by Marti Shane
The cab was still silent when they pulled into the alley behind Jax’s.
“Can you take the food in and tell Jax we’ll be right back?” Sam asked, flipping the visor down and wiping under her eyes. He almost wanted to take the keys, no idea what was in her head. He looked in the backseat at J.J. who’d squirmed from his knit cap which Jake positioned back on his head.
“Where are we going?” he asked, wishing she’d look him in the eye.
“Just across the street.” She flipped up the visor and collected the food bags. Handing them over, she urged him to go because the fries were already cold. Like he cared about cold fries. Channeling all his will power, he left his precious cargo in a running vehicle and pushed through the back door of J&J. One ear trained on the idling diesel, he found Jax up by the reception desk.
“I thought I heard you pull up,” Jax said, clearing a spot for the bags. He glanced up, Jake feeling beads of sweat form before Jax’s worried gaze. “What’s wrong,” he asked, picking up on his pulse beating out of his skull.
“We’ll be right back.” He turned and darted for the door, thinking if he built enough speed he could catch her by the end of the drive. His boots skidded through the gravel, when his truck sat idle where he left it by the door. Jax skidded into the back of him, his arms gripping Jake’s shoulders to catch his weight.
“What the hell, man?” Jax breathed. “You scared the shit out of me.” Jake’s gaze was fixed through the windshield, where he watched Sam give his twin an apologetic wave. “Where you going?”
“Across the street,” Jake said, relieved and clueless as to why. “Be right back.” He climbed in the truck, cutting off the heat. “Where to?”
“Courthouse.” Sam met him in the eye. “We need a marriage license if we’re going to do this thing.” No hesitation, he dropped in reverse and punched it down the drive. The courthouse was two blocks over and he was parallel parked in record time. Sam clicked off her seatbelt, and he wrapped her nape with his hand. He kissed her until he was drunk, relief and happiness washing their fight away.
“I’m sorry,” he apologized, breaking the kiss. He’d been ruthless in telling her she was unwanted by her parents, but at the same time he couldn’t possibly love her more than he did.
“Me, too.” She smiled against his lips. Her hand wrapped his wrist at her neck, her smile reaching her beautiful green eyes. “We should’ve had this talk months ago.”
“I didn’t say those things to hurt you.”
“I know. It’s all true.” Her smile dipped into a little frown. “Cyrus wouldn’t care enough to show up.” He tipped her chin up.
“I always will, Sam. I promise.”
“I know.” She sighed. “I guess part of me needed him to.”
“You wanted to win. You wanted to fight for J.J. and win.”
“We’ve already won. We won when he left Maggie in that car,” she said
“Talk to me Sam...always,” he pleaded, head resting into hers.
“I promise.” They stayed there for the longest time, the space between them slowly closing as they put the past behind.
Ten minutes, two signatures and fifty-six dollars later Jake had his marriage license in hand. Sam had showed off her ring to the clerk with the same joy as the night he slid it on her finger. That same night they met J.J. and she’d thought of leaving him ever since. He was tempted to do it now, ask if the judge was in.
“When’s the big day?” the clerk asked, as Jake lifted J.J.’s car seat from the chair. His cheeks were rosy from sleep and he had no idea what he missed.
“Soon.” Sam gave her famous one-word response, illusive and informative like she did best. Waiting until they were back in the truck, Jake braved to ask.
“How soon?”
“If you’re up for it, I might have a plan.” Her grin was confidence and mischief with a plan that put him center stage. Yeah, he was up for it.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Butterflies swarmed Sam’s stomach as Mick zipped up her dress. Twenty to midnight, only twenty minutes left.
“I still can’t believe it,” Mick said, fighting tears. She’d only told her ten minutes ago she was getting married tonight. Jake was in his father’s office breaking the same news to Jax. From the sound of it through the wall, he was happy and equally surprised. They were in Mary’s office which had an adjoining door.
They’d slipped upstairs to change and fill in the best man and maid of honor, trusting their plans were being carried out downstairs. The plans were simple, really. The minister needed to be close to the stage and Charlie, her trusted assistant, was handling the D.J. to play the brief wedding march. The only one missing was Nick, but there was a knock on the door. Mick rushed over, first peeking through a crack before letting him in. Surprise registered as he took in her dress which slowly morphed into a smile.
“Walk me down the aisle?” she requested, holding back tears. Nick had to do the same as he stood admiring her dress.
“I can’t believe you,” he rushed out, swooping her up in a hug. “You look beautiful,” he said next to her ear, his hold on her snug. She knew he was happy for her, and the less time he had to prepare for special occasions the better it went.
“This is genius,” Mick said. “You’re basically crashing a reception to have a ceremony.”
“All our favorite people are here and everything’s pre-planned.”
“That is genius,” Nick said. “This is going down at midnight I take it?” He stepped back, sliding her arm through his. Mick handed her the bouquet, which had one sunflower in it for Gram. Sucking in a deep breath, she let everything go. She was getting married, each day of her life lately happier than the one before.
Standing behind the curtain, Sam’s heart skipped a beat when the music stopped. Mick was poised in front of her, only twenty feet of aisle to cover once the curtain was raised. Soft lights overhead made the hand-painted designs on her full skirt shimmer.
“We’ve got about ten minutes to midnight.” She heard Jake’s voice on the mic. Excitement bubbled, making it hard to stand still. “I don’t know about you guys, but the countdown is my favorite part of the night because that’s when you get to kiss.” The crowd laughed and whistled, and Sam could see Mark and Mary’s silhouettes walking up on stage. They usually started the countdown after Mark made a toast with his employees. “Tonight, Sam and I would like to share a very special kiss.”
The wedding march clipped his last word, curtains sliding back to a slew of cheers and gasps. The applause was deafening as Mick marched in front of her, giving Jake a big hug and what she assumed was one last threat in his ear.
“Well done,” Nick said next to her, her heart lifting with relief. She walked the aisle she never dreamed she would, stealing a glance at Mary who was smiling brightly with shimmering tears. Jake offered his hand to Nick, but Nick gave him a hug before taking a place next to Jax. They were playing it by ear, positions and traditions unrehearsed and no big deal. The objective was to get married and they were among family and friends.
Kay and Red were in front of the stage. Chase, Clint, Allie, Mario and Kimmi were all dialed in. They were streaming live if all was going well, no one left off of the invitation list and everyone had a front row seat. The minister took his place between them, quieting the crowd.
“You look beautiful,” Jake said, blue eyes shining bright. The crowd awed, making her cheeks flush.
“You, too,” she said, barely able to stand still. Handing off her bouquet, she placed her hands in his. They decided to keep it light, only reciting traditional vows and I dos. Jake kept skipping to I do, the minister having to back him up a few lines. Sam repeated hers as quickly as she could, laughing when the minister said,
“I, Ducati Sam….”
Eyeing the large red numbers on the clock as they slid on their rings, her heart soared. The adrenaline rush was one she thought she might ride for years. No regrets, she was absolutely sure. “I now pronounce you
man and wife.”
“Ten, Nine, Eight…” The room of hundreds counted together and she and Jake joined in. He spun her around in his arms, her dress fanning like a Princess in her Prince Charming’s arms. This was her happily ever after in “…Three, two, one!”