Epilogue Two Jake
Six months Later
Glancing across the garden that has been transformed into something from a summer fairytale, I find my new wife laughing with Lexi and Frankie. This feeling of fullness in my chest gets bigger every single day I spend loving her.
Today we exchanged vows in the garden of our home near the lake where I told her about my past. Originally we were going to get married in a hotel, but Cherry suggested we do it here, because she wanted all our happiest days to start here, and with each one, the pain of the past will fade away.
I’m not sure I’ll ever forget the pain I felt that day when I thought she’d perished in a fire, but she’s right. The happy memories are piling up so high that the sad ones are losing purchase on me.
“I’m happy for you, Jake.”
I turn to Mac, who is beside me, my best man and best friend and brother in all but blood, and smile. “Me too. I never dreamed I’d get her back, and each day feels like a blessing.”
“It is.” His eyes are on his wife now, who’s holding their son and I let my gaze fall to Cher ry’s flat tummy and hope that this month we will get our wish. Not that it matters. If I only ever get her, it will be enough for me, but I know she’ll make an amazing mother one day.
Cherry turns and catches my eye and her soft look of love that she saves just for me, makes my chest feel hollow. Downing the drink Mac bought me, I cross the garden, trying to smile and keep moving as people wish me well, but all I want right now is my wife in my arms.
“Hey, you.”
Slipping a hand around her belly, I press my lips to her neck. Her body sinks into mine with so much trust it makes a well of love for her rush through my veins. Her hand comes up and she strokes my cheek.
“Hey, yourself.”
“You ready for the first dance, Mrs. Marshall?” God, that will never get old.
My Cherry Blossom rolls her eyes at me but nods. I’ve been making us take dance lessons for the past three months, even though she tried to get out of a first dance, saying it was an unnecessary tradition. I’d convinced her though, telling her that I want every tradition with her, both old and new, and then I fucked her just how she likes until she caved.
I have one last surprise for my girl today, and I know it’s one that she’ll like.
“Yes, I’m ready but if I make a fool of myself or step on your toes, you only have yourself to blame.”
I take her hands and lead her out onto the dance floor, the mermaid train on the ivory lace dress gliding along the floor behind her. When she walked down the aisle on her mother’s arm, I thought I’d fall apart. Only Mac’s hand on my shoulder had kept me from sinking to my knees and weeping like a fucking newborn.
“I promise I won’t make you look like a fool, and if you break every single toe I have, then it’s still worth it.”
“Fine.” Her pout is so pretty that I can’t resist pressing my lips to her mouth. Her arms come around me and her body presses to mine as if we’ll never be a ble to get close enough. My tongue slips between her lips and my cock hardens in my tuxedo pants. Pulling away, I look down at her flushed cheeks.
“Fuck, now I want to skip the dance and find somewhere I can fuck my bride.”
“Mission accomplished.”
I swat her ass and she yelps, but I hold her close and bend my head into her neck as I turn her back to the band. “Then you wouldn’t get your surprise.”
“More surprises?”
I see her eyes dance with excitement and smile down at her as the first strains of the first dance song we picked out begin to play. For the Both of Us by Dan and Shay had been a perfect choice because I’d loved her since the first day I saw her.
Her body sways against mine and then he begins to sing and she stills before she turns to look up at her friend, Eddie Crowe, who is singing at our wedding. Mac had thought it an odd choice, but Eddie had proven to me that he had my back that night with Kendrick and he loved my wife. That it makes her happy is the only real reason, it’s the only reason I do anything these days.
“Jake.” I hear the wobble in her voice, the tears shining bright like diamonds in her eyes, and lean in and kiss her like she’s the air I need to survive because she is. Without her, I’m nothing, I’m dead. With her, I’m the luckiest bastard alive and I know it and I’ll spend every day from here to eternity proving it.
“I love you, Cherry Blossom.”
“And I love you, husband.”