Epilogue #3
Eli turned to face her fully, and something in his expression changed. She couldn’t place it at first; he looked almost nervous. Then his hand went to his front jacket pocket, where he usually kept the vials “just in case.”
She frowned. Had he sensed danger lurking about? “What is it?”
Then, to her utter surprise, he dropped to one knee.
A hush fell over the entire party, and even the music and background sounds melted away. Heads turned, Tabitha grabbed Sloane’s arm, and Martha’s hand flew to her mouth.
“Eli, what are you—”
“My grandfather gave this ring to my grandmother when they got engaged.” His voice was steady, though the hand holding the ring shook. “Margaux said my mother would have wanted me to have it.”
The ring was simple and old, a thin gold band with a single green stone, deep and vivid. The same shade as his eyes.
“I spent most of my life believing I didn’t deserve good things,” he said. “Every day, you prove me wrong.” He held the ring up between them. “Olivia Jones, will you marry me?”
For a few seconds, she couldn’t speak. Her hand went to her mouth, then both hands went to her face, and then she was doing that thing where she laughed and cried simultaneously. “Yes,” she managed. “Obviously, yes.”
He slid the ring onto her finger and the yard erupted. Matty let out a whoop, while Tabitha was already sobbing. Patrick raised his whiskey glass and declared, “About Goddamned time.”
Eli stood and she threw her arms around him, as much as the bump allowed, and he held her while their people cheered.
“So,” Tabitha called out through her tears, “when’s the wedding?”
Olivia pulled back and looked at Eli. Between the move, the baby coming in a few months, and all the secret nuptials she’d attended, not to mention, the two weddings she was going to attend—Lizzie and Wyatt’s grand wedding at The Plaza after their baby was born and Charley and Devon’s in Hawaii next year—she would have enough weddings to last for the foreseeable future.
“Honestly? Not anytime soon,” she said. “I can’t even think about planning one right now.”
“Too bad my dad isn’t here,” Stella said. “He’d marry you on the spot.”
Bo cleared his throat from his seat near the grill. “In case you didn’t know, I’m ordained.”
The yard went still and every head swiveled between Bo, Olivia, and Eli.
She looked at Eli. “Are we really doing this?”
“The backyard’s set up,” he said. “Everyone’s here.”
“I don’t have a dress.”
“You’re beautiful in what you’re wearing.”
“I don’t have vows.”
“Neither do I. We’ll figure it out.”
And she knew that was the truth.
“Okay,” she said. “Let’s do it.”
The next twenty minutes had everyone running around like madmen.
Martha and Emily rearranged the chairs while Matty hauled the speaker to the pergola.
Tabitha pulled together a bouquet from the wildflower centerpieces, tying them with a ribbon she’d found on one of the moving boxes inside.
Sloane stood up as maid of honor and Jacob took his place as Eli’s best man.
Bo stood under the pergola, hands clasped. “Friends and family,” he began. “We’re gathered here tonight to join Eli and Olivia in marriage.”
Olivia stood across from Eli under the fairy lights, holding both his hands. His mossy green eyes were locked on hers, unguarded and unmasked.
“I spent my whole life running. From my past, my name, and anyone who tried to get too close,” he began when Bo asked if they wanted to speak any vows.
“Olivia, you’re the reason I stopped. Not because you fixed me, but because you showed me I was worthy of love.
” He squeezed her hands. “I’m never leaving again. That’s my vow.”
“And even if you tried, I wouldn’t let you,” she said, blinking through the tears. “And my vow is that on the days you forget, I’ll remind you that you are worthy.” Taking his hand, she placed it on her belly. “Worthy of love and all the beautiful, wonderful things in this world.”
Bo cleared his throat. “Do you, Eli Blake, take Olivia Jones as your wife, for as long as you both shall live?”
“I do.”
“And do you, Olivia Jones, take Eli Blake as your husband, for as long as you both shall live?”
“I do.”
“Then by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife.” Bo grinned wide. “Kiss your bride, son.”
Eli cupped her face in both hands and kissed her. The yard erupted in cheers of their friends, family, and all the people who mattered in their lives. Pulling back, he rested his forehead against hers.
“My mate.” A rumble sounded from his chest, his wolf obviously pleased.
“My husband,” she replied, her own wolf letting out a long, contented sigh. Her hands gripped the front of his shirt, the green stone on her finger catching the fairy lights above them right before she pulled him down for another kiss.
Thank you reader!