Bonus Epilogue #2
I can feel my heart thudding in my chest, the excitement and the nerves battling for dominance, but they all dissolve when I think about him.
Griffin. The man I’m about to marry. The man I’ve loved for years.
The man who has been my best friend, my partner, and the one who has made me laugh, and cry, and feel more alive than I ever thought possible.
I haven't seen him since the rehearsal dinner last night. I slept in my childhood room last night. It feels strange, being apart for the first time in what feels like forever, but that’s part of the tradition, right?
The bride and groom don’t see each other until the ceremony begins.
The thought of seeing Griffin at the end of the aisle is all I can focus on right now.
My dad is standing beside me, his hand resting lightly on my shoulder, his breath warm against my ear as he says, “Are you ready, sweetheart?”
I turn to look at him, and my breath catches in my throat.
It’s a simple gesture—just a father and daughter sharing a moment before the ceremony—but it feels like the most profound moment of my life.
His smile, so proud and full of love, makes my chest tighten.
I never imagined this day would come so soon.
The day he gives me away to another man.
“I’m ready, Dad,” I say, my voice barely more than a whisper.
He nods and adjusts the sleeve of his jacket, his eyes shining. “You’re beautiful, Anya. Griffin’s a lucky man.”
I don’t have words for the lump in my throat. All I can do is smile back at him, my eyes watery. “Thank you, Dad. For everything.”
He squeezes my shoulder gently. “You’re my little girl. And I know you’ll be happy with him.”
I swallow hard, my heart overflowing with emotions I don’t know how to express.
Then, I hear the soft music start to play, the familiar melody of Pachelbel’s Canon in D, the same one I’ve always imagined walking down the aisle to. My heart lurches in my chest as the first notes fill the air. It’s time.
The curtain is drawn back, and I step into the sunlight, the guests standing and turning to face me.
My breath catches in my throat as I see them all, my family, my friends, and at the end of the aisle, Griffin.
He’s standing there, waiting for me. His dark eyes lock with mine, and for a moment, it feels like we’re the only two people in the world.
He’s wearing a black tuxedo that fits him like it was made just for him. He’s swoon-worthy. He looks like he’s about to take my hand forever, and that thought is enough to send me walking down the aisle toward him with a heart full of love.
As I make my way toward him, the world slows down.
I hear the soft rustle of fabric as I walk, the music carrying me forward, but all I can focus on is the look on Griffin’s face.
His eyes are soft, filled with emotion, and he’s standing so still, like he’s trying to keep himself from moving, from rushing toward me.
I reach the altar, my dad’s hand now resting in mine, and I can’t help but glance up at him, my heart bursting with gratitude. He smiles down at me and nods as if to say, I’m proud of you. Then, he steps back, giving me away to Griffin.
Griffin reaches for my hand, his touch warm and steady, and as his fingers close around mine, the world feels right. I’m right where I’m supposed to be.
We turn to face the officiant, a longtime family friend, Rebecca, who has been a part of every milestone in my life.
She smiles at us both, her eyes sparkling with kindness.
“We are gathered here today to celebrate the love between Anya and Griffin, two souls who have found each other in this vast world. Love is a beautiful thing, but it’s also a choice.
A choice to stand by one another, no matter what life brings, and to hold each other up when times are hard. ”
I glance at Griffin, his gaze still locked on mine, and I can see the depth of everything we’ve shared in those dark eyes. The laughter, the late-night talks, the moments of silence when words weren’t necessary. He’s my best friend, my partner, my everything.
Rebecca continues, her voice soft but strong. “Griffin, do you take Anya to be your lawfully wedded wife? To love and cherish her, through all of life’s challenges and joys?”
“I do,” Griffin says without hesitation, his voice steady and full of conviction.
“And Anya,” she says, turning to me, “do you take Griffin to be your lawfully wedded husband? To love, honor, and cherish him, for all the days of your life?”
“I do,” I say, my voice barely a whisper, but it feels like a promise, a vow, a commitment I’m making not only to him but to myself.
Rebecca smiles and then turns to the groomsmen. “Anya and Griffin have chosen rings to exchange with each other as a symbol of their unending love.”
I can feel the cool metal of the ring as it’s placed on my finger, a symbol of everything we’ve built together.
A symbol of love, trust, and all the moments that have led us here.
The simple band feels heavy with meaning as it rests against my skin.
And when I slide his ring onto his finger, I know this is it. This is forever.
“By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife,” Rebecca says with a smile.
Griffin’s eyes lock on mine once more, and in that moment, I feel my heart soar. He leans in, a slow smile spreading across his face, and I don’t need words to understand what he’s thinking.
“You may kiss the bride,” Rebecca announces, and without a second thought, Griffin’s lips are on mine. It’s not just a kiss. It’s everything. It’s a promise. It’s love, and laughter, and everything in between. It’s the life we’re about to build together, one moment at a time.
When he pulls back, I can’t stop smiling. My heart is racing, and I feel like I’m glowing from the inside out. I don’t care about the guests, the crowd, or anything else. All that matters is him. All that matters is us.
“I love you,” Griffin says, his voice low and full of emotion.
“I love you too,” I reply, barely able to get the words out because of the lump in my throat.
And as we walk down the aisle together, hand in hand, with the world cheering us on, I know this is only the beginning of our happily ever after.
Griffin
The sound of laughter, music, and clinking glasses fills the air as I stand with Anya, my wife.
It still doesn’t feel real. Wife. I look at her, her smile brighter than any of the lights strung across the reception tent, and I swear I could just stand here forever, drinking in her beauty.
We’re surrounded by family and friends, everyone enjoying the evening, but none of that matters.
What matters is right here, right now, and the fact that I’m finally married to the woman I’ve loved for so long.
Anya’s hand is tucked in mine as we mingle with our guests, and I can’t stop the goofy grin from spreading across my face.
My heart is so full, it’s almost too much to handle.
Her laugh rings out when one of her brothers—probably Paxton—says something ridiculous.
He always has a way of making everyone laugh, and tonight is no exception.
The guys are in their usual form, teasing me endlessly about the wedding and trying to get me to admit that I was nervous—I wasn’t, but I’m not about to tell them that. I know what they want to hear.
“You didn’t look nervous at all,” Millie teases, nudging me as she stands next to us. “You looked like you had everything under control.”
“Why would I be nervous?” I reply, glancing at Anya and squeezing her hand. “I’m marrying the woman of my dreams. How could that make me nervous?”
Anya gives me a soft smile, her cheeks tinged with pink.
She still doesn’t know how much I’ve been holding back.
How much I’ve always loved her. The thought of telling her makes my stomach flutter, but tonight, I’m feeling bold.
Tonight, I’m going to say it. I’m going to finally tell her the secret I’ve been keeping for years.
The music swells as the next song begins, a slow, romantic tune. The band has been playing all night, and I know Anya’s been waiting for this moment. The slow dance, the one where the bride and groom share a special moment together.
“Would you dance with me, Mrs. Cole?” I ask, my voice low, my hand resting gently at the small of her back as I lead her onto the floor.
She smiles up at me, her eyes sparkling with something playful and tender all at once. “I thought you’d never ask.”
I pull her closer as we begin to sway to the music, the world melting away around us. There’s only her and me, our bodies moving together, the soft swish of her dress brushing against my legs, the warmth of her hand in mine.
As we glide across the floor, I can’t stop the rush of emotions that flood me. I’ve been waiting for this moment for so long. But there’s something I’ve never told her. Something I’ve kept locked away, something that has been growing in my chest for years.
“Anya,” I murmur, my lips grazing her ear. She tilts her head slightly to the side, the tips of her hair brushing against my cheek as she looks up at me, her eyes searching mine.
“Yeah?” she asks, her voice soft, almost as if she senses the gravity of the moment.
“I’ve always had a thing for you,” I confess, my heart pounding in my chest as I watch her reaction. “Ever since the first time I saw you. I know it sounds crazy, but I’ve been in love with you for so long. Long before we even started working together. Before we ever started… this.”
Her breath catches for a moment, and I’m sure she’s processing my words, trying to understand how something that feels so familiar and comforting to me has been such a secret for so long.
“I was so young,” I continue, “but when I saw you that first time, I couldn’t stop thinking about you. You were just this beautiful, strong, confident girl, and I had no idea how someone like me could even be in the same room as you, let alone… with you.”
She stops moving for a beat, her eyes wide with surprise. “Griffin,” she says softly, and there’s a softness in her voice that makes me want to sink into her and never leave. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
I smile, though my chest tightens at the thought of all the years I’ve spent hiding my feelings. “I didn’t think I stood a chance. I mean, I was your brother’s best friend. I didn’t want to mess that up.”
She looks up at me, her expression softening as she gently strokes the side of my face. “You’re not just my brother’s best friend, Griffin. You’re my best friend. And I love you. I always have too.”
The words I’ve waited to hear flood over me, and I feel like I’m soaring. I pull her closer, my lips brushing against her forehead in a soft kiss. “I love you too, Anya. I’ve loved you for so long, I don’t know how I kept it a secret for so long.”
She smiles up at me, her hands resting on my chest. “I’m glad you finally told me.”
The music continues, and we move together, swaying in time with the rhythm. But it’s not just the music. It’s us. It’s our lives finally coming together in the way we were always meant to be.
We laugh and dance, the joy of the evening wrapping around us like a warm blanket.
The brothers are gathered in a group nearby, exchanging stories and teasing each other.
Paxton is trying to get Tripp to talk about his latest romance novel, but Tripp is being coy about the plot, only offering vague answers.
Millie rolls her eyes but laughs anyway, and I can see the easy, playful dynamics between everyone here.
I lean in and whisper to Anya, my lips brushing against her ear. “You know, I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy in my life.”
She laughs softly, her hand on my shoulder as we spin around the floor. “I think you might be right. This is perfect, Griffin. Everything.”
I pull her in closer, just as her brothers start to make their way over, smiling, arms raised in mock surrender. Callum, always the leader, grins at us from across the room.
“Alright, alright,” Callum says, raising a glass to us. “You’ve had your moment. Now, let’s see who can outdance the bride and groom!”
We both laugh, and Anya places her hands on my chest, eyes dancing with the same playfulness I’ve always adored about her. “You think you can outdance me, Griffin?”
“Challenge accepted,” I say, grinning as I pull her into an even tighter embrace, spinning us into a fast-paced waltz that makes everyone cheer.
For the rest of the night, it’s a blur of laughter, dancing, teasing, and joy.
Anya’s brothers pulling me into playful arguments about who gets to make the first toast, Brock offering ridiculous advice about relationships—none of which I take seriously but all of which make me laugh.
But no matter where we go, who we talk to, or how many people come up to congratulate us, all I want is her. Anya. My wife. The woman I’ve spent so long dreaming about. Now, she’s here, and I’m never letting her go.
The night is winding down, but all I can focus on is the woman beside me.
Anya, my wife. She’s standing there, her arm hooked in mine, her eyes sparkling with the kind of joy that makes everything else fade away.
The last of our guests have finally left, and it’s just the two of us now, ready to start this next chapter of our lives.
I kiss her forehead gently as we walk out the door of the reception, the soft hum of the evening air wrapping around us like a blanket.
“Ready for our adventure?” I ask, my voice low and full of love.
She grins up at me, her cheeks flushed with happiness. “I’ve been ready since the moment I said yes,” she replies, her voice teasing and warm.
We head toward the car waiting to take us to the airport.
The world feels right, like every twist and turn in our lives led us to this moment.
I can’t wait to start this new journey with her—our honeymoon, our future, our forever.
I smile, squeezing her hand, knowing that no matter what comes next, it’s us against the world.
And there’s nothing I’d rather have. “I love you,” I whisper as we step into the car, the doors closing behind us, the start of something even more beautiful than I ever imagined.
“I love you too,” Anya says, her smile as bright as the stars above us. And as the car pulls away, I realize that this—this is exactly where I’m meant to be.