Epilogue
“Nervous, Z?” Kendall asks, nudging me with his shoulder.
“Not at all,” I say honestly. What’s there to be nervous about? I’m about to marry the love of my life.
I never pictured my wedding day beyond knowing I wanted to get married one day. I didn’t have colors picked out or a dream venue, so when I proposed to Sutton a year ago, I told her we could have the wedding of her dreams.
My girl really hates being the center of attention, so I wasn’t surprised when she said she wanted to have a small, intimate ceremony.
It worked out perfectly that the MLR Championships were being hosted in Las Vegas this year at the Miner’s stadium, and The Knights won.
I’ll admit, when Sutton suggested it on the field surrounded by confetti, I was shocked.
She’s gotten a lot better about being spontaneous, but this is a huge thing to not plan.
She told me she brought a dress and planned this out in case it felt right, and who am I to argue with her?
I would have married her at the first opportunity, years ago, but I’m glad we waited.
It feels perfect, being here, surrounded by my teammates after winning our first championship.
My parents and siblings flew out to watch, and Sutton’s cousins are here too, so we’re not missing anyone important.
We’ll still go out and party after, but at this moment, I’m standing in my game day suit on the small dais next to Kendall, Webby, Cap, and Mackey, waiting for the woman of my dreams to become my wife. Soft processional music plays over the speaker as Sutton’s bridesmaids file in.
Clementine heads the front of the procession, then Isla, Lydia, Vanessa, and finally Blakely and Dakota as her maids of honor.
They’re all in dresses in shades of green, holding a small bouquet of baby’s breath and white roses.
They reach the end of the aisle and stand in a line, mirroring my groomsmen.
The music changes to an instrumental version of “Say You Won’t Let Go” by James Arthur, and the woman of my dreams, the holder of my heart, the center of all my attention appears in the doorway of the chapel and steals the breath from my lungs.
In a white dress that falls just above her knees, overlaid in a shimmery lace, she looks like a goddess.
Her blonde hair is pulled back in a half-up hairdo with a short veil, and she’s holding a bouquet of green and white flowers that I can’t name because they’re blurry from the tears brimming my eyes.
I drop to a crouch, overcome with the emotion of this moment.
When I was a teenager, I thought I’d be at Sutton’s wedding as a guest, but instead, I’m the lucky man who gets to be her groom.
The past three years haven’t always been easy, with team drama and stressful work schedules, but through it all, Sutton has been a constant at my side.
She’s the steady presence I need after every loss, and the first person I look for after a win.
We moved in together, and I’ve been able to support her while she works through the grief she repressed from her childhood.
She’s gotten much more comfortable trying new restaurants with me, and has initiated a few spontaneous weekend getaways.
We’ve explored new hobbies together, and made an entire dinner set out of clay.
She’s exceeded all expectations in her job, and received a few offers from some of the other MLR teams trying to poach her from The Knights, but she’s refused every one because Utah is our home now for the foreseeable future.
I’m so fucking proud of her. Without her, I don’t think the Knights would be the number one team in the league.
Kendall passes me a handkerchief as Sutton approaches, and I clear my throat as I extend my hand and help her up on the dais.
“Hi,” I rasp. “You look amazing, baby.”
“You look pretty handsome yourself. Ready to be my husband?”
“I’m more excited to be called that than I am to hold the champion title.” A snort echoes from behind me, and I hear Kendall murmur something about being ungrateful, but I don’t care.
Sutton beams at me, her round cheeks flushing my favorite shade of red.
The officiant, Keith—an older gentleman with a handle bar mustache, and a bolo tie with a bright red heart on it—clears his throat and starts the ceremony.
I’m only paying attention enough to know when it’s my turn to say ‘I do’, and—in my opinion, the most important part—getting to kiss my bride.
Sutton and I wrote letters to each other with our vows, since she’s still uncomfortable having everyone’s eyes solely on her.
We read them privately while we were getting ready, and I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
I can see all the promises she made reflected in her hazel eyes, and I hope she sees my promises reflected in mine.
Keith hardly gets to finish saying, ‘You may now kiss your bride’, before I’m dipping Sutton and pressing my lips against hers. I’m sure anyone in a mile radius can hear the cheers and whistles from my teammates.
“Love Shack” by The B-52’s starts playing as we make our way down the aisle to the exit. I take the brief moment we’re alone to kiss her again, deeper than before. I’m tempted to tell her to forget going out to celebrate, because I’d rather spend the rest of the night wrapped up in my wife.
Fuck, it feels damn good to say that.
Before I can make the suggestion, Mr. Solomon walks out the doors and heads in our direction, clapping.
“Congratulations you two! That was a wonderful ceremony. Thank you for letting me be here and be part of your special day. I’m happy the team got to be part of it, too.
As a little wedding gift, I’ve rented out the Daylight Beach Club to celebrate.
The whole pool is ours for the rest of the night, and all the drinks are on me. ”
“Wow, thank you, Mr. Solomon. That’s incredibly generous of you.”
“Sutton, how many times do I have to tell you to call me Carson? I’m happy to do it. The team has been doing better than I ever dreamed, and you all deserve a night to celebrate winning. Just make sure there are no injuries, yeah? Keep an eye on Fowler?”
“We’ll make sure everyone is on their best behavior.” I say, knowing that’s difficult, especially where my best friend is involved.
Though he’s been a lot less… manwhorish over the last few years. I think something’s up, but he keeps assuring me he’s just more focused on his family and his career.
“Congrats again, you two. Can’t wait to see you back again next season.” Mr. Solomon shakes our hands before we’re swarmed by our friends and family.
Mom has tears in her eyes when she and Dad approach, wrapping us both in a hug. “Oh, I’m so happy for you two. I always knew Sutton Gentry would have a nice ring to it,” Mom teases.
“Thanks Roxanne. I’m happy to officially be one.”
“Congrats, sis,” Davis jokes, nudging Sutton’s shoulder. His wife, Abby, smacks his stomach lightly, rolling her eyes.
“Thanks, bro,” Sutton teases back. My brother and my wife may not be as close as they once were—thank god, because that would be awkward—but it’s not uncomfortable between them.
In fact, when Davis was pursuing Abby right after Sutton and I officially got together, he called Sutton to ask for advice.
I thought it would be weird for both of them, but it hasn’t been.
Sutton and Abby haven’t had much of a chance to get to know each other since Abby’s a doctor like my brother, but they always find something to talk about when we’re together.
“Are you two joining us for the after party?” I ask.
My brother and his wife share a look. “Uh, no. Abby’s not feeling very well, so we’re going to head back to the hotel.”
“Oh, no! I’m so sorry. I hope you feel better soon. Do you need anything? We can run and grab you some medicine or—”
“No, Sutton, it’s your wedding day,” Abby laughs.
“Abby’s sickness won’t be going away for another few months, anyway,” Mom mumbles.
“What?! Oh my god,” Sutton gasps, wrapping Abby in another hug. “Congratulations!”
“Mom, that was supposed to stay between us. I’m so sorry, we didn’t want to take away the spotlight from your big day. We were going to tell you tomorrow.” Davis places his hand protectively on Abby’s belly. She’s wearing a flowy dress, so I didn’t notice before.
“Don’t you dare, Davis. You two having a baby is just as important as us getting married. And now I’m even more grateful you made the trip. So, thank you for being here.”
“We wouldn’t have missed it for the world. But I need to get my wife a milkshake and some jalapeno poppers, so we’ll see you two for lunch tomorrow.”
My mom and dad decide they don’t want to come to the after party, either, so they head back to the hotel with them, while Kylie loops arms with Sutton and gushes about her dress.
We gather the team and pile onto the bus to take us to the Daylight Beach Club, making everyone promise to be on their best behavior.
As Sutton and I stumble into our hotel room—that I upgraded to the honeymoon suite—I can barely keep my hands off her.
I know we need to get back down to the club to celebrate, but I can’t find it in me to care that people are waiting for us.
Not when Sutton’s skin is glowing, lit up by the Strip’s neon lights as she shimmies off her dress.
I fall to my knees in front of her, groaning into the softness of her belly.
It’s one of my favorite parts of her. I love laying my head on it when we’re watching a movie, and I love nibbling on it when she’s sprawled out on the bed before I eat her pussy.
She’s so fucking gorgeous, and every day, I discover a new part of her to worship.
“Ezra,” she giggles. “We don’t have time. Let me put on my swimsuit so we can party.”
“No.”
She shoves my head back and I push my lips out in a pout. Bending to press a kiss to my lips, I get an eye-full of her gorgeous breasts. Her nipples are just begging to be lavished, but she pushes on my forehead again before I can put my mouth on them.
“We have the rest of our lives to fuck, Ez. It’s not every day we get to celebrate a championship, and our wedding.”
I stand, wrapping my arms around her. “I’ll celebrate being married to you every day, because it’s much more important than the championship.”
She twists in my arms, lacing her fingers together behind my neck. “I love you, Ezra.”
“I love you, Mrs. Gentry.”
She tips up on her toes and presses our lips together.
When she pulls back, I reluctantly let her go.
She’s right, after all. We have the rest of our lives, and I couldn’t be happier I get to have her by my side for it.
THE END