Epilogue
Fin
Three months later
Late spring in the Smoky Mountains was beautiful. Nothing was as beautiful as Vee in her gown.
Our guests stood, their chairs set up on the large balcony of the Hubbard family cabin. The blue sky shone over the mountaintops and a gentle breeze blew. We wanted to keep our wedding small and personal. That didn’t mean we couldn’t include the special people in our lives.
Zane stood at my side as my best man.
My mother, father, and Ashley were in the front row.
Daphne, Grant, Rachel, and Darin were in the seats designated for Vee’s parents. Hayden and Chris were in the next row. Leigh had just walked down the aisle, and was standing to my right, past our officiant, Phillip Marsh. He took an online course and was thrilled to be officiating.
The wedding march came through the speakers. Our guests turned to see the most beautiful bride in the entire world.
Troy was in attendance with his date. JD, Drew, Darius, and Noah were all here with their wives.
Members of stadium operations, Vee’s directors and their significant others, as well as Jen and her husband.
Jen was the future vice president of stadium operations.
That transition would take some time. Right now, the Coopers were settled with their personnel.
The gorgeous owner of the Lexington Coopers stepped out from behind the glass doors, taking my breath away.
She was absolutely stunning in her long white lace gown.
Her veil was already pulled back, not covering her beautiful emerald-green eyes.
Confident and poised, Vee walked down the aisle unescorted.
Reid Hubbard was with us in spirit.
Maeve Hubbard took on the responsibilities of an entire football organization. She didn’t need anyone to give her away. Vee was her own person.
I was the lucky one who she gave her heart to.
“You may be seated,” Lip said. He looked at Vee and then at me with a loving smile.
“We’re here today to witness the coming together of these two people.
Griffin Graham, you are a lucky man. My cousin, Maeve Hubbard, is a remarkable person.
She deserves only the best.” He smiled. “And I believe she has that in you.” He turned to Vee.
“Vee, I believe that sometimes we must lose someone to find them. That’s what has happened between the two of you.
Fin also deserves the best. He has that in you. ”
She turned to me with tears in her eyes.
I loved Vee and her tears. They were a part of her; a part she shared with me. I’d never take any part of her for granted.
“You two may hold each other’s hand.”
I gently wrapped her fingers with mine.
“Maeve, do you take Griffin to be your lawfully wedded partner, to live together in matrimony?”
“I do,” Vee said.
“Do you promise to love, honor, and cherish Fin in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live?”
Her smile was radiant. “I do.”
“Griffin, do you take Maeve to be your lawfully wedded partner, to live together in matrimony?”
“I do.”
“Do you promise to love, honor, and cherish Vee in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live?”
“I do.”
“Vee and Fin have written their own vows. Vee, please begin.”
Her sparkling stare met mine. “Fin Graham, I vow to love you every minute of every day. Even when I seem preoccupied or busy, my love won’t waver.
I promise to talk to you, share with you, and live in your bubble forever.
I love you not only because of what we share, but because of what we have yet to share.
Thank you for coming back into my life. Thank you for being beside me when I need you. I promise to do the same.”
I held her hand tighter. “Maeve Hubbard, you are my sun, my light. I know I share your basking rays with so many others, and I’m okay with that.
We all need your light. What I vow is to love you through good days and bad days.
I vow to wrap you in our bubble and hold you tight.
When you want to fly, I offer you my wings.
When you want to rest, I offer you my comfort.
I pledge to stand by your side and admire you, lie with you and make love to you, hold your hand to let you know you’re never alone, or carry you when you’re not ready to walk. ”
A crystal tear escaped her vibrant green eyes.
My vows were similar to something I told her many months ago. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
“It’s time for the rings,” Lip said.
Zane handed me Vee’s ring and Leigh handed Vee mine.
“Rings are round,” Lip said, “with no beginning or end. It symbolizes the love the two of you share. There is no end. Now, Vee, please repeat after me.”
Vee nodded.
“With this ring I thee wed. I give you all that I am and all that I have.”
She repeated every word as her grin grew. “I know it’s not as exciting as your Super Bowl ring.” She slid the ring onto my finger.
“It’s better.”
“Fin, repeat after me.”
I made the same pledge, word for word and slipped the platinum band over the fourth finger on her left hand. “I love you.”
Lip’s words rang through the Tennessee breeze. “In light of the promises you have made to one another, by the power vested in me by the American Marriage Ministries, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss one another.”
I pulled Vee into my arms; she yelped.
In a dramatic dip, I leaned over her and brought our lips together.
Our guests cheered.
When our kiss ended, I whispered, “This is even better than a Super Bowl win.”
“It is,” she said, her smiling beaming.
Not the end – love is round like a ring. It never ends.
Thank you for following Vee and Fin’s story. I hope you’ve enjoyed this journey as much as I enjoyed writing it. Thank you to every reader who took a chance on this pro football second-chance romance. If you loved it, please tell your book-loving friends. ~ Aleatha
If you’d like to read any of Aleatha’s other wealth and power steamy and emotional stories, please check out these completed and ready-to-binge series: Infidelity Series (not about cheating), book one BETRAYAL, Sin Series, book one RED SIN, or Sinclair Duet, book one REMEMBERING PASSION.