Chapter Forty-Three #2
“I want all the details!” Maddie exclaims as she starts picking toys and random items off the floor. “After I shower and clean up this mess.”
Gemma and I help tidy up so Maddie can get clean and change.
An hour later, we’re sitting on the deck, sharing the story of how Gemma and I got married. We talk about Robert, Jerry and the garage, and all the drama that unfolded with Victoria.
Maddie’s shaking her head at me in disbelief. I know she’s thinking about her sister Sophie and her crazy ex-boyfriend who kidnapped and tried to kill her. Liam, Mason, and Hunter found her just in time.
“That’s batshit insane!” Maddie’s jaw drops. “Why didn’t you punch in his face?”
Gemma chuckles. “He wanted to and offered plenty of times, but he knew with his record, he had to be extra cautious.”
“Especially in small towns. Everyone knows you and your business.”
“And the gossip flies around faster than mosquitos at a summer barbecue.”
“Aw…sounds like a Hallmark movie. Who doesn’t love a small-town romance with drama and gossip?”
“God,” I groan. “I forgot you’re horny for Hallmark too.”
“I love it,” Gemma tells Maddie.
“I already have ten Hallmark Christmas movies recorded! We’ll make the boys cook while we start one.”
“Putting me to work already, Mads?” I wink. “I’m on vacation, you know?”
Maddie rolls her eyes. “Oh, puh-lease. You’re here to cook for me. Don’t even deny it.”
She’s not wrong. I anticipated being in the kitchen, and I don’t mind. It gives Liam and me some alone time to shoot the shit and catch up. The girls can drink their wine as they watch their corny holiday movies—as long as I get my wife back by the end of the night.
By Saturday, the entire house looks like it vomited Christmas decorations. I helped Liam put up a real tree, and Maddie’s sister and even Serena and her son came to help decorate. They all brought their kids and packed all the rooms. It was great to reunite with Mason and Sophie too.
That night was their annual sisters’ Christmas dinner and gift exchange.
I helped cook a ham and turkey, and Gemma offered her not-so-great baking skills.
Though she tried, which was cute. I didn’t think I could be any happier, but being here surrounded by my closest friends and new wife, I’m nearly bursting at the seams with joy.
Perhaps it’s because it’s a special time of year, but also, it’s the first Christmas I’ve celebrated in over five years.
And so far, it’s been one to remember.
“I brought one of your gifts,” I whisper in Gemma’s ear when I come up behind her.
“You did?” She spins and faces me. “I didn’t pack one! Why didn’t you tell me you wanted to exchange presents here?”
“Don’t worry. It’s an early one. We can still do ours Christmas morning, but I want you to have this particular one now.”
“Okay.” She smiles as I grab her hand and lead her to the tree.
Everyone quiets as they watch me kneel in front of her and reach in my pocket for the velvet box.
“What’re you doing?” she whispers.
“Giving you what you deserve.” I take her hand and smile up at her. “A real proposal and a real ring.”
She smiles through her tears. Though she’s already said she doesn’t need anything fancy, I want to show her how much she means to me and how much I love her.
“Gemma, sweetheart. After everything we’ve been through, I can’t imagine my life without you in it, and I hope I never will again.
You’re the woman I always want to fall asleep next to and wake up to.
We might’ve gotten hitched unconventionally, but I’d marry you again in a heartbeat.
” I open the box and show her the ring. “Will you marry me again?”
She nods, wiping her cheeks. “Of course.” She bends down until our lips collide. “I can’t believe you bought me a ring.”
“Well, technically, I didn’t…” I take it out and slide it on her finger. “Your dad gave me your mom’s engagement ring, and I had it set on another band.”
Gemma gasps as she stares at it, holding out her hand and watching it sparkle under the light. “Oh my God.” She barely gets the words out before she falls to her knees. Wrapping her arms around me, she cries into my neck, and I hold her tightly against my chest.
Even though over a dozen eyes are on us, it feels as though we’re the only two people in the room. I know how much this means to her and how special this ring will always be to us.
“This is unreal,” she mutters. “I can’t believe you did this.”
I tilt her chin until our gazes lock. “I love you, more than anything.”
When I mentioned to Jerry that I was saving to buy Gemma a wedding ring set, he said he had something even better than an expensive diamond.
He told me the story of how he proposed and how special his wedding day was.
After five years, she lost the ring, so he bought her a new one.
It wasn’t until after she passed that he found it and kept it in an old jewelry box.
Jerry planned on giving it to Gemma but was waiting for the right time, and he told me the time was now.
“I can’t take all the credit, though. Your dad offered it, and I ran with it.”
“I thought she lost her solitaire ring.” She stares at it in awe.
“Not this one,” I tell her and plan to tell her the whole story later when we don’t have an audience.
“You better invite me to that wedding this time, Tyler!” Maddie blurts, and everyone laughs.
“You got it, Mads.”
“We should do it on our one-year anniversary. Give us time to plan something amazing,” Gemma suggests, and I nod in agreement.
“I love that idea. A fall wedding in November,” Maddie gushes.
“With lots of pumpkin spice,” Gemma adds.
“Of course.” I smirk, then kiss the top of her nose. “Anything for you.”
We end the night tangled in the sheets, proving my quickie skills have been moved up to the expert level—three orgasms in five minutes.
The next morning, I wake up before Gemma and sneak into the kitchen to start the coffee. I’m surprised when I see Liam sitting there with a cup already.
“Hey, morning,” I say quietly. “Up early?”
“Yeah, thought I’d hit the gym before the kids get up.”
“Wow. Good for you, man.” I open the cabinet, grab a mug, then fill it full.
“You still thinking you’d like to buy the gym in your town?”
“We’ve talked about it, but not right now. Gemma wants to wait until Jerry retires so we can focus on it together. It’d need a complete remodel and new equipment. She wants to add tanning beds.” I snort. “So perhaps in a year or two.”
“That’s great, Tyler. I couldn’t be happier for you.” He grins. “But I do miss you.”
“I miss you guys too.”
“I still can’t believe Mickey found Victoria in Lawton Ridge, and they’re all dead. Blows my goddamn mind, but then again, it doesn’t. He was crazy as fuck and overly jealous. He nearly killed me, and I wasn’t even into her like that.” Liam sips his coffee and shudders. “Glad it’s all in the past.”
“Me too.” It still feels surreal. “So glad.”
After an incredible week at Liam and Maddie’s, Gemma and I have to return to Lawton Ridge.
Maddie cries as we hug goodbye, and she exchanges phone numbers with Gemma.
I love that they became friends and grew close this week, but I have a feeling Maddie will be in my business even more now.
I’ll get texts full of wedding ideas for the next eleven months.
“I love your friends,” Gemma says as we’re on the plane. “I wish we were closer.”
“You say that now,” I tease. “No, they’re great. I’m glad you and Mads hit it off.”
“So I have to ask something, but you can’t get mad.”
I arch a brow. This can’t be good. “Okay?”
“Did you and Maddie ever…” She lets the word linger, and I wait. “Hook up?”
I nearly choke on air as I look at her in shock. “You think I’d still be alive if I touched Liam’s woman?”
She shrugs. “Well, didn’t you say you two were in a cabin in the woods or something? That sounds kinda romantic.”
“Trust me, it wasn’t. Victoria was watching our every move. I had to cut the power just to get us out of there, and since she had backup generators, it gave us only a few minutes before they came on. We barely escaped. Maddie and I have only always been friends,” I reassure her.
“Okay. Just had to ask.”
“She’s really friendly, that’s all. Maddie’s easy to love and knows how to get you to spill your guts even when you don’t want to,” I recall, remembering all the times she got me to admit shit.
“I believe you, babe. Liam seems very protective of her, so I’m sure if you two had done anything, he would’ve broken your neck.”
“Well, he would’ve tried at least.” I chuckle, then grab her hand and press a kiss to her knuckles. “I’d do the same if another man tried to touch you, just so you know.”
“You have nothing to worry about. You’re all I want.”
I lean down until our lips crash. “And you’re all I’ll ever need.”