Jax
I’ve never been one to listen.
Not when my nerves are ricocheting through every crevice and corner in my body.
Everything is changing. But for once, it’s finally changing for the better.
I drop onto the couch, heart hammering in my chest, hands restless in my lap while I wait.
It takes maybe three seconds, tops, before Ana’s shrieks are bouncing off every wall.
I smile to myself, already wondering which news Allie decided to break first. But before I can think too hard on it, there’s another scream, louder somehow than before. Then—
BANG!
The door upstairs slams open so hard it shakes the walls, and I’m already on my feet. Racing footsteps pound down the stairs like a stampede—
And then she’s on me.
Ana crashes into my chest, hugging me so hard and so tight we nearly topple to the bloody floor.
I hug her back, already feeling the way she’s literally trembling against me.
Then she pulls back, grabs me by the shoulders, and shakes me like I’m a bloody Magic 8 Ball.
“A baby and a wedding?! Are you trying to kill me?” she gasps, tears shining in her eyes.
I laugh, grabbing her arms to steady us before she actually collapses.
Her face shifts, softer now, eyes glassy as she tilts her head. “Thanks for nailing my best friend and giving her a possible ginger musician mastermind,” she says, voice breaking mid-sentence.
I open my mouth, but no chance. She’s already spun away, launching herself at Allie, who somehow, is already right beside us.
She grips her shoulders tight before saying, “Well? Let’s get you married!”
I never thought my Friday afternoon would be spent sitting in a courthouse, waiting for my soon-to-be bride to arrive.
Ana kicked me out of the house and told me to “go busy myself” while they got Allie ready.
But if you ask me? She didn’t even need to get ready.
I would’ve married her right there in the living room—plaid pajama pants, tiny hole on the bum and all.
I’d have married her with messy hair, morning breath, and that slow, sleepy voice she gets when she first wakes up.
Okay, I’ll admit it: I’m also slightly glad she kicked me out. It gave me a few quiet minutes to really think about all of this.
What I’m going to say. Whether this is even remotely a good idea or not. And my conclusion is…
Yes. It’s the best idea I’ve ever had.
We might have to keep things quiet for a bit, just so Trevor doesn’t try to throw that in her face, too. Although, he’s already dug himself a nice little hole with the judge.
The courthouse doors whoosh open, a burst of cold air rushing in. Heels clack against the tile. I look up just in time to see Ana charging toward me. She’s moving so fast I nearly brace myself against the bench.
I’ve never seen her this excited. Not even when she won that award. She’s practically glowing, and it’s all for Allie.
“Quick, quick, quick!” she says, breathless and urgent.
I stand up, completely dumbfounded. “What? Where’s Allie?”
Ana grabs me by the shoulders and spins me around until I’m facing a landscape picture of foliage on the courthouse wall.
“Stay,” she orders, patting my arm like a dog.
I laugh under my breath but do as I’m told.
I close my eyes.
Take a breath.
That’s when the door opens again behind me and the scent of roses drifts in, curling under my nose. And just like that, every single nervous thought disappears. They dissipate into the air like they were never there at all.
“Okay,” Ana says softly. “You can turn around now.”
I take a slow, steadying breath, and then I turn.
And there she is.
The most perfect, most breathtaking person I’ve ever seen in my entire life.
My hand flies to my mouth as tears blur my vision.
Her hair is pinned up, braided into a perfect crown above her head, with loose strands framing her face. But that’s not what knocks the air from my lungs.
It’s the white lace dress hugging every curve she has. It stops mid-thigh, and it takes everything in me not to call for a quick recess.
Allie looks down, then tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear before meeting my tear-filled eyes. “So,” she says, a little sheepish, “what do you think?”
I shake my head slowly. “I think I can’t wait to marry you.”
Sniffles break out beside us, and I glance over to see Ana with shaky hands, trying to hold a camera steady.
Honestly? I’ve never been more thankful to have her with us on almost every journey we’ve had. And I couldn’t be more honored to have her with us today of all days.
Although… James is going to shit a brick when he finds out he’s been left out again.
“Mr. Owens?” A clerk peeks out from a door to our right, smiling. “We’re ready for you.”
I look at Allie and give her a soft smile. “Are you ready to become Mrs. Owens?”
She nods, tears already brimming in her eyes. “I’ve never felt more ready for anything.”
Ana gives my arm a squeeze, camera still shaking in her hands. Allie gives me a smile, interlaces her fingers with mine, and we follow the clerk inside a room.
No music. No aisle. It’s just us, a judge, and Ana holding a tissue to her nose.
And even without everything else, this still means the absolute world to me. Just to have her be mine in more ways than I can count.
We stop right in front of the judge’s desk. An older man with a long white beard and circular glasses is perched behind it, scribbling something down before glancing up.
He offers a quick, knowing smile and pushes his papers aside.
The clerk hands him a single sheet. He scans it quickly, gives a tiny nod, then lays it flat in front of him.
“Are you both ready?” he asks, his voice more friendly than I expected.
Allie and I both nod. “Yes, sir.”
He smiles. “Alright then,” he says, standing from his chair.
He walks around his desk until he’s standing in between Allie and me. I take her hands in mine, and don’t look away from the crystal blue eyes I fell for in that grocery store.
As friendly as the judge is, he’s wasting zero time with what’s supposed to be a huge moment in both our lives. It feels like it’s been about thirty seconds before he asks a few questions and Allie and I both utter our I do’s.
He’s already snapping the paperwork against his desk again before looking up at us.
“Do, uh, you guys have personal vows you’d like to run through?”
I nearly scoff at the way he says run through like this is just a drive through order. But, I bite it down.
“Oh, no, I didn’t have—” Allie starts to say, but I cut her off.
“I have vows,” I say.
Allie quirks a brow, studying me for a second as I try to hide the chuckle that wants to come out from the look on her face.
“Alright, go on then,” the judge says, taking a seat behind his desk.
I shake my head slightly and look at Allie.
“Allie... I’ve loved you since the moment your cart slammed into the back of my ankle.” I can’t help the grin that spreads across my face now. Her eyes widen, and then she and Ana both burst out laughing.
“But seriously—what started with a bruised heel turned into the best bloody day of my life,” I say, shaking my head slightly.
“You took a day that felt completely wrecked and gave it meaning. And every day since then you’ve been doing the same.
You’ve shown me what real love looks like.
With your kindness. With your patience. With the way you somehow manage to see every version of me—and still choose me. ”
Her eyes are glassy now, and I have to take a breath before going on.
“You’ve given me a life I never even knew I wanted, let alone deserve.
And I promise to never take that for granted.
I promise to make you laugh on days you want to cry.
I promise to fight for you. With you. Damn it, Al.
I just want to grow old with you. I love you louder than words could ever describe. ”
Tears stream down her face, and my thumbs catch them easily. I pull her face to mine, kissing her cheeks softly.
“And how about rings?” the judge asks.
Allie wipes her eyes with the backs of her hands and chuckles. “Yeah, we didn’t really plan this—”
I cut her off by digging into my pocket and pulling out a tiny square box.
Her eyes go wide as she looks down at it before covering her mouth with her hands. “Did you—” she starts.
I open it, revealing two matching rings. One for her. One for me.
Made from guitar strings.
Since there’s no jewelry store within twenty minutes of here, I figured what better way to showcase our love than with the guitar that started it all? I didn’t think twice about taking wire cutters to it, and the second I twisted them into rings, I knew they’d be perfect.
She holds her hand in front of her mouth, speechless.
“Is that?” she gasps.
I nod. “Same strings, love.”
“Wait, what do you mean?” Ana asks from beside us.
Allie looks over my shoulder at her best friend, then lays a hand on her chest. “Guitar strings from his Taylor. The one he wrote Don’t Think with.”
I shrug, meeting Allie’s eyes. “These are obviously temporary, since we can’t wear them all the time. But I figured, in the meantime, we could wear them on chains so they don’t cut into our fingers.”
She shakes her head, smiling softly. “They’re perfect, Jax.”
I grin and take one ring out of the box. The sunlight catches on the metal strings as I carefully slip it onto her finger.
Then Allie slides one onto mine.
“Alright,” the judge says, clapping his hands together. “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice,” I say with a smile.
I lean in, snaking my arm around Allie’s waist, bending her carefully, and kiss her. I kiss her like my life depends on it. Like it’s the last time our lips will ever meet.
Her arms find their way around my neck, deepening the kiss.
When we finally pull apart, our foreheads stay pressed together, and all I can think is—
This is my goddamn wife.