Chapter 11
ONE YEAR LATER
“Stop fidgeting.”
“I’m not fidgeting.”
“You’ve adjusted your veil six times in the last two minutes.” Eli swatted my hand away. “You look perfect. Stop.”
I looked at myself in the mirror. The dress was simple—ivory lace, fitted bodice, and a flowing skirt that moved when I walked. Brynn had helped me pick it out, insisted on the off-the-shoulder sleeves that showed just enough skin without making me self-conscious.
My hair was down in loose waves, the way Cole liked it. Jess had applied makeup with the skill of someone who’d wrangled two small children into looking presentable.
“What if I trip?”
“You won’t trip.”
“What if Garbage humps someone important?”
“He’s wearing a bow tie. That’s as dignified as he’s getting. We’ve accepted our limitations.” Eli turned me to face him. “Autumn, you’re getting married to the love of your life in thirty minutes. This is supposed to be happy.”
“I am happy.”
“You’re terrified.”
“That, too.”
He smiled and squeezed my shoulders. “Marcus didn’t deserve you. He made you small. Made you doubt yourself. Made you think love was about sacrifice instead of celebration.”
My throat tightened.
“But Cole? He sees you. All of you. The messy parts, the scared parts, the strong parts. And he loves every single piece.” Eli’s voice wavered. “You deserve this, Autumn. You deserve to be cherished.”
“Stop. You’re going to make me cry and ruin my makeup.”
“Jess can fix it. That’s why she’s here.” He hugged me tight. “I love you, and I’m so proud of you.”
“I love you, too.”
A knock on the door. Brynn poked her head in. “Ready? Everyone’s seated.”
I took a deep breath. “Ready.”
The mountains surrounded us. String lights hung from the trees. Fifty chairs filled with everyone who mattered.
Brynn stood at the altar in sage green, tissues already in hand, with Decker beside her in a matching suit.
And Cole.
God.
He stood there in a black suit that fit him perfectly, his hair styled but still slightly rebellious, his eyes locked on me the moment I appeared.
The look on his face said I was the only thing in the world that mattered, and it nearly broke me.
Eli walked me down the aisle. No father to give me away. Just my best friend, the person who’d been there through everything, handing me off to my future.
“Take care of her,” Eli whispered to Cole.
“Always,” Cole promised.
The ceremony blurred. Words about love and commitment and choosing each other. Our hands trembled slightly when we slid the rings onto our fingers. Voices shaky when we said “I do.”
And then: “You may kiss your bride.”
Cole cupped my face in both hands, kissed me as if we weren’t standing in front of fifty people. Deep. Thorough. A promise.
The crowd erupted.
Garbage barked. He’d made it through the entire ceremony without incident, which we considered a victory. His bow tie sat slightly askew, but he looked distinguished.
We walked back down the aisle together. Married.
Autumn Stone.
Hearing “Mr. and Mrs. Stone” made my heart skip.
Faith caught me in a hug during the cocktail hour. “You did it. You fought for what you wanted and you won.”
“We all won,” I whispered back.
She pulled back; her smile was genuine. “I’m so happy for you both, and a little jealous of your backyard wedding aesthetic. This is gorgeous.”
“You helped make it happen.”
Jess’s kids chased Garbage around the yard, their laughter mixing with the music from the string quartet Cole had hired. Jess’ daughter, now seven, had appointed herself Garbage’s trainer. He remained enthusiastically untrainable.
Decker clinked his glass. “Speech time!”
“Oh God,” I muttered.
Cole squeezed my hand. “Too late to run now.”
Eli stood first. “I’ve known Autumn for a long time. I’ve watched her survive approximately seventeen near-death experiences involving aggressive animals, and a whole lot more.”
Laughter rippled through the crowd.
“But I’ve never seen her like this. Happy. Settled. Like she finally found the place she belongs.” His voice thickened. “Cole, you better take care of her. Because if you don’t, I know where you sleep and I’m not above violence.”
“Noted,” Cole grinned.
“But I don’t think I need to worry. Because you look at her the way she deserves to be looked at, like she’s magic. And, Autumn?” Eli raised his glass. “You finally let yourself be loved. I’m so damn proud of you.”
I ugly-cried into my napkin.
Brynn went next, telling the story of dragging me to Storm Bar that first night, of forcing me backstage, of knowing that Cole was different.
“She fought it,” Brynn said. “Fought so hard. But love doesn’t care about your walls or your fear or your very logical reasons for staying safe. Love just… happens.”
She looked at Decker, who smiled back at her with so much affection it hurt to witness.
“To love that happens anyway,” Brynn said. “To fighting for it and choosing it every single day.”
Everyone clinked glasses.
They called all the single men to the dance floor for the garter toss. Cole slid his hand up my thigh under the table, his fingers teasing the lace.
“You know I have to take this off in front of everyone, right?”
His grin turned wicked. “I’m aware.”
“You’re enjoying this.”
“I’m enjoying the fact that later I get to take off everything else.” He kissed my neck. “In private.”
Heat pooled low in my stomach. “Focus. Garter first.”
Cole dragged it down my leg with his teeth while I sat in a chair placed in the center of the dance floor. The crowd went wild. I wanted to die and also drag him into the nearest closet.
He stood, held the lace up like a trophy, and launched it into the crowd of waiting bachelors.
Of course, Decker caught it.
He held it up, turned to Brynn, and winked.
She rolled her eyes from her spot with the other single women.
“Love you too, babe!” he called.
“Not married yet, Stone!”
“Give it time!”
“Alright ladies, you’re up! Bouquet time!”
I grabbed my bouquet of white peonies and eucalyptus, simple and perfect. Brynn stood at the back of the group with her arms crossed, her expression screaming, 'I’m only here under protest'.
“Come on, Brynn!” Jess pushed her forward. “You have to try!”
“I’m not trying. Decker already has ideas. I don’t need to encourage him.”
I turned my back to the crowd. Counted to three. Launched it.
The bouquet sailed through the air in a perfect arc, heading straight for Brynn’s face.
She reached up. Her fingers grazed the stems.
Then fifty pounds of determined pit bull came out of nowhere.
Garbage launched himself like a furry missile, snatched the bouquet mid-air with his teeth, and hit the ground running.
“GARBAGE, NO!” I yelled.
Too late.
He tore across the yard, bow tie flapping, peonies clamped in his jaws like a prize. He dodged Eli’s grab and disappeared into the woods.
Dead silence.
Then everyone lost it.
Brynn stood frozen, her hands still raised, staring at the space where the bouquet had been. “Did that actually just happen?”
“That’s my boy!” Cole shouted, laughing so hard he had to lean on Decker for support.
“Your dog just stole my bouquet!” I turned to find Garbage, but he’d vanished completely.
“Technically he stole everyone’s bouquet,” Eli pointed out. “Equal opportunity theft.”
Decker wrapped his arms around Brynn from behind. “Guess that means I’m off the hook for proposals.”
“Or,” Brynn turned in his arms, “it means the universe is telling you to try harder than a dog.”
His grin went slow and dangerous. “Challenge accepted.”
Garbage reappeared twenty minutes later, bow tie missing, covered in dirt, looking pleased with himself. He’d buried the bouquet somewhere in the woods.
We never found it.
“Best wedding ever,” Faith declared, taking pictures of Garbage’s guilty face for Instagram.
I had to agree.
The first dance was to a song Cole had written just for this. About finding home in unexpected places and second chances. About building something beautiful from broken pieces.
“No regrets?” he asked as we swayed together.
“Not a single one.”
“Even though I got hot sauce on my suit?”
I looked. Sure enough, a small orange stain decorated his lapel. “Even though. It’s very on-brand.”
He laughed, pulled me closer. “I love you, Autumn Stone.”
“I love you, too.”
The last guests trickled out around midnight. Cole’s hand found the small of my back, his touch burning through the lace of my dress.
“Ready to go, Mrs. Stone?”
My stomach flipped. Mrs. Stone. I’d never get tired of hearing that.
“Depends. What did you have in mind?”
His eyes went dark. “I want to ravage my wife.”
“Then ravage away.”
He swept me up without warning. I yelped, grabbing his shoulders.
He kicked open the bedroom door.
I stopped breathing.
Candles lit every surface. Rose petals scattered across the floor, leading to our bed. More petals covered the white duvet in shades of cream and blush.
“When did you…?”
“Decker and Eli helped. Don’t ask questions.” He set me down, spun me around. “Let me get you out of this dress.”
His fingers found the first clasp at my neck. He unhooked it. Pressed his mouth to the newly exposed skin.
I shivered.
“Cold?”
“Opposite of cold.”
He unhooked the second clasp. Kissed lower. The third. His lips traced my spine.
“Can’t we just… rip it off or something?”
“Patience.” His breath warmed my skin. “I’m taking my time with you.”
I groaned.
He chuckled, the sound vibrating against my back. “You’ll thank me later.”
Clasp by clasp, he worked his way down. Each one followed by a kiss. By the time he reached the last one, I was trembling.
The dress pooled around my feet.
I stood in an ivory lace lingerie set Brynn had insisted I buy. Strapless bra, matching panties, garter belt, stockings. The works.
Cole circled me. Took in every inch.
“Jesus Christ.”
“Good Jesus or bad Jesus?”
“Very, very good Jesus.” He stopped in front of me, cupped my face. “If we had a hundred years together, I could never write a song that captures how beautiful you are.”
My throat tightened. “Cole…”