a week.
Lucy didn’t want to have the classic send-off where everyone shouts and throws things at us, so instead of making a huge to-do, I steal her hand and pull her quietly away with me into the night.
“Cooper!” Lucy whispers as she picks up the front of her dress so she can keep up with my pace. “We can’t just leave without saying bye to everyone, though!”
“Why not? It’s our wedding. We can do what we want.”
She’s struggling with her dress too much to keep up, so I pick her up and carry her toward the parking lot, heel-toeing it as quickly as I can with a woman in my arms and dress draping to the ground that I have to avoid ripping. I’m out of breath and sweating when we’re only halfway there and Lucy notices.
“Parking lot’s a little farther away than you thought, isn’t it?”
“Yep,” I say, shamefully struggling as I continue carrying her. When did they put so many damn hills in here?
“Wish you’d had Drew drive us in the golf cart, huh?” Her eyes are glittering, cheeks flushed, and her hair is a little sweaty around her temples from the humidity and dancing. She’s never looked more beautiful.
“Listen here, wife,” I say, setting her on her feet and then putting my hand to her abdomen to back her up against a tree. “We’ve only been married a few hours and you’re already being a smart ass?” I say, making sure the tender affection in my voice shines through.
“I’ve trapped you. Now you’ll see my true colors.” She angles her face up, resting her head back against the tree to look at me; and I press my lips to the curve of her neck.
“Yes, please,” I say before running my tongue against her throat, drawing a sweet, soft moan from her. I kiss my way up her neck to her mouth, and just before I capture it again, Lucy takes my face in her hands, forcing me to look her in the eyes.
“Cooper James.”
“Yes, Lucy James?”
“I need you to know something very, very important.”
I place my palm flat on the tree behind her head, brushing my lips over hers as I say, “I’m ready. What is it?”
The grin she gives me lights a flame down my spine. “Tonight…I am wearing fantastic underwear.”