by BJ Harvey
“Fuck that,” Jamie says. “We’re here already. If you guys want to be the crazy kids that you are and get married in Vegas, then that’s exactly what you’re gonna do.” He laughs and points his finger at me. “Besides, you’re the one having to deal with Mom when you get back, and that’s something that will be totally worth seeing because Mom will kill you.”
Oh shit. My eyes are bugging out of my head when Co, Ezra, Gilly, and Bryant approach the table. Gilly’s eyes latch on to Ronnie instantly and within seconds, the women in the group are standing and engaging in a three-way giggling hug.
“What’s Mom gonna kill Jax for?” Bryant says, taking the seat beside me and grabbing my coffee cup, taking a big swig.
“Jax is getting married,” Jamie says with a proud smirk.
Bryant turns to me, his eyes crinkling. “She said yes? Awesome,” he says. Bryant was the only one who knew I was going to propose because we went ring shopping after seeing Ronnie’s father. Wait, he thought she’d say no?!?
“Congrats, brother,” Cohen says, leaning over the table and shaking my hand. “Another Cook bites the dust.”
Ezra just locks eyes with me and grins, his approving nod saying everything.
“Where are Abi and Cade?” I ask, looking around the restaurant. Glancing over at Ronnie, I see her still engaged in a three-way huddle with April and Gilly.
“They didn’t answer their phone so take that as you will. I don’t wanna think about my sister doing anything other than breathing,” Jamie says with a wince.
“Oh, there was a lot of that. And groans. And screams,” Abi says, wrapping her arms around Bryant and my shoulders from behind. “There were also a few ‘Cades’ thrown in there,” she says, moaning her husband’s name.
Cade shakes his head and pulls Abi into his side, saving us from our sister’s teasing.
“Suddenly, I’m not so hungry,” Co grumbles.
“That makes two of us,” Jamie adds.
“Me too,” Bryant and I say in unison before we all glare at the pregnant one.
“Oh, come on. I’m married. I’m a mom. It’s not like you don’t know I have sex,” Abi says, jutting out a hip and putting her hand on it ominously.
“Yeah, but knowing it and hearing about it are two different things,” Jamie adds.
She grins. “I remember Co, Bry, and Jax walking in on us too.”
“Ugh, don’t remind me. That took years to forget,” Cohen says, shaking his head.
Cade helps Abi into a chair just as the girls return to the table. I quirk a brow at Ronnie, who is grinning from ear to ear. She holds out her hand and I take it, moving to stand beside her, my arm wrapped tightly around her waist.
“Jax has something to tell you,” she announces to the table.
“I do?” I ask.
“Yep, that’s exactly what you’ll be saying,” she retorts, earning quiet laughter from the group.
I look down at her, meeting her amused gaze. “So, we’re really doing this?” I ask, resting my forehead against hers.
“I will if you will,” she whispers, and that’s all the confirmation I need.
I straighten and look back out to our family, meeting the eyes of Abi, Cohen, Ezra, and Gilly, and finishing on Bryant. “You’re all invited to join Ronnie and I this afternoon when we get married by Elvis or Liberace or anyone,” I say with a grin.
They all start clapping, whooping, and hollering.
I turn towards Ronnie and run one hand down to her ass to pull her tight into me, my other hand cupping her cheek. “Are you ready to join this mayhem and become an official member of the Cook family?”
“Absolutely,” she says with a huge, beaming smile.
I brush my lips against hers, grinning as I do. “Good. Then we’ve got a date for a marriage license.”
She pulls away and arches a brow, giving me that sass of hers I know so well. “What are we waiting for?”
25
Ronnie
When I was growing up, I wasn’t a girl who dreamed of my wedding day. I was always thinking about adventures, and things I could do that my parents would probably hate me for—yes, I was one of those kids.
But as I stand here in April and Jamie’s penthouse suite, looking at myself in the mirror, I wonder if I could have ever dreamed of anything better. First, there’s the awesome dress we found: white, bordering on obscenely short, sparkly, and totally Vegas. My only wish was to find a dress that would have Jax’s mouth dropping to the ground like that scene in The Mask when Jim Carrey sees Cameron Diaz for the first time. It’s the least I could do considering everything he’s done for me; everything he’s given me. Happiness, love, the freedom to be the me I always wanted to be, and unwavering support for anything I set my mind to. It’s something I appreciate all the more because apart from Gilly and April, I haven’t had much of that in my life until now.
Then there’s having both my best friend and sister at my back, not questioning my decision for a single second. Finally, there’s the fact I’m about to marry the most gorgeous man—inside and out—I’ve ever met.
I haven’t seen him since lunchtime, when we ordered room service and then I devoured him for dessert, telling him he had to lie there and take it like a good groom-to-be. It’s safe to say he stopped complaining soon afterwards. Jax tried to say a groom should have his wife before the wedding. I corrected him to say it’s supposed to be the groom not seeing his bride before the ceremony, then proceeded to show him exactly what I thought about that tradition—with my mouth.
I left him dozing in bed with a goofy grin and a slap on the ass. He just laughed and promised to be standing next to Elvis at the end of the aisle that night.
The only request I made was for the guys to dress Vegas style. I figure this is a go-hard-or-go-home situation, and I want my wedding to be like my marriage is going to be—fucking fantastic.
Gilly has blown my hair out into big, soft, and totally wild curls, with April doing my makeup. All that’s left is for us to go downstairs to the waiting limo that Ezra arranged for us, and go to the wedding chapel.
“Are you ready, Ronnie?” April asks, her hands cupping my shoulders as she meets my eyes in the mirror. “You look stunning.”
I do a little curtsy and grin. “I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.”
Her gaze softens. “That’s because you know you deserve this. Jax is one of the good ones.”
“The best,” I whisper. “And I met him because of you.”
She winks and gives me a squeeze before stepping back. “You can thank me by naming your first daughter after me.”
I giggle and turn to face her, then over her shoulder to meet my sister’s eyes as she leans in the bedroom doorway, watching us. “Jax says we’re going to have heathens and divas.”
“Knowing you and what I know of him, I can’t say he’s wrong,” Gilly says, grinning wide. “Let’s go get you married. Ezra is in the living room waiting for us.”
I quirk my brow at her. I have not missed the close proximity between my sister and the guys’ best friend. “Is there something going on there?”
She waves me off—but interestingly, does not confirm or deny.
“Let’s not keep your man waiting,” she says before grinning and walking out of sight. I turn to April and quirk a brow. She just giggles and shakes her head, holding out a small rectangular box in her hand.
“What’s that?” I ask.
“A gift from your hubby-to-be.”
With a gasp, I quickly grab it from her—earning a snort of her laughter—and rip open the wrapping, finding a white velvet jewelry case. With shaking hands, I carefully open the lid to find a small white card on top of a gorgeous gold and sapphire necklace.
“Something blue, something new, I can be the something old, but you can’t borrow my heart, because it will always belong to you. See you soon, beautiful.”
“Wow. Now I see why you’re marrying him,” April teases, peeking over the box to
look inside.
“He’s so getting butt stuff tonight,” I say.
Her eyes widen before she bursts out laughing. “TMI!”
I shrug and grin at her while she drapes the necklace around my front and clasps it shut. “Like you haven’t done it.”
Her tell-tale blush says it all.
“See? I knew it.”
“TMI, Ronnie,” she teases, dissolving into giggles. When the laughter dies down, I look myself up and down in the mirror, the reality that all of my dreams are about to come true hitting me.
“But seriously, how did I get so lucky?” I ask her, my eyes burning with tears.
“Don’t you dare cry! You’ll ruin your makeup,” she whispers, her own voice cracking. “But to answer your question, you’re not the only lucky one. You both are. You deserve a man who wants to see you smile and who would put off a trip to Vegas to defend you and make sure you graduated on time. You deserve a man who will forgo sex for months just to chase you and make sure you know he’s as into you as you were into him.” She steps closer and dips her forehead to mine. “You both deserve to be happy and be with someone who wants exactly the same for you. I’ve got that, and you’ve now got that too.”
“I love you, April Williams, soon-to-be Cook,” I whisper roughly, swallowing down the lump in my throat.
“I love you too, Veronica Nelson, soon-to-be Cook.”
A knock on the door behind us breaks the moment. We both turn our heads to find Ezra filling the space, a knowing look in his eyes. “Sorry to interrupt, but we really need to get going if we’re gonna make it in time, and I’ve been warned—okay, under threat of death—that it’s in my best interest to get the bride to the groom.”
I snicker and step back from April. “You know that we’re the kind of women who might just want to see what Jax might do to you?”
His lips twitch. “And you do know I’m the kind of man who is more than willing to throw you over his shoulder to make sure we do get there on time?” He arches his brow, and after a silent ten-second stand-off, I give in with a huff.
“Oh, alright.”
“Good choice,” he says with a triumphant smile. He jerks his chin up before spinning around and walking back into the living area.
I walk over to him and give him a hug, bringing my mouth to his ear. “Did everything go according to plan?” I whisper.
“Yep,” he says, pulling back with a wide grin on his face. “And message from Jax. He said he’s tempted to tan your ass for spending so much on him but he loved it.” I’d asked Ezra to deliver a wedding present to Jax from me, a rather expensive stainless steel Cartier watch with an inscription underneath. ‘I need a new dream because you’ve made mine all true.’
I burst out laughing, knowing exactly how Jax would’ve said that.
“Are you ready to get married?” April asks as Ezra steps back.
“I’ve never been more ready for anything in my entire life.”
She smiles. “Then let’s get you married.”
Twenty-five minutes later, the limo pulls into the driveway of the wedding chapel. Gilly and Ezra hop out first before April, and then finally, me.
When I do, I go completely still because standing in the doorway are Jax’s mom and dad.
“Oh my God,” Marcy says, rushing toward me and pulling me into her arms, April and Gilly watching from outside the chapel. “There was no way I was going to miss my baby boy’s wedding.”
I hug her tight, blinking quickly to stop the tears from coming. “I’m so glad you’re both here. It’s the only thing that didn’t seem right. Now, it’s going to be perfect,” I say, beaming at my almost mother-in-law.
She leaves an arm around my waist. “I just want to say, that dress is awesome.”
“As long as I make Jax’s eyes pop out of his skull, then my day will be complete.”
“No, no, my dear Ronnie. The day will only be complete once you’re locked away in your hotel room.”
I stumble before quickly righting myself on my white six-inch Jimmy Choos.
“Oh gosh, don’t fall over until you see my Jaxon. He looks so handsome in there,” Marcy says with a beaming smile.
I turn my head and meet her warm, amused eyes. I think April and I lucked out in the mother-in-law department. Marcy is amazing.
We reach the door where Gilly, April, and Rick are waiting for us.
Jax’s dad steps forward and takes Marcy’s place by my side, dipping down to kiss my cheek. “My son is a lucky son of a—sorry, I mean—”
I giggle and meet his eyes. “You’re right. He totally is a lucky son of a bitch, but then again, I’m a lucky motherfucker to be marrying him too.”
He chuckles and winks at me. “Let’s not tell Ax about this, otherwise we’ll both get hit for that damn swear jar.”
That gets me laughing along with him, mainly because he’s right.
“We’ll meet you inside,” Marcy says, Gilly and April following her.
“You can go with them, Rick. You don’t want to miss out on a seat,” I offer.
“Ronnie, Jax flew us out here so we wouldn’t miss out on the wedding, but he also asked whether I’d walk you down the aisle to him.”
“Oh my God,” I whisper, losing my resolve not to cry. That Jax would go to so much effort to make sure this day is perfect for me means everything.
“I told him it would be my honor.”
“Stop it. You’re going to make me cry.”
His eyes crinkle, and I get a glimpse at how Jax might look in thirty years’ time. Newsflash: My future is looking bright.
Rick sweeps his thumb under one eye, and then the other. “Ready to marry my son?” he asks, his own voice rough.
I smirk, butterflies dancing in my stomach as my excitement amps up to maximum levels. I’m about to marry the man of my dreams. “You better walk fast, Rick, because I feel like I’ve been waiting my entire life for your son.”
His lips quirk. “Are you prepared to run?”
I look down at my heels before looking back at Rick. “How about a really quick walk?”
“Deal.”
The minute I hear “Love Somebody” start playing, I know that the world could end tomorrow, and absolutely nothing would be able to wipe the smile off my face. For a moment, I do seriously consider running down the aisle because I want to belong to Jax already, and I want him to be mine. I want his name, his heart, his soul, his today, his tomorrow, and all the days and nights after that. Whatever life throws at us, there’s no other man I’ll ever want by my side to tackle it with.
I look at Rick. “Take me to Jax.”
He presses a kiss to the back of my hand. “Welcome to the family, Ronnie. Now, let’s get you married.”
And with the sound of Maroon 5 in the air, we walk through the doors and around the corner, and that’s when I take in the chapel and the smiling faces of our friends and family shining back at me, and of Gilly and April standing at the front along with Bryant, Co, and Jamie.
When my eyes lock on Jax’s, it’s like everyone else disappears.
And then I drop Rick’s arm, kick off my expensive Jimmy Choos, and I run towards my future.
Jax
Ezra warned me. Then April and Gilly warned me. Even Mom walked up to me, gave me a hug, kissed my cheek, and whispered that I was about to lose it.
I’ve seen Ronnie dressed up and dressed in nothing but a smile. I’ve seen her go up against her ice-cold parents and bend down to talk to Ax with all the love and warmth in the world.
But nothing could ever prepare me for this—the moment I first lock eyes with her in a chapel. Her wild gold curls, gorgeous smile, and the sapphire necklace around her nape are what get me first.
Then my eyes drift down to her obscenely short, white-glitter cocktail dress that looks painted on, the fabric clinging to her curves in the same way my tongue will be doing later.
Then she drops Dad’s arm, ditches her sexy-as-hell heels and starts running towar
d me, jumping into my arms at the last minute. Thank God I catch her, hooking an arm around her back and one behind her knees as her mouth slams down on mine. I spin her around, both of us laughing, as is everyone else in the small room, even Elvis.
When I finally ease her back onto her bare feet, I don’t let her go and she doesn’t move away. If anything, she gets closer. Starting off as I plan to carry on.
“Uh-huh, uh-huh,” Elvis says, hip thrusts and all.
“Are you ready to get married?” he asks in his impressive Elvis voice.
Ronnie and I both nod furiously, and a united chuckle fills the room.
“It’s now or never,” he sings, and it takes everything in me not to roll my eyes. Luckily, I’m too far gone and can’t bring myself to look away from the woman plastered to my front.
Her lips twitch, and a little snort escapes her mouth. I grin and shake my head at her, loving the gleam in her eye and the carefree air she has about her. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life enjoying everything that makes up Ronnie Nelson—soon to be Cook. I can’t actually say I hear what Elvis says after that until Bryant nudges my leg with his foot.
“Do you, Jaxon Cook, take Veronica Nelson to be your lawful wedded wife, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part?”
I open my mouth to answer but before I can, he continues. “Or if you leave the toilet seat up and she falls into it in the middle of the night?”
Say what?
“For the times when she has PMS and is a nightmare to be around?”
In all fairness, that is totally accurate. She’s hell on wheels at that time of the month.
“And do you grant her permission to kick you out of bed when you forget any birthday or anniversary, and/or start snoring?”
It’s then that I narrow my eyes at a giggling Ronnie, her eyes dancing with glee. Shaking my head, I don’t hesitate in giving my answer. “I do.”
Elvis repeats the vows again for Ronnie—with added lines about loving me despite my smelly socks and my grumpy artistic temperament, and then she says those two magic words: “I do.”