“You’re stunning, sweetheart. My dream girl,” I say, squeezing her hand. “Both of you are. I don’t know how I deserve this, but I’m the luckiest man alive.”
“We’re lucky to be your girls.”
“Speaking of which, I have something I want to show you.” I suddenly remember the secret I’ve been struggling to keep for the past few days. A secret that’s incredibly hard to hide when we live in a small house, and I like to be naked with my wife as often as possible. “I got it as a bit of a celebratory thing, since I didn’t have a traditional bachelor party.”
I hand Hazel over to her mommy and work the buttons on my shirt. Cass raises an eyebrow. “What on Earth are you—”
Her sentence stops abruptly, and she bends to examine the fresh tattoo on the left side of my ribcage. Three sets of flowers bound together with leather lacing tied off in a bow. A bouquet inked on my skin, into the grooves of my ribs. The way the two girls represented by the floral design are embedded in my soul.
“I wanted something to represent both my girls forever. So I got your birth month flowers—larkspur and violets.”
“Are the white ones your birth month?” Her long eyelashes flutter as she briefly looks up at me.
“They’re potato flowers. Thought it was fitting.”
“Chase, I love it.” Her voice cracks with emotion, and she hugs Hazel tighter to her side.
“I have so many tattoos to cover the pain from the worst moments in my life, to hide the broken parts of me that only you seem to love.” I watch as she studies my skin, the corner of her mouth quirking up. “But I wanted something for the best moments. Something almost as colourful and beautiful as my two favourite people on Earth. I wanted to finally have a tattoo that comes from a place of pride, not shame.”
“Oh my God, that’s beautiful. I can’t believe you’re doing this right after I finished my makeup.” She delicately dabs at her tear ducts and smiles through watery eyes like she’s the lucky one here. But because of her, I have more than I ever thought was possible—a reason for waking up every morning, a family to come home to every night, a gorgeous wife, and a baby girl who looks at me like I’m her world.
Today I get to marry the woman who saved my life, on the ranch that’s always been my home, in front of our friends and family—Hazel being the only one I’mtechnicallyrelated to. If there’s one thing I’ve learned since getting sober, cemented by a phone call after my father died a few months ago, it’s that my chosen family is more important than blood. People who do nothing but love and support me, Cassidy, and Hazel.Who would step in front of a fist to protect us, rather than step aside and watch us take the hit.
“You’re the best thing to happen to me. My first choice, my every dream come true. Thank you for being the other half to my broken pieces. I am so madly in love with you, husband.”
And she kisses me like we’re made for each other, with an intensity I’ve never had before her. Making me forget to breathe. When my hands glide over the intricate lacework of her dress, it’s a reminder that I’m kissingCassidy Bowman.The girl of my dreams. The girl who was so far out of my league for years; the girl who is still too good for me. I kiss her, and my heart fucking skips at the thought, because Cassidy soon-to-be Thompson kisses me back.
37
Cassidy
Bonus Epilogue
Chase stares at me from the couch with a lopsided grin. “Pacing and bouncing around the room doesn’t make the commercial breaks go by any faster.”
“In my mind, it does. I can’t sit still for another second.”
“Cass, if I have to watch your ass jiggle for another fucking second, we’ll miss it altogether because I’ll be hauling you to bed.”
“Don’t you fucking da—” I squeal as he hooks his arm around me, pulling me into his lap before I can get the sentence out. His thick arms wrap around my waist, and he places a warm kiss on the side of my neck.
For the rest of the unending commercial break, he holds me tight to him; the rise and fall of his chest keeps my heart beating steadily, despite my anxiety making it want to race. I fiddle with the ring on his left hand, spinning it around and around. Turns out, I had no reason to worry about not loving him after the pregnancy and postpartum hormones dissipated. In fact, I’m even more in love with my husband today and I have a feeling I’ll only continue falling deeper with time.
“Holy shit!” I gasp and point at the television, feeling Chase’s arms loosen so I can sit back up. “Holy shit. Those are my shoes. I can’t fucking believe it. You know she’s going to win Female Vocalist of the Year tonight, and she’s doing it in shoes I fucking made.”
I lean forward, staring into the cool television glow, watching as arguably the most popular country singer in the world performs her new hit single on the Country Music Award stage. When her team contacted me to make custom tooled leather heels for tonight, I think I briefly passed away. Then it took some convincing before I trusted it wasn’t a scam. Regardless of the success I’ve seen over the last couple years—the features in western fashion magazines, the influencers and barrel racing champions wearing my brand, and the fact that my website sells out within seconds every time I open up for orders—this is absolutely mind-blowing.
“Dance with me,” Chase says, kissing my shoulder before gently pushing me from his lap.
“You never want to dance. You usually look at me and Hazel like we’re the two biggest dorks when we do.”
“Yeah, because I need to save my moves for special occasions. If I do them too often, you won’t be impressed anymore.” Pulling me to my feet, he slips a hand onto my lower back, and we sway to the love ballad.
“I’ll always be impressed by you,” I say. “I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you pushing me to try. Making me feel like I have something to offer the world. Not to mention, helping me juggle a baby and a business.”
“I knew if I stuck it out for the hard times, eventually I’d have my own sugar mama.” He kisses me, sending a familiar cascade of warmth over my body. “I’m so proud of you, sweetheart. You’re so strong, smart, talented. I’m just grateful you want me along for the ride.”
“I love you so much, Chase Thompson.”
