EPILOGUE
THE WEDDING
Rebel Pierce
I took in a deep breath and released it. The anticipation built as the big day finally arrived. It was a day I never thought would come true for me. I never believed I would be the one to find my happily ever after. That was always Rumi’s life while mine was always filled with work. I was always the bride’s maid and never the bride which at the time I was fine with. But today all that changed. Today I’d become Mrs. Stevens.
Was I sad that my family wouldn’t be here? Just a little, but I had the most amazing support system including the brothers of Demons United and some of my closest friends. It would be their lost that they missed out on my big day. The people who were supposed to be here were here to celebrate me finding my happiness.
“You look stunning,” Mya said with a huge smile on her face.
Mya Alexander was my best friend. We met in college as freshmen. She was majoring in business, while I double majored in computer science and cyber security. We were from two different worlds but hit it off immediately.
Even though she didn’t stay in North Carolina, we remained close. And since Rumi wasn’t in my life at the moment, Mya happily accepted when I asked her to be my Maid of Honor instead of one of my bride’s maids.
I delicately ran my hands down the soft, flowing tulle skirt of my wedding dress. I felt like a princess in my gown, with its delicate antique lace, beaded bodice, and slender straps. Now, all I needed was a tiara, but that might be excessive.
Choosing to buy this off-white tea length style dress instead of a floor-length gown was hands down the best decision I made. I knew my soon-to-be husband would prefer to ride off into the sunset on a motorcycle rather than in a car. This way we wouldn’t have any problems with this dress.
“You think he’ll like it?” I asked as I stood in front of the mirror making sure nothing was out of place.
J.D. had never seen me in anything other than my usual attire of yoga pants, blue jeans, and t-shirts. This was a far cry from my usual dress that he was probably use too, but it made me feel beautiful and I wanted him to really like it.
“Girl, that man is going to be ready to fuck you every which way but Sunday.”
We both burst out into a fit of laughter, our voices echoing through the room. It didn’t take much for him to do that anyway, but I get what she was saying. I grabbed a tissue and wiped under my eyes to keep my eyeliner from running.
I grabbed her hand. “Thank you for being here.”
Night after night, she listened to my complaints about how my family was treating me, never wavering in her support. J.D. and she helped get me to where I didn’t care what they thought of me anymore. It was their loss. I was thankful to have someone in my life as good as Mya. Someone to keep me humble but also hype me up when I needed it. A loyal friend.
“There’s no other place, I’d rather be, Rebel. I’m so happy that you found someone who’s going to cherish you and treat you the way you deserve to be treated.”
Before I could respond, there was a knock on the door, then Caesar poked his head in. “You decent?” he asked.
“You’re supposed to ask that before you open the door,” I said as he stepped in.
He dismissed my comment with a wave of his hand. “You look fucking amazing,” he said, then he kissed me on the cheek. “Y’all might not make it to the I do’s when he sees you.”
A burst of laughter escaped my lips. “Thank you for doing this for me.”
I was filled with gratitude when he agreed to walk me down the aisle. Since my father and mother decided not to attend my wedding, I didn’t want to walk down the aisle alone. J.D. recommended, Caesar, and I thought he was the right choice. I’d known him forever, and we both loved him like he was family.
“It’s my honor,” he said, doing a dramatic bow causing me and Mya to chuckle.
“I’m going to head on out there and get in position,” Mya said, and I nodded.
Caesar’s gaze locked onto her, his eyes scanning her from top to bottom. Mya was drop-dead gorgeous. Not only was she tall and curvy, with the smoothest ebony skin, I’d ever seen on a woman, she was a very successful businesswoman who owned one of the largest distilleries in the country.
“And you are?” Caesar asked.
Her eyes filled with a mischievous glint, and I could sense trouble brewing. In college, she earned the nickname “man eater” because her charm and confidence intimidated the men around her.
“I guess that’s something you’ll have to find out on your own handsome,” she said, then headed towards the door. She gave him one last look over her shoulder, then winked before she walked out, closing the door behind me.
He gazed at the door for a moment, and I knew by the end of night Mya would have him wrapped around her finger.
Men flocked to her like a swarm of bees, drawn to her irresistible charm, but none could ever truly tame her. She was rich, independent and didn’t care if you liked her or not. She was always going to be who she was. And she was very particular about the men she dealt with.
“Who was that?” he asked when he looked at me.
The determination in his eyes was so clear that it caused me to roll mine in exasperation.
“Someone who will eat you up then spit you out,” I said, as I grabbed him by the arm then pulled him towards the door.
“You know I love a challenge, right?” he asked.
“I know, but I don’t think you’re ready for that challenge.”
A deep sigh escaped me as I witnessed the widest grin I had ever seen spread across his face. I did not want to be in the middle of something that didn’t work out, again. I already had to deal with his failed marriage to my sister and their fucked up feelings.
“We will see.”
“I warned you. Now come on. Let’s get me married.”
There was no way talking him out of it, but Mya Alexander had a different personality than my sister. If he wanted a challenge, he had met his match.