Chapter 47 Ash
ASH
OCTOBER PRESENT DAY
Islip into my black satin bridesmaid’s dress. It has an open back and a high slit up one side. Nik and I are getting dressed in my bedroom at Gran’s like we used to when we were teenagers about to sneak out.
After I finish lacing up Nik’s dress, she spins to face me.
I’m not kidding when I say she is the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen.
She’s not girly, so it’s kind of shocking to see her in a full gown, but she’s stunning.
It has a sculpted corset bodice with an A-line skirt and a slit up the side just shy of her hip.
“You look beautiful.”
Tears pool in her eyes. “I almost can’t believe this is happening. A year ago, I was worried I’d wake up to find him dead, and now I get to spend the rest of my life with the best version of him.”
I wipe a tear away before it can ruin her makeup.
“You deserve this. I’m so happy for you.”
She fans herself. “Fuck. What are we, a couple of blubbering idiots? I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Crying’s your thing!” I laugh and wrap my arms around her. “Thank you for always being here.”
“I love you.” I pull back, grabbing her hands.
“I love you, too.”
“Now, let’s officially make you my sister.” I laugh.
“Hell yeah, fuck being his wife. We’re about to be sisters!”
All the girls pile into the car to head over to the club.
Colette met us at the house so I could get Maggie ready.
Colette’s been the one solid parent in Shane’s life since he moved here.
Gran tried, but even she couldn’t get through to him like Colette can.
Shane asked her if she’d sit in the front with the parents, and she burst into tears.
The girls stow away in one of the rooms to wait for the ceremony to start. The black leather couch sticks to the bare skin of my back. Jess plops down next to me, adjusting the straps on her black heels.
“So, what’s your deal with JT?” I ask.
“What? Nothing.” She shrugs. “It’s casual.”
“Oh my god. Jess, do you like him?” I whisper-yell.
“No! Shut up. It’s just sex.”
Narrowing my eyes, I tease, “Liar.”
“You know what, Ash?” She whips her head in my direction, flinging her hair over her shoulder, and pins me with a dirty look. “Worry about your own shit.”
“Okay, but don’t fuck him over. He’s a nice guy and he doesn’t deserve your bullshit.”
“Yeah, okay. Got it.” She stands, stomping away.
I step out into the hall for a second to make sure everything’s ready to start, when I run straight into someone.
Gabriel’s in an all-black suit with his hair pulled back.
“Holy shit, General,” he says with a slow drawl.
I roll my eyes; I did not miss that nickname.
Okay, maybe I did.
“You cannot wear that. You’ll never make it down the aisle before I drag you into a dark corner and rip it off.”
“Shut up.” I swat his arm. “You look pretty good yourself.” I reach up on my tiptoes to kiss him. “Want to see Maggie?”
He grins. “More than anything.”
Everyone is dancing and drinking at the reception when Maggie races over to us.
“Daddy, did you see that?” She grabs Gabriel’s arm.
He goes still, staring at her for a second before swallowing. Then his mouth spreads into a smile and he picks her up.
“Yeah, Mags. That was awesome.”
He lets out a warm laugh, hugging her tightly.
I know he said he didn’t care if she never called him that, but it’s obvious he hoped she would one day.
She hops down, taking off to dance with the other kids.
“Daddy,” I say, nudging him as I try to hold back a grin.
He pulls me to his chest, bringing his mouth to the shell of my ear and purrs, “We will be ditching this reception if you start calling me that.”
He winks as a blush creeps up my neck, and I giggle.
After kissing me, he jogs out to the dance floor and picks up our daughter. They twirl around with matching smiles.
“He’s good with her, huh?”
Glancing over, I find the groom standing next to me. Taking a few steps back to our table, I sit, gesturing for Shane to do the same.
“Yeah, he is. Getting baby fever already?” I tease.
“No way.” He laughs. “No babies for me. I’m barely able to keep myself alive.”
My brows pinch in the middle. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Thanks.” He nudges my shoulder. “We turned out pretty alright, all things considered.”
“So, you two are good?” I nod to where Gabriel dips Maggie while she almost hyperventilates from laughter.
“I think so.” He looks down at his hands. “I’d do it again if you asked me to.” His eyes flick up to mine. “You’re my sister. I’ll always take your side.”
One corner of my mouth lifts and I drop my eyes to the table. “I don’t know how he managed to forgive me, honestly.”
“He loves you. That’s how.”
“Are you happy?” I ask, because sometimes it’s hard to tell. He seems to be dealing with everything pretty well, but sometimes you can see the storm raging in his stare.
A wide smile spreads across his face. “Yeah. I’m so fucking happy.”
I lean forward, throwing my arms around him.
When people start having too much to drink, my mom and Denny leave with Maggie.
I’m supposed to help tear everything down, but the reception doesn’t seem to be slowing anytime soon.
If nothing else, this club loves a good party.
I’m standing at the bar waiting for a drink when Gabriel wraps his arms around me.
He’s ditched the jacket and has his black dress-shirt sleeves rolled up, showing off a brand-new magnolia tattoo on his forearm.
“We should get married,” he says into my hair.
I laugh, spinning to face him. “Okay.”
“I’m serious. Fuck it. Let’s get married.”
“We can’t. I’m technically still married!”
“Well, not right now obviously.” He braces himself on the bar with a hand on either side of me. “But we could probably get a marriage license like, I don’t know, the day you’re officially divorced.”
He grins, and I still can’t tell if he’s joking.
“You’re crazy!” I shove his shoulder.
“Maybe.” He shrugs.
“You’re serious?”
“Dead fucking serious.” He wraps a strong arm around my waist, and I don’t know what to say.
“Gabriel, we just decided to give this another shot. That’s insane.”
“Yeah. I mean, maybe, but I’m certain I won’t change my mind, so why not?” He kisses my neck. “Also, I fucking hate Ashton James.”
Swatting him on the back, I squeal, “We can’t get married because you don’t like my last name.”
“No?” He pulls back to look into my eyes.
“What about because I love you so fucking much, I can’t stand the idea of spending another moment without you.”
“We don’t even live in the same town! We have a lot to figure out before we get married.”
He sucks his teeth. “I’ve been thinking about that actually.
I can’t completely leave Ravens Ridge. Not yet at least. Even once I’m done with the club, I still own the shop.
And I’ll still need a job, so I don’t think walking away from it is an option.
I think we should move into Gran’s. I know you’ve been trying to sell it, but it feels weird for anyone else to live there. That’s our place.”
“Don’t you worry that someone with a grudge might come after us if we’re still here?”
“We’ll get security cameras and shit. Plus, everyone knows our business now. They’d find us no matter where we are. At least here, we’ve got all the guys as back up.”
And it is crazy, but why can’t I think of a single reason not to? The only thing I want in this world is for all three of us to be together.
I run my thumb over his bottom lip.
“Is that a yes? You’ll move here and marry me?” he asks with that cocky smirk.
I glare. “It’s a maybe. Let’s talk about it tomorrow when you haven’t been drinking. How am I supposed to know if this is real or you’re just fucked up?”
“Oh, I’m fucked up, baby. I’ve been fucked up since the day I met you.”