A Different Side (University Park #4)
Page 58
“I love my great-grand babies.” She nuzzled Nevara and glanced behind us at Jonah. “I’d do anything for them. For you and Lexi, too.”
“I love you both, I squeezed them tightly.”
“I love you, too,” they both said simultaneously.
“Eww. You better spray some more cologne.” Mimi scrunched her nose. Leave it to my mom and Mimi to make sure I was perfect for my bride. But none of that mattered to me. I had my beautiful children and now I was going to have their beautiful mother as my wife. Life couldn’t get any better than this.
“Alright.” They released me and I reached into my bag, pulling out the bottle. I sprayed myself with the scent that made Lexi weak in the knees. Hopefully that wouldn’t happen until after the ceremony, though.
“Are you sure Lexi’s okay with you wearing that?” Josh came up from behind, eyeing me as I stood in front of the mirror. I adjusted my bowtie and shot him a confused look.
“As opposed to something else?”
“All I know is my mom’s single friends are going to be lining up to dance with you tonight.” His blue eyes widened as they swept over me from head to toe.
I laughed. “And that’s all they’re getting. The Raven’s trap is officially closed.”
“I’m sure there’s going to be lots of hearts breaking today.” He clutched a fist to his chest.
I shrugged. “Oh well. Let them weep. I got the woman I wanted.”
“And she’s the best catch of all.” He winked.
“Hell yeah she is.” I puffed out my chest and pulled on the lapels of my suit jacket. Lexi was the only woman who belonged in my trap. I was, by far, the luckiest man in the world. She had stayed with me, despite all my issues and insecurities. She didn’t blink once, taking my bad days with the good ones. She weathered my demonic storms and did it all because she loved me. And in return, I was about to promise to love her unconditionally. Forever.
“I’m happy for you two.” He smiled, flashing his pearly whites.
I turned around to face him and Shawn. “Thanks for everything. For always being there for me. Putting up with all my shit. I appreciate it.”
“Hey, that’s what friends are for.” Josh placed his hand on my shoulder.
“That’s right. Dragons stick together, no matter what.” Shawn extended his arms around us, pulling us together.
We exchanged a team hug, like we used to in the locker room at PHU, repeating our chant.
“We are the Dragons. We play with passion and pride. We fight to the end!” So much had changed in the past year. But it had been my best year ever.
After Lexi told me she was pregnant, I went back to Fort Worth with her, determined to face my demons. Dr. Galen was right, running away didn’t solve my problems, they were still there, but this time, I was the one in control. Shawn and Josh convinced me my football days weren’t over, and to announce I was a free agent and try for the supplemental draft. I had some reservations at first, but after talking with Coach Anderson and putting my resentments aside, I felt good about my decision. And it proved to be the right one.
A few days after my announcement, I received a call from the coach in New Orleans. He invited me to a private practice session and I jumped on the next plane. By the end of the week, I had signed a contract with them, earning me a nice salary and sign-on bonus, bypassing the supplemental draft altogether.
I started practice a few weeks later and we moved in with Mimi until I could find us a place. Right before the first game of the season, I purchased our first home. Lexi was so excited, decorating the house and preparing the nursery for our twins. It was awesome to see her so happy. Everything had happened so fast, but I knew it was meant to be. Just like Mimi had said, I just had to have faith that everything would work out. And it did, more than I could’ve ever dreamed. God was good!
“The preacher’s finally here,” Luke said as he walked into the room. My mom and Mimi sighed in relief. “Said he got lost and tried to call your cell, but you didn’t answer.”
“Shit.” I dug in my bag and pulled out my phone, seeing I had missed several calls and text messages from him. I didn’t want the thing going off during the ceremony so I’d left it in there. I switched it to silent and slipped it inside the pocket of my jacket. “Tell him sorry.”
“My directions were clear.” Josh shrugged. “How could he get lost?”
“I don’t know, dude.”
When Lexi and I announced we were getting married, the Marshalls insisted we hold the ceremony at their house. Since Lexi’s family and the majority of our friends lived in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, it made sense. My mom’s family always came to Fort Worth to see me play, so they had no problem coming to the wedding.
The Marshalls’ place was ideal, sitting on a few acres, and overlooking a beautiful lake. I spared no expense, giving Lexi the wedding of her dreams. But in all honesty, I would’ve been perfectly fine going downtown to the courthouse. As long as she said I do, I didn’t care what kind of ceremony we had.
The fine crystal and china didn’t matter to me.
Neither did the thousands of white roses and purple hydrangeas she wanted.
Nor did the big white tent with thousands of tiny white lights that made the inside seem like a Disney fairytale.
None of that mattered. Only my bride.
Lexi.
“Are you ready?” Luke asked.
“Yes.” I glanced at my watch, noticing it was five after five in the evening. I was officially late to my own wedding.
Damn! I hope Lexi’s not mad.
Luke started to turn around, but stopped. “I will admit, there was a time where I wouldn’t have agreed, but you definitely proved me wrong. Without a doubt, I know you will take care of my sister and the twins.”
I nodded. “It’s my soul purpose in life.”
He shook my hand and we gave each other a pat on the back. Luke had willingly accepted me, long before the rest of Lexi’s family did. It was probably hard for him since Collin was his best friend, but he never told me that directly. It showed me he really wanted the best for her, and even though that lie crept up sometimes, I knew the truth: Lexi and I were meant for each other.
“Good. I’ll let Lexi know you’re ready.”
“Thanks, man.”
We walked out of Josh’s room and entered the backyard. I shook hands with the preacher and stepped underneath an arch covered in fragrant flowers. Shawn stood next to me, along with Josh, Luke, and my brother, Trey. The Marshalls’ property had been turned into a scene from one of Lexi’s bridal magazines. Flowers were placed everywhere on the patio and white posts were wrapped in a white and purple sheer material. Family and friends sat in white chairs, waiting for the ceremony to begin. It was beautiful and I hoped it was everything she dreamed of.
And I did it all for her.
Because I loved her more than anything.
The music started and my heart rate kicked up a notch. I took a deep breath and relaxed my shoulders. I never thought this day would come. My patience and hard work had paid off. I had the best damn catch, and the best part? It came with two little ones who were mine to love forever.
Within seconds, the back doors opened and Lexi’s cousin, Kenzie, proceeded down the aisle, followed by Ashley, Shelby, and Delaney. Ashley’s little girl sprinkled rose petals along the white runner leading Lexi directly to me. Where she belonged forever.
The music switched to the wedding march and everyone stood up. My heart pounded as I waited to see my beautiful bride. The minute she appeared the whole world stopped as I took in every part of her beauty. Her brown locks were swept to the side, giving her a sexy look. She wore a gorgeous strapless, beaded gown with ruffles along the skirt that was made for a queen. I’d waited months to see this fairytale dress. It was worth every minute.
Lexi smiled and I was awestruck by her glowing presence. Cameras flashed and people sighed as her father walked her down the aisle. Our gazes connected as she marc
hed to the beat of the music. This was the best damn day of my life. I couldn’t wait for Lexi to be my wife.
“Take good care of my princess.” A soft smile spread across her dad’s face and he blinked the tears away before placing her hand in mine.
“Always,” I replied with a firm nod.
Travis and I had no problem getting along, but it took a while for Lexi’s mom and I to reconcile our differences. It was evident she had a hard time accepting me and I honestly didn’t trust her. But, I did it for Lexi and our children. I took Mimi’s advice and kept her close to me, letting her see there wasn’t anything I had to hide — at least, not any more.
Her dad gave me an approving nod and then stepped aside. I took a few seconds to take in all of Lexi’s grandness. She was stunning and completely took my breath away. “Damn, Lexi, you look exceptionally beautiful.”
“Thank you.” She eyed me for a moment. “And you look damn sexy in that tuxedo.”
“Wait until you see what’s underneath.” I winked. Lexi and I were headed to the Caribbean for our honeymoon. It would be the first time we’d be leaving the twins, but at six months old, I was ready for some alone time with her.
She giggled and we turned to face the preacher.
“Family and friends, we are gathered here today to celebrate the union of Lexi Ann Thompson and Raven Renee Davenport.”
Awes filtered through the crowd and the twins babbled. Everyone laughed and we turned around to adore our precious babies. The preacher waited for the laughter to subside and then continued. Lexi and I exchanged traditional wedding vows, pledging our love to one another in sickness and in health, for all eternity. I slipped the ring on her finger and she placed a band on mine. Holding hands, we turned to face the crowd.
“Family and friends, I’m happy to introduce, Mr. and Mrs. Davenport.” The crowd clapped and Nevara started crying. Lexi looked at me and I shook my head. Our baby girl was definitely a drama queen. “You may now kiss your bride.”
“I never thought this day would come.” I gathered her in my arms and dipped her, planting an enticing kiss on her lips. More yells and whistles flooded the air and Lexi giggled.
We took pictures with our family and friends and then entered the large tent located behind the swimming pool. Round tables covered in white tablecloths and tall vases with white and purple flowers filled the space. Thousands of white lights twinkled underneath purple fabric draped from the ceiling to the floor. In the center of the tent was a huge crystal chandelier that created colorful prisms all over the room. Making it seem more fairytale like. The bride and groom’s cakes had me salivating.
“It’s beautiful, Raven.” Lexi kissed me on the cheek. “Thank you.”
“Anything for you, baby.” Hearing and seeing how much she liked everything had me smiling inside. I was willing to do anything for this woman.
The music lowered and the DJ said, “The bride and groom have arrived. If they can please take the dance floor.”
I held out my hand. “May I have this dance?”
“Of course.” Lexi placed her hand in mine and I led us to the dance floor. I slid my arm around her waist and pulled her close. “Are you happy?”
“More than you’ll ever know.” Happiness radiated through my body. “The most beautiful woman in the world is now my wife, I have a son and a daughter, and I’m living my dream, playing football for a living. What more could I ask for?”
“I love seeing you happy.” She stared deep into my eyes. “It shows me how much you’ve healed.”
“You’re right, baby. I’ve come a long way.” I recounted some of the darkest moments in my life, but new ones quickly overcame them. Ones far exceeding the hard and painful times. It took a lot of perseverance and determination to get past those, but most of all, faith. Faith that things would get better if I kept on the right path. A path Lexi helped me see and Dr. Galen helped me achieve. “Thank you for standing by my side. I know it wasn’t easy.”
Her eyes filled with tears, but she held them back. “When you love someone, you’re willing to do whatever it takes to help them, and that’s exactly what I did.”
“And for that, I’ll always be grateful.” My eyes closed and I kissed her softly, instilling all the love I had for her so she knew just how much she meant to me. I wanted her to see how thankful I was for her sticking by my side when she didn’t have to. For refusing to give up on me regardless of how much heartache and pain I’d caused her. I opened my eyes and held her gaze. “You look radiant, Lexi. Happy.”
“That’s because I am.” She draped her arms around my neck and rested against me. Having her in my arms gave me a sense of security that only existed with her. With Lexi next to me, there wasn’t anything I couldn’t face.
“Good. I want to keep you that way forever.” I nuzzled her neck, eager to feel her skin against mine.
“That’s easy. All you need to do is love me, stay loyal to me, and be there for me and the twins.”
“Then it’s a done deal,” I said confidently.
She narrowed her eyes. “So just like that, you figured it all out?”
I turned her and drew her close again. “Yep. I finally figured out what it will take to keep you trapped forever.”
She inclined her head. “I hate to break it to you, but I was caught in your trap a long time ago.”
“Really?” My head jerked back. “How long?”
Her lips pressed together and her eyes wandered up before returning to me. “Since the day I met you outside the library to help you with that Stephen Crane paper.”
My lips spread into a wide grin. “That far back?” I rubbed the slight scruff on my chin. Was I that irresistible? “Damn, that was like the third time we got together.”
“I know.” She ran her fingers through the sides of my hair. It felt good and I was glad I let it grow back. “You’re quite the charmer, in case you haven’t noticed.”
“There’s only one woman I want to charm, and that’s you.” I lowered my lips to hers. “Lexi, you’re my end and my beginning.”
Her faced flushed a perfect pink and a bright radiance covered her. “Raven, as long as you are with me, there’s no place I’d rather be.”
Those words were like gold. More precious than the metal itself. I twirled her and then dipped her. I still couldn’t believe Lexi was finally my wife. “And where’s that?”
A smile emerged and without any doubt in her voice, she said, “Right here, in The Raven’s trap.”
About the Author
Born and raised in the United States of America in the great state of Texas, CM Doporto resides there with her husband and son, enjoying life with their extensive family along with their Chihuahua and several fish. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, where she is associated with the Young Adult Special Interest Chapter. To learn more about her upcoming books, visit www.cmdoporto.com and sign up to receive email notifications. You can also like CM Doporto’s fan page on Facebook and follow her on Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest.
Other Books by
CM Doporto
YOUNG ADULT
The Eslite Chronicles
The Eslites (short story prequel)
The Eslites, The Arrival
The Eslites, Out of This World (Coming Soon)
NEW ADULT
The Natalie Vega Saga
Element, Part 1
Element, Part 2
The University Park Series
Opposing Sides
The Same Side
The Winning Side
A Different Side (September 2015)
My Lucky Catch (Spring 2016) - Luke and Delaney’s Story
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Epilogue
About the Author