by JB Heller
“Knock off the lovefest. You guys are grossing me out,” Addy calls, miming sticking her finger down her throat.
Dani chuckles. “Jealous much, Ads?”
Addy scoffs. “Uh, no.” Her cheeks flame, and for some weird reason, she glances at Dax.
Maybe Bates’s theory about Dax and Adley sleeping together isn’t as crazy as I initially thought.
Tia’s pure, unadulterated glee is infectious. We’re all in high spirits as the helicopter touches down on the western rim of the canyon, and we’re taken to the Skywalk.
“It’s so incredible,” Tia gushes. “This is beyond anything I could have imagined.” Her gaze hasn’t veered from the breathtaking landscape surrounding us since we set foot in the chopper.
My heart fills with pride, knowing this was exactly the right thing to do for her. When Len mentioned doing a tour of the Canyon and I saw how excited Tia was about it, I told Len I’d organize it. I wanted it to be special for Tia, and by the look on her face right now, I know I did good.
There are barely any other people around this early in the morning. It’s quiet, cold, and beautiful. It’s so tranquil, yet overwhelming. The canyon itself is like nothing else in the world. The sheer drops, the array of colors in the rock as the morning light plays over their surface, the absolute enormity of it all…It’s completely captivating. But not even the beauty around us can tear my focus away from the woman in front of me.
I step up behind Tia, wrapping my arms around her waist and resting my chin atop her beanie-covered head. “So, I did good, huh?” I ask.
She turns her face up to look at me, her incredible eyes searching mine. “You did this? I thought Lennon organized everything this weekend?”
I shrug. “She did, mostly. But I wanted to do this.” I drop a quick peck on her pink-tipped nose. “For you,” I finish. Her eyes gloss over as tears gather on her lashes, and I do what any man would when he makes his woman cry—I panic. Spinning her in my arms, I cup her cheeks and wipe underneath her eyes as she cries. “Fuck, I’m sorry, princess. Just tell me what I did wrong, and I’ll fix it.”
She shakes her head adamantly and sniffles. “You didn’t do anything wrong, you big idiot. You did everything right.”
Oh. Well, shit. I wasn’t expecting that. I smile down at her and brush my lips over hers, tasting the salt of her tears. “Good, ‘cause I don’t want to mess this up. I love you, woman, and I’m not letting you go.”
“I’m not going anywhere, I promise. Because I love you too, big man,” she says, a brilliant smile stretching across her pretty face.
Our poignant moment is shattered by a high-pitched yelp. It takes me all of three seconds to find the source of the sound—Arlo. He’s clinging to the railing about five feet in from where the floor turns to glass on the Skywalk, having a panic attack by the looks of it.
Tia and I make our way over. Dani is trying to encourage him to return to the platform. He ignores her, shaking his head and squeezing his eyes closed, rambling to himself, “This is not how I die. This is not how I die. This is not how I die!”
Dax decides to give helping out a shot by pushing his twin out of the way and jumping up and down on the glass surface, telling Arlo, “Look, man, you got nothing to be worried about. If it was going to shatter, this would do it.”
“Oh my fucking God! Stop that!” Arlo snaps. But Dax keeps going until Arlo yells, “I didn’t fuck your sister, okay! Now stop trying to kill me!”
Tia gasps at my side. “I think I’ve missed something,” she murmurs to me.
“What the hell are you talking about?” Dani snaps at Arlo then glares at her brother.
Dax just grins triumphantly, pats Arlo on the back as he moves past him, then tucks his hands into his pockets and takes a stroll around the Skywalk.
“Come on, man, let’s get the kid back on solid ground,” I say to Arch who’s been watching the scene unfold with Lenny at his side.
He nods, and we move in. Arch rounds him, coming to stand at his back and placing his hands on Arlo’s shoulders, while I approach his front then pry his white-knuckled fingers off the railing. “It’s all good, bro. We’ve got you. All you need to do is move your feet. Can you do that for me?”
The kid swallows hard then nods.
“Alright, let’s do this. One step at a time,” I urge, tugging him toward my body as I shift my feet back. We shuffle off the glass flooring, and the second the texture beneath our shoes changes, Arlo’s eyes pop open, and he bolts. I frown after him and shake my head. “Who would have thought a kid with balls as big as his would be scared of heights?”
“Hey, man, we’ve all got our weaknesses,” Arch says, chuckling. “Remember that time—”
“That was one time, and that spider was on fucking roids,” I snap, glaring at my best friend.
“Does this have something to do with the over-the-top supply of bug spray in your garage?” Tia asks, a cute little furrow to her brow.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I tell her, wrapping my arm around her hips and nudging her onto the Skywalk. “Oh look, squirrel,” I say, pointing at absolutely nothing, but it draws her attention, and I’m off the hook.
The rest of the morning goes smoothly, no more panic attacks or trips down unfortunate memory lane. There is this weird tension radiating off of both Dax and Adley, but I’m putting that down to their fucked-up relationship.
When the helicopter touches down back in Vegas, I tell the others we’ll see them at dinner then order Tia and myself an Uber to take us somewhere I’ve always wanted to go. Once we’re tucked inside, Tia asks, “So, what’s this all about?”
I shrug. “Just wanted some alone time with you, and I’ve heard good things about this place.”
“Okay, what is it?”
“The Mob Museum. I know it’s not the most romantic thing, but—”
She shuts me up by pressing her lips to mine and kissing me all the way to the museum.
Christ, I can’t wait to marry this woman.
And just like that, the idea is born…
Instead of getting out of the car when it pulls up at the curbside, I ask the driver, “Would you mind just stepping out for a quick minute? There’s something I need to ask my lady before we get out.”
The driver glances at me over her shoulder, a speculative look in her gaze. “Umm, okay. Just don’t steal my car.” She leaves the car running as she gets out then leans back against the closed door.
Tia frowns. “Aren’t we going in?”
My heartrate accelerates to an alarming pace, my mouth dries, and my palms sweat, but every single part of me wants this, so I push through it. I rub my hands down my thighs, then I take Tia’s much smaller ones in mine. I swallow past the knot of nerves thickening my throat then ask, “Tiana Riley, will you marry me? Not in a week in front of all our friends and family, but tonight. Just you and me.”
Her eyes widen, and her breath catches in her throat. “Just you and me?” she says softly.
I nod. “Yeah, babe. Next week is about making me look good for my career. But I want something just for the two of us. I know under normal circumstances this is all happening too fast, but we’re getting married anyway. I want to make it special.”
“Okay,” she says, breathing out. “Let’s do it.”
My heart swells with happiness, and I drag her into my arms again, planting a desperate kiss on her lips. When I pull back, I rap my knuckles on the window to signal the driver. She opens her door and pokes her head in.
“All good in here?” she asks.
I can’t wipe the massive grin off my face when I tell her, “Take us to a chapel. We’re going to get married.”
Our driver beams at us. “Oh my God, that’s awesome. Do you need clothes or anything? My aunt owns a bridal shop. I could totally hook you up.”
Tia glances down at her jeans and long-sleeve tee and cringes. “Actually, that’d be really great.”
“Okay, great! By the
way, I’m Maggi,” our driver says, clapping her hands. “This is so exciting! Nothing exciting ever happens to me. This is so awesome.”
It’s three o’clock by the time Maggi pulls the car into an employees-only parking lot behind a non-descript bridal shop in downtown Las Vegas, and we pile out. She leads us to a back entrance then ushers us along a short hall that leads to the main display area of the store.
“Gina!” Maggi yells. “I’m here. Where you at?”
A middle-aged woman in a beige pant suit steps out from behind a rack of dresses, a kind smile on her face. “This must be the couple you messaged me about,” she says to her niece, her gaze flitting over Tia and me. I know the exact second she recognizes me; her eyes widen, and her cheeks flush. “Oh my, you didn’t tell me I’d be dressing someone famous, Maggi.”
Maggi frowns at her aunt then us. “What?”
Gina shakes her head at Maggi then turns her attention back to us. She smooths her hands down her sleek suit pants then straightens her shoulders. “Do you have anything specific in mind?” she asks Tia.
I’m impressed with the way she’s pushed her shock to the side and switched right into business mode. I’ll have to make sure I slip her a little something extra to maintain her silence about all this, seeing as she clearly knows who I am, but it’ll be worth it.
Tia nibbles on the corner of her bottom lip as she wrings her hands together in front of her. “Umm, I hadn’t really thought about it. I have a dress back home, but…”
I step up to her side, placing a reassuring palm against the small of her back. “Whatever you want, babe, it’s yours. It doesn’t have to be anything like the gown you’re wearing next week. This one’s not for show. It’s just for us.”
She tilts her head to look at me, her smile reaching her gorgeous eyes. “Okay,” she murmurs then turns back to Gina. “I’d like something simple but pretty. No train, no lace, no pearls or crystals. I don’t need any of that stuff.”
Gina taps her chin with her index finger, her lips pursed and her gaze far off, then her eyes suddenly brighten, and she scurries off along yet another row of dresses.
“What about you, big man? What are you going to wear?” Tia asks me as I lean against one of the few available walls.
I shrug, sliding my hands into my pockets. “I’m a simple guy. I’ll be happy in pair of slacks and a long-sleeve button down. That okay with you?”
She snorts at me. “You are not. I know for a fact you have suits in your closet worth more than my entire wardrobe combined.”
“Okay, so I like to look good, but honestly, babe, I’ll look good in anything as long as you’re by my side.”
Pink tints her cheeks, and she glances at her feet. “Such a sweet talker,” she mumbles.
Gina reappears, an ivory gown in her hands. “I think this will be just perfect,” she tells Tia. “Come with me so you can try it on.”
Tia follows her out the back, and I trail after them, sitting in the middle of a plush loveseat situated right outside the change room. I sprawl out, getting comfortable, as I expect this to take some time. But mere minutes later, the curtain slides to the side, and my breath is knocked from my lungs.
Tia stands before me in a long dress with little capped sleeves. The top is fitted across her collarbone, perfectly molded to her upper body, then it drops from her waist and flows to the floor. She is absolutely stunning.
“You look…” Lost for words, I shake my head, push up to my feet, and stalk toward her. Cupping her jaw in my palms, I lower my face and kiss the crap out of her.
“I guess that means he likes it,” Maggie says from behind us.
I break the kiss, looking up at her and her aunt with a grin. “My turn,” I tell them.
Not an hour later, we’re done. I pay Gina, sign a couple of pieces of paper for her, then we’re back in the car on our way to a small private chapel I found online.
Today was already shaping up to be one for the books, but now, this… I’m getting married. And not because of some arrangement to help save Bates’s career, but because he loves me and wants to be with me.
Nerves thrum in my veins, but they’re the good kind. I lace my hands together in my lap to stop them from shaking. I’m full of giddy excitement, making it hard to sit still.
Bates asked Maggi to stay and act as our witness for the ceremony—which she was ecstatic about—so she’s currently sitting beside me in a little room while a hairstylist named Birdy sets my hair in loose silky waves that tumble over my shoulders.
“There. You look amazing, girl,” Birdy says as she finishes off my hair by drowning it in a coat of shine spray. She beams at me in the mirror then turns her face, calling out, “Yo, Cressida, you’re up.”
Cressida plonks a huge makeup case on the bench in front of me and gets to work, matching my color tones and arranging what she’ll need. “Do you want dramatic or understated?” she asks me.
“Definitely understated, please.”
I can’t believe this is actually happening.
She winks at me then grins. “Excellent, I love a bride with class.” It takes her forty minutes to weave her magic—my heart in my throat the whole time—then she steps back and examines her work. “You’re breathtaking,” she says, smiling proudly. “Your eyes provided a bit of a challenge, but in the end, I figured it was best to go with a nude shadow and focus more on the lashes. That way, those incredible eyes of yours just pop.”
She spins my seat until I’m facing the mirror. I gasp at the sight of my reflection, and my eyes prickle as I fight back the urge to cry. She’s done such a beautiful job. It hardly looks like I’m wearing makeup at all, yet my best features are brought to the forefront. “I love it. Thank you so much,” I murmur.
“You are so very welcome. Now, let’s get you in your dress.”
While waiting for Tia to get ready, I sit in the back row of the quaint chapel and watch two other couples recite their vows to each other. And it dawns on me that I have no idea what I’m going to say.
I know I don’t want the classic “For richer or poorer” crap. Tia and I are a unique match, and our vows should be too. I slide my cell from my pocket and open the notes app then start trying to come up with the words I want to say to her. My thumbs hover over the screen, waiting for inspiration to hit, but nothing comes to mind. Not until I lift my head and see her walking toward me.
She stops an arm’s length away and holds out her hand. “Ready?”
My throat is too tight to speak, so I just nod. How did I get so fucking lucky?
“I can take some pictures on your cell for you, if you want,” Maggi offers.
I exit out of the notes app, open the camera one, then hand it to her. “Thanks,” I murmur right as a lady from the chapel approaches us.
“You’re up,” she says, smiling sweetly and handing Tia a small but elegant bouquet of flowers that I couldn’t even try to name.
Taking a deep breath, I take Tia’s hand and loop it through my crooked elbow. We stand at the end of the aisle as the opening chords of an orchestra version of “The Only Exception” by Paramore fills the room. With each step toward the officiant, my muscles relax, and I’m filled with a sense of calm I’ve only ever experienced when playing ball.
As the melody flows through me, and I glance at my incredibly perfect bride, I know this is exactly where I’m supposed to be. Just like this. Just the two of us.
The music fades away as we come to a stop in front of the officiant, an older man in a stylish black suit and silver tie, with a gentle smile. He clears his throat then begins the ceremony.
I don’t catch half of what he’s saying, though. I’m too busy staring at my future. But when he says the words, “You may now recite the vows you have prepared,” and Tia and I turn to face each other, the words just flow forth.
“Nothing has ever felt so right to me than being with you—not even baseball. I didn’t even see it coming until I was already hopelessly in love with you, Ti
a. You hold my heart and soul in these delicate hands,” I tell her, gliding my thumbs over her soft palms. “You’ve held me up when all I wanted to do was crumble. You’ve loved me through all my growing pains. But now it’s my turn to look after you, and I will, for the rest of our lives. I promise I will always be there, right beside you, holding your hand and showing you how much I love you, every single day.”
Tears well in her eyes, and she sniffles. I cup her cheek then lean in, pressing our foreheads together. We breathe each other in for a moment until she calms, then I release her, and we straighten.
“I believe you have vows you wish to recite, too, my dear,” the officiant says.
She nods and takes a deep, calming breath. “I thought I knew who you were when we first met. But I had no idea at all. Your beautiful heart inspires me to be a better person, to love more freely, and to experience everything life has to offer. But now I get to do all that by your side, and I cannot wait to start living our beautiful life together. There is nowhere I’d rather be than right here, with you, mi alma—my soul.”
A single tear rolls down her cheek, coming to rest in the dimple by her smiling lips. I know I’m supposed to wait for the words, but I can’t. I slide my hands into her hair and tug her toward me as I drop my mouth to hers.
I vaguely hear the officiant say the words, “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride,” with a soft chuckle.
We opted not to return to our hotel for our wedding night. Instead, we had Maggi take us to one at the opposite end of the strip to ensure we wouldn’t be disturbed by our friends or family.
“Babe, why don’t you go into one of those little boutiques over there and get some clothes and whatever other shit we might need while I get us a room?” I say, gesturing to the row of stores off to the side of the lobby.
She eyes them with a frown. “They look expensive.”
I snort and kiss her temple. “You just married a very wealthy man. Price tags don’t matter so much anymore. Just get whatever you want.” I hand her my credit card then send her off toward the stores.