Epilogue
My mother could not wait for summer. And if I’m being honest, I don’t think I could have either. Celebrating that I love Roman Graves might be the one and only time I’d ask for attention, for a party in our honor.
I even got a wedding dress. Mom made sure of it. Willow, Rosalie, and Fran came with me to pick it out and it’s kind of amazing. A soft tulle skirt, lace appliques down my arms and across my neck with a scoop neckline beneath. It’s so intricate. So detailed. And so me.
Roman stands with Mason right on his heels—his best man. And just behind Roman’s little brother is Lucca Cruz, best man number two. Who in their right mind saw that coming—and next to them, Zev and Callum. Roman’s friends. His teammates. His brothers.
As acting best man, Lucca of course threw Roman the bachelor party he never ever wanted. I think Roman loved it in the end. Though, I’m not sure he’ll ever admit to it.
As we’re already married, the ceremony is short and sweet. Still, it’s what it should have been all along. Willow at my side as maid of honor, my tearful mother and joyful father in the audience, and Rosalie and Fran my new but very dear friends as bridesmaids.
The funny thing is, doing it as it “should have been” all along never would have happened had we not completely screwed things up in the beginning.
Roman and I will never have a traditional story, but we will have a happy ending.
“And now,” Judge Merrell, the same man who married us the first time around says, “You may kiss your bride.”
Roman grins with the prompt. He presses his palms into the small of my back, pulling me close. He leans in, his nose brushing mine. The warm air of his breath tickles my cheek and chin. “I love you, Mrs. Graves,” he whispers, only for me—and the fifty guests we’ve invited to this shindig.
Everything inside of me says it back, but I shut that man up with a kiss. He’s not getting out of it this time.