Epilogue Gabriel
APRIL PRESENT DAY
Here I am, standing under the magnolia tree behind Gran’s house patiently waiting for Ash to come down to me. Shane stands next to me with JT as Nik walks toward us, followed by Jess, and then my perfect daughter.
She’s beautiful in the new dress. Ash told her she could pick out anything she wanted, and in true Maggie fashion, she picked something pink.
Then Ash appears, and all of the air evaporates from my lungs. She’s in the white sundress she wore the night she came to the clubhouse six years ago. I swallow, trying to hold back a smile, but I can’t.
Ash is the sun.
There’s an invisible rope tying me to her. She’s the one I want to wake up to everyday for the rest of my life.
It took me six years to realize it wasn’t the club or my dad standing in my way. It was me. All I had to do was make the decision and let her in. And fuck me, she’s in now. She’s all over me and under my skin.
Her curls sway in the breeze as she walks toward me, looking every bit like the golden ray of light she is.
When she’s finally right in front of me, she says, “Sure you want to do this?”
“I’ve never been so sure of anything.” I lift a brow. “Are you?”
She grins at me, nodding.
Dean’s officiating the ceremony. Does he have any qualifications to do so? No. But you can get ordained online, and who else would we pick?
“Welcome! Thank you for joining us to finally watch Gabe and Ash tie the knot. It’s about damn time.”
There’s a soft chuckle from the crowd.
“Gabe made it clear I was to make this short. So, let’s get right to the vows.” He gestures to me first.
I pull the piece of paper from my pocket and clear my throat. “Fuck, here it goes.”
The paper shakes in my grip. “Ash, I don’t normally do all of this mushy shit, so you’ll have to forgive me if this sucks.”
She smiles.
“I’ve spent my whole life preparing to take over the club.
I knew it’d be tough, and I’d face my share of challenges.
But nothing could have prepared me for losing you.
My darkest nights, and my brightest days are all reserved for you.
They always have been. You were the only thing I’ve never been able to let go of.
I knew that long before I knew you’d given me Maggie.
” I glance over and wink at my daughter.
“Even after being torn apart, we still found our way back. For as long as I live, you have my loyalty, my protection, and my love. I’m not promising flowers or a white picket fence, but I promise to be here when things get rough.
I promise to take you to the lake when words aren’t enough to fix things, and I promise to make you never feel like an obligation to me.
I will choose you every single day of my life, even when you’re being a complete pain in my ass. ”
She laughs.
“You are the love of my life, my partner, and my general.” The crowd snickers, and Ash shoots me a look. I knew I’d probably get it for that, but I don’t care. “From this day forward, you and Maggie have all of me. Forever.”
With tears in her eyes, Ash reaches out and squeezes my hand. Dean nods at her next.
She takes a paper from Jess.
“Gabriel, we’ve never had it easy, have we?
Long before we fell apart, everyone told me who they thought you were.
I didn’t believe it then, and I still don’t now, because you spent that time showing me the real you.
Nothing could keep me away. I don’t need perfect, or easy.
Only you. I promise to stand with you through the chaos and be the place you can always come home to.
I promise to love you, always. And I promise to kick your ass if you don’t stop calling me General. ” She laughs.
She better get in fighting shape because that’s never going to happen. I wink before she finishes by saying, “From this day forward, I am yours.”
Dean continues with the exchanging of rings before pronouncing us husband and wife.
It might be six years too late, but I finally kiss my bride. Ashton fucking Abbott.
Continue reading for a sneak peek of what’s to come in Book 2