37. Everything I Always Wanted
EVERYTHING I ALWAYS WANTED
PAIGE
The wedding was everything I always imagined it would be.
It didn’t matter that it had been planned in two weeks.
It didn’t matter that it was in my parents’ backyard—it was perfect.
My mother had a tent put up and strung twinkle lights across the top so the entire space glowed in a warm light as the sun sank below the mountains.
Every table had a centerpiece of flowers in different hues of orange, pink, and white in clear tall vases. The glassware on the tables was all thrifted amber, and there were small gold accents throughout the space.
Walker and Lottie stood from their seats and made their way up to the sweetheart table where Cash and I were sitting. Walker tapped a fork against his champagne glass and the crowd hushed as every set of eyes landed on him. The DJ handed them both a microphone as Lottie cleared her throat.
“Hi, everyone, I know you’ve all known me since birth so I’m not going to bother introducing myself. Walker and I don’t want to drone on for too long with sappy speeches, so we thought we would write our speech together,” Lottie said, smiling over at me.
“No one wants you to drone on with sappy speech,” Walker added.
The crowd laughed as Lottie crossed her arms.
“Some of you might be very surprised sitting here today, but looking back, this isn’t as shocking as it seems,” Walker said.
“Whenever Paige got into trouble over the years, Cash was always there. He made sure she was always safe, he sat with her and talked to Shadow for hours, and he comforted her when she was upset. It was a friendship we all chose to overlook, but you can’t overlook love.”
The crowd collectively cooed as Lottie gestured for Walker to speak.
“Cash, we have not always seen eye to eye—actually we never see eye to eye. You are the constant pain in my ass that simply will never leave me alone—”
Lottie elbowed him in the ribs, cutting him off. I burst out a laugh and cheered as the crowd laughed around me. I loved my siblings more than anything in the world.
“But”—Walker pinned Lottie with a glare—“I have never known a more loyal friend, and I wouldn’t want to see Paige with anyone else.”
Lottie brought the microphone to her mouth.
“Paige, we’ve had a lot of ups and downs in the last few years.
Everyone talks about how distance is hard in relationships, but no one talks about how it impacts family.
I’m so happy that you now have someone you can lean on when I’m not here to wipe your tears or drag you out of Shadow’s stall. ”
“Cash can’t drag me out either!” I shouted at them.
“I try, though,” Cash muttered next to me.
“This is all a bit unorthodox, but honestly, when is our family not unorthodox?” Walker chuckled.
“Mom and Dad raised us to see the best in people, and to love with everything we have. Love isn’t always clean-cut.
Sometimes the best adventures in life live in the gray areas where we least expect them. ”
“Everyone, please raise your glass.” Lottie gestured to the crowd. “To Paige and Cash, the two people who will always show up for you, the ones you always want in your corner, and the couple who shows that true love really just slaps you in the face one day.”
Cash clinked his champagne glass to mine before he wrapped an arm around my waist and leaned down to place a searing kiss on my lips. The guests rose to their feet and cheered as Cash and I stood to hug my siblings.
There was a shift after Lottie and I resolved our fight.
Suddenly, there was a constant outpouring of love for Cash and me.
The tone of our marriage went from something that was forbidden, so something that was celebrated.
My heart wasn’t going to survive this ending. I wanted this—wanted him—forever.
This life was something we could actually have, so why was I so nervous? Cash hadn’t done anything since we’d gotten married but be sweet and attentive. He’d been my foundation; always keeping me steady as I figure out where I stood.
I looked up at my husband as he laughed with Walker and Lottie, and I let my mind drift to the happy ending. The fantasy where Cash and I stay together and live happily ever after.
The last of the guests were leaving when I sank down onto Cash’s lap. Exhaustion riddled my bones, but it was so worth it. This was one of the best days of my life. Cash kissed my cheek and wrapped an arm around my middle.
It was weird that Cash and I could act so in love in front of my family and no one batted an eye at us, as if this was how it had always been. Long gone were the days where we avoided being in the same room and worked hard to make each other jealous.
“Well, another Brooks event in the books.” Reid sighed as he tilted his head back and closed his eyes.
“You know what that means…” Lottie trailed off, glancing at Owen with a smile.
Axle shot to his feet. “Time to take a dip!” he shouted, as everyone took off running through the field.
Cash grabbed my hand and pulled me behind him.
Growing up, we were country kids through and through. We played in the mud, raced on horses, and had the vocabulary of sailors. When our last name and reputation started being more well known in the world of breeding and training horses, our lives shifted as well.
I had been pretty young, but from what I was told, my dad started hosting events for buyers to come to the ranch. Suddenly, we were all dressed in fancy outfits and had to act like we grew up rich instead of being raised with old western family values.
One night after an event, Walker got so sick of the stuffy suit he was wearing that he ran into the lake until he was completely submerged. Naturally, everyone else followed him. It had become somewhat of a tradition now to run into the lake fully clothed after fancy events on the ranch.
We sprinted to the beach, shoes and socks being flung into the sand in all directions. I slipped my heels off and placed my hat on the sand next to them. I took a step forward to run, but Cash grabbed me around the waist and lifted me into his arms.
I screamed as he plunged us right into the water. I wrapped my arms and legs around Cash’s waist, my dress weighing me down in the water. Cash cupped my jaw and dragged my mouth to his as my siblings cheered and splashed around.
“Are you happy?” Cash asked against my lips.
“So fucking happy,” I whispered back.
“Good, you deserve to feel this way every day of your life.”
Cash’s words made butterflies erupt in my stomach. He made me feel seen and beautiful. He made me laugh and challenged me at the same time. He didn’t shy away from my dramatic side, and he always showed up when I needed him.
That was all I ever wanted in a partner. Someone who chose to be with me for who I was. Someone who didn’t care about my family’s money, and wasn’t using me to get closer to my dad. Someone who could embrace my lifestyle and actually wanted to be part of it.
Tomorrow, I would stress about the fact that Cash didn’t really choose me. But today, I was focusing on the pure happiness running through my veins and the beautiful man who was showering me with kisses as we floated farther into the lake under the stars.