EPILOGUE
WREN
Three Years Later
I adjust my cap and gown as I walk up the ramp to the stage, eager to get my diploma and get my career started. Today, I finally graduate from law school. Today, I become a lawyer.
“Wren Dixon,” they announce my name over the speakers.
I walk across the stage, and the room erupts in cheers. A huge smile splits across my face as I turn towards the crowd and see the entire club standing and cheering. My dad and Axel cheering the loudest of all. Lenny looks on proudly beside them.
I accept my diploma and walk down the opposite side of the stage, taking my seat and waiting for the rest of the ceremony to finish. This isn’t just the end of my schooling; it’s the beginning of my new life.
Lenny told me a few weeks ago that he’s ready to retire. When I pass the bar, I’ll officially take over the practice. It’s terrifying and exhilarating at the same time.
I feel prepared, though. Lenny made sure I was prepared.
When the ceremony is over, I fight my way through the crowd to my family, falling into Axel’s arms when I reach them. He hoists me up and spins me around, making me giggle. When he puts me down, he kisses my forehead.
“You did it, baby!” He says with a big smile. “I’m so fucking proud of you.”
He passes me off to my dad, who hugs me tight with tears in his eyes. “Your mom would have loved to see this day. Just know that she’s as proud of you as I am, sweetheart.”
Tears blur my vision at his words. “That means so much to me, dad,” I rasp, hugging him tighter.
The rest of the club congratulates me and then we head to a nice dinner in Charolette to celebrate.
I look out over the table of people who came to celebrate me and smile.
This is the love that I always longed for.
The love I was looking for in all the wrong places.
The love that I found in the man that I thought I hated.
The funny thing is that it was here all along.
One week later
Axel pulls his bike onto the highway, the wind whipping at our skin as he speeds down the lane. Summertime has become our favorite time to ride. We’ve gone to five different states and logged hundreds of hours. It’s one of our favorite things to do together.
Today, we’re heading to one of our favorite spots. It’s a lake that has a small waterfall that drains into it. We found it on one of our drives and it’s become one of the staple locations that we visit.
I snuggle into Axel’s back as we ride, watching as we pass by cars and buildings, just enjoying the freedom that it gives us. I know we’re getting closer when the buildings become increasingly spread apart, so I lift my head and look around.
The scenery out here is incredible. The trees and grass are greener. The flowers are more prominent and colorful. It’s like every aspect of life is more vibrant.
Axel pulls to the side of the road and stops his bike. We climb off and he grabs a basket from the saddlebag.
“What’s in there?” I ask.
“I thought we could have a picnic,” he says as he takes my hand with his free one, leading me into the tree line.
It’s kind of funny how we found this spot.
It’s hidden, and it’s not like there are any signs announcing its existence.
I had to pee. I thought that I could hold it until the next town, but my bladder had other ideas.
I made Axel stop the bike and then I rushed into the tree line.
I popped a squat, did my business and started walking back. Until I heard it, the waterfall.
I walked farther away from the road and gasped when I saw the beautiful lake. I screamed for Axel, and that was where I went wrong. He came running like a bat out of hell, gun raised and ready to defend me. I had to bite back my smile because he wasn’t as amused as I was.
We ended up spending a few hours there and when we got back to the clubhouse, he had Noah investigate the property.
It turns out that it’s actually a protected space for wildlife and guests are allowed there as long as it’s kept clean.
It’s not advertised about, which is why no one was there.
Which is one of the reasons we keep coming back.
It feels like our own secret hideaway.
Axel pulls me past the tree line and into the clearing near the lake.
He releases my hand to set down the basket and pulls out a blanket for us to sit on.
While he sets out the food, I walk to the shore, slipping off my boots and socks and dipping my toes into the water.
It’s crystal clear and chilly, even warmed by the afternoon sun.
I wiggle my toes in the sand and watch as the water gently laps at my ankles, just enjoying nature’s beauty for a moment.
When I turn around, I gasp. Axel is down on one knee with a beautiful, princess cut diamond ring in his hand.
“Wren Dixon, I’ve known you for years, but three and a half years ago, you became a vital part of my existence.
I realized shortly that I needed you like I needed the air that I breathed.
You were kind of like this place. Hidden from the naked eye.
Once I got past the walls around your heart, it revealed this beautiful creature.
This strong, stunning, stubborn woman who is smarter than anyone else I know.
All the men who came before me were like the people driving down this highway.
They took in the scenery, but they never delved deeper.
They never tried to see beyond the trees.
I’ll always be so thankful that you let me,” he rasps and I wipe the tears that are falling down my cheeks.
“I want to spend the rest of my life looking past the superficial things in our lives. I want to dance the night away with you and hold you in my arms while you sleep. I want to go on long rides with you and discover all the beautiful things that this world has to offer. I want to give you babies and raise them to be strong and smart, just like you. Will you marry me, baby?”
“Yes!” I whimper as I rush towards him.
He stands just in time to catch me in his arms, twirling me around. When my feet touch the ground again, his mouth slams down on mine. I melt into the kiss, savoring the man that I love. The man who truly sees me. When we separate, our foreheads rest against one another.
“I love you so much, Axel,” I choke out. “I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you.”
“I love you, too, Wren,” he rasps. “And I’ll spend the rest of my life making sure you know just how much.”
We spent the rest of the afternoon in our little oasis. We eat, we swim, we laugh. We talk about our future and where we started. It’s the best day of my life. I’m so glad that I agreed to fake date Axel Hardy.
AXEL
One and a half years later
I look at my very pregnant wife and smile as she sleeps peacefully on the couch. She started her maternity leave today, and I’m so damn glad. She’s been exhausted the last month.
Lenny finally stepped in and told her that if she didn’t take a maternity leave, he was going to take his practice back. The old bastard made it happen. I know she’s not happy about it, but she’s not going to be able to help everyone to the best of her ability if she’s miserable.
She’s due any day now and I’ve been a nervous wreck, just like I am with anything that deals with my wife. I don’t want to see her in pain, so I have no idea how I’m supposed to watch her deliver our son.
I can’t believe we’re having a son. I can’t wait to teach him how to be a good man. The world needs more of those. Wren was worried that being a mom wasn’t in the cards for her, but she got pregnant the first month that we were trying. The relief she felt was palpable.
Wren’s eyes flutter open as she wakes up and I walk over to the couch to sit beside her.
We bought this house when we found out that she was pregnant.
Even though we both loved living at the clubhouse, it was time for us to have something to make our own.
We’re down the street from the clubhouse in the country.
We wanted to make sure our kids had room to run and play.
Room to be kids. This little ranch house came on the market at just the right time.
Wren wasn’t happy with the amount of security I installed, but I reminded her that the club has enemies, and then she made her own suggestions.
“How are you feeling, baby?” I ask as I sit on the couch and wipe the hair out of her eyes.
“Good,” she smiles up at me and runs a hand over her belly.
“He’s really kicking.” She grabs my hand and places it right where I can feel it.
I smile down at her belly in awe. “I had a dream,” she whispers, drawing my attention back to her.
“It was of Luke. He told me that he knew we forgave him. He said that he loves us and that he’s so happy for us.
He said we’re going to be amazing parents,” she chokes out and happy tears fall down her cheeks.
“He told me he’s at peace and he wants us to be happy. ”
I don’t even notice that tears are falling from my eyes until Wren reaches out to wipe them away for me.
Did Luke really visit her in her dream? His death is something I’ve struggled with over the years.
I should have taken the time to sit down with him and make him hear me out.
Maybe this is his way of making me move on.
Of making me know that he doesn’t blame me. Of making me know he’s okay.
“I don’t even know what to say,” I rasp.
“What if we named the baby Wesley Luke Hardy?” She asks softly.
My eyes shoot up to hers. Wren’s father died of a heart attack a few weeks after we told him he was going to be a grandfather. We were both devastated that he didn’t get the chance to meet his grandson, but maybe this way, two of the people we loved most can live on.
“I love the sound of that,” I tell her as I swipe away an errant tear from her cheek. “Welsey Luke Hardy.”
I know that my son is going to grow up with an amazing life. He has parents who love him and a club full of aunts and uncles who will defend him with their last breath. It’s the club way, after all.
THE END
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