Epilogue
Lexi
Six Months Later
I ’m getting married today. It’s supposed to be one of the best days of my life. And it is. Getting hitched to Zen is all I’ve dreamed about since he proposed to me. The nightmares I used to have, have all been replaced with dreams of long white dresses, being wrapped in Zen’s arms, and our loved ones gathered around to give their best wishes.
But in the middle of all this, I can’t help but think of my mom and dad. And of my dad’s fucked-up family. I force myself not to dwell on it because now is not the time. I’ve been back in therapy and dealt with a lot of what happened to me. I’m just sad that my parents can’t be here to see me walk down the aisle. I know they’d want the best for me, though. That soothes the hurt a little.
We’re having our wedding at Zen’s place. We still live above his computer repair shop, but we’re in the process of having our dream home built. It’ll take time. We’re still in the beginning stages with an architect, but we’re both really excited about how the design is coming along.
I’ve been wearing my long white mermaid-style wedding dress for an hour. Standing in front of the full-length mirror in our bedroom, I take a long, hard look at myself. I like what I see. My belly is growing round with our child. I rub my hands lovingly over my baby bump, awed by this child we have made, evidence of our love and commitment to each other.
Taking a few steps to the window, I can see our friends and family milling about in Zen’s large backyard. It’s decorated in our wedding colors of black and white. All the men in our wedding party are wearing white tuxes, and the bridesmaids are wearing long black mermaid gowns that echo the white one I’m wearing. Of course, the brothers are all wearing their cuts. Everyone seems to have a drink in their hands and smiles on their faces.
I’m so lost in my thoughts that I don’t realize Zen has slipped into the room until two strong arms slide around my waist from behind, and he caresses my gently rounded belly.
“You look absolutely gorgeous.” His warm praise and the expression of adoration on his face when I turn to look at him fill me with a kind of happiness I’ve rarely known in my topsy-turvy life.
I reach up and straighten the bowtie on his black tux. When I’m finished, my hands drift to the cut he’s wearing over his tux jacket. The leather is warm to the touch and reminds me how much Zen loves his club and the friendships he’s made with the brothers.
“You look pretty amazing yourself.”
We’ve wrapped respect for his club into every layer of planning for our wedding. From having Rigs perform the ceremony, to our fancy wedding cake having the Savage Legion emblem on the front of the top layer, to decorating his motorcycle with flowers and streamers that say ‘Just Married’. I love all of it.
I gesture behind me, out the window. “Everything looks beautiful.”
He gazes down at me with such affection that it makes my heart beat a little faster. “Thanks for agreeing to the biker details. It means a lot that you support me being a member of the Legion.”
My eyes fly up to his, and I choke out, “Of course I support your club. If it weren’t for your club brothers, I’d probably be in a shallow grave somewhere in the desert right now.”
His fingers come up to gently cover my lips. “I would never have let that happen. Let’s keep the focus on today and the life we’re building together. Your crazy uncle got what he deserved, and your cousin is serving time for his part in that shit.”
I nod, and his fingers drop away. “You’re right. It doesn’t make sense to let them steal our joy.”
A grateful smile spreads across his face. “That’s my girl.” Sneaking a glance out the window, he tells me, “I came up to let you know that I’ve been holding back my mom and my sister for the last hour or so. They’re pretty eager to spend some girl time with you.”
I nod. “Send them up. Your sister is going to do my hair and makeup.”
“God help you if she does. That girl has a heavy hand with the makeup.”
I chuckle. “I think being a little heavy-handed, as you say, is so the pictures will look nice. Don’t worry, I won’t let her overdo it.”
He just shakes his head. “It’s almost like you’ve never even met Lori before.”
Before I can respond, there is a knock at the door.
Zen sighs, “That would be them, I imagine.”
When he opens the door, I see that it’s not only his mom and sister, but also all the bridesmaids.
His mother, Miriam, and sister, Lori, come pouring into the room along with Cindy and Kayla. My poor fiancé gets punted back towards the corner of the room and gives me a rueful look on his way out the door.
I feel immersed in love when they all approach with happy smiles. Trying not to tear up at the emotions this moment pulls to the surface, I let them surround me with their love.
His mother is wearing one of those mother-of-the-bride outfits with pearls and subtle sequins stitched onto the top. She has her hair swept up into a nice updo. “You look amazing,” I tell her.
Surprise registers on her face, and she stammers, “Why, thank you, Lexi. But it’s you everyone will be admiring. Today is your day to shine, and we’re here to make sure you look perfect on your special day.”
His sister jumps in. “My mom even brought you some jewelry to choose from for your something borrowed.”
It takes me a second to remember the old tradition of the bride having something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue.
“Oh, that’s so sweet of you.” I give his mother a hug of gratitude, and she beams back at me and begins unpacking her jewelry cases.
Lori pulls me down onto my vanity stool with my back to the mirror. “I’m going to let my electric curlers and curling iron heat up while I work on your makeup.”
She grabs the makeup case we built together for the occasion and gets to work.
Kayla, who always has a knack for being awkward, picks up my wedding crown and balances it on her head. “Does this feel like becoming a fairy princess for a day?”
Ever the older sister, Cindy takes the crown away and sets it back on my vanity table. “It’s not polite to wear the accessories another person has bought for their special occasion, sis.”
Kayla turns to me, looking sheepish. “Sorry about that. I didn’t know.”
“No harm, no foul,” I tell her lightly.
She tells me shyly, “Evan says I’m a work in progress and that I shouldn’t feel bad when I make mistakes.”
I gaze at her and can’t help smiling. “We’re all a work in progress, sweetie. Evan’s right that you shouldn’t feel bad about a tiny faux pas like that.”
“People who love you will understand,” Zen’s mother says confidently. “By the way. I wanted to tell you how cute those earrings of yours are.”
Kayla’s hands come up to touch the silver fairies hanging from her lobes. I couldn’t help but notice the way she shied away from Zen’s mom and then caught herself. No doubt remembering what happened the last time someone tried to admire her earrings.. “Thank you, I was a bit scared of wearing dangling earrings again, but this is a special occasion.”
“They look wonderful,” I tell her. “Doctor Patchett did a really good job fixing your ear up for you.”
As if sensing that we’re spending time talking about her when it’s my wedding day, she tactfully turns the conversation back to my wedding. “Thanks for asking me to be one of your bridesmaids. I love you so much. It’s an honor to be part of your special day.”
I open my arms, and she leans over for the warm hug I can’t wait to give her. I murmur in her ear, “I love you like a sister, so it’s me who should be thanking you for being my bridesmaid. My wedding wouldn’t be the same without you and your sister.”
Cindy always gets emotional when someone is nice to her awkward younger sister. Being her little sister’s mother and father for the last few years has been hard. When Kayla pulls back, Miriam holds open a couple of jewelry cases for me to look through. I reach for an elaborate diamond necklace. Of course, it’s not made of real diamonds, or it would cost millions of dollars. But it’s heavy in my hand, clearly well-made, and matches my wedding crown almost perfectly.
Miriam’s face lights up. “That’s the necklace I wore on my wedding day. Here, let me put it on you.” She clasps it around my neck, and I can’t get over how glamorous I feel. She digs through another case and holds up matching earrings. I quickly put them on and realize Zen’s mother is getting emotional.
“It’s so wonderful that you chose the necklace I wore on my wedding day. It means a lot to me for it to be part of your special day.”
Lori teases, “Don’t get attached to it. I’ve got dibs on it.”
Her brazen and flippant words make me laugh out loud. In my opinion, there is no greater gift a person can possibly give than laughter. I appreciate her sense of humor so much when my emotions are running high.
“Don’t worry,” I tell her. “I’ll take good care of it and see that your mother gets it back right away.”
Lori is all lighthearted smiles as she lifts her makeup brush into the air. “You ready for me to make you even more beautiful than you already are?”
I nod, noticing out of the corner of my eye how closely Kayla is watching Lori. It occurs to me what an amazing mentor Lori would be if only she weren’t going off to college soon.
***
The rest of the morning is a whirlwind of laughing, joking, and happiness as they help me get ready to walk down the aisle.
Everyone takes their places, and when the wedding march begins, Zen’s father proudly walks me down to where Zen is waiting. It’s as bittersweet as can be, but I manage to keep my composure. Zen’s expression is heated as he watches me walk towards him. The heat in his gaze makes me feel so beautiful, especially when his eyes soften every time they drop down to look at my baby bump.
I walk up to him with my heart beating a steady thrum in my chest. I carry the weight of our child proudly, wrapped in this gown specially chosen to hug my baby bump in the most obvious and flattering way possible. We’re both delighted and want the world to know we’ve got a baby on the way.
Once I’m face-to-face with Zen and he links my arm through his, everything in my world tilts back into full alignment.
He’s chosen Siege as his best man and Crow and Evan as his groomsmen. They stand firm as Rigs starts the ceremony by graciously welcoming everyone. Without wasting any time, he jumps right into walking us through our vows.
Peering over the podium at us, he asks, “Do you, Zen, take Lexi to be your old lady, your wife, your partner in life for all the rides, joy, and tough times ahead?” Rigs’ expression is expectant and amused when it takes Zen a couple of seconds to respond.
Finally, Zen glances down at me, giving me a look of pure, unmitigated devotion. “Yes. Of course, I do. Lexi is the only one for me.”
“And do you, Lexi, take Zen to be your old man, your husband, your ride or die in this life and beyond?”
I don’t hesitate for even a second. Instead, I eagerly respond, “Absolutely. He’s perfect for me.”
I’m glad Zen and I chose simple and traditional vows, minus the obeying part, of course. I don’t think either of us would have made it through a long, drawn-out service. We’re both a little too anxious for that.
After each of us says our vows, we slip a ring on the other’s finger. Something about Zen sliding a nice, thick wedding band onto my finger in front of my engagement ring feels like it’s being sealed into place. The permanence of the moment is not lost on me.
The serious expression on Zen’s face as I slide his wedding band into place makes me wonder if he’s feeling the same thing.
We’re still staring into each other’s eyes when Rigs says, “By the power vested in me by the state of California and with the blessings of the Savage Legion brotherhood, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Zen, you may now kiss your bride.”
Then Zen lays on me one of the hottest kisses that he’s ever given. We both get a little lost in the moment. But when we part, it’s to see sappy expressions all around.
When we start to walk back down the aisle as husband and wife, everyone stands and begins clapping and wishing us well. It’s a spontaneous outburst of their joy and happiness for us. That’s when I know from the bottom of my heart that this is the start of my happily ever after. Zen is everything I’ll ever want and need in a husband.
I can almost see my future all laid out before me in my mind. I’m intelligent enough to know that every couple faces hardships. I just know I want to face them with Zen at my side because I know he’ll do anything to get us through and make sure that me and all the kids we have are happy and healthy.
I plan to match every bit of that energy and give it right back to him. It’s the least I can do for the man who saved my life, the man I love more than anyone else on the face of the earth.
THE END
Hope you enjoyed the book!
The next book in the Savage Legion MC
series is Tusk's Fury