Axle’s eyes bulge. “You sure?”
I nod. “It seems right. The whole time, Cash has encouraged us to be together, and he’s your best friend. He’s always been friendly and welcoming to me, and I’d like it to be someone who believes in us as a couple and who cares about us.” It is my wedding... my time to be happy.
“Cash would be honored.” Axle leans over and kisses my cheek. “Thank you for thinking about me too.” There’s a tenderness in his words, and I know he means it.
He stands and grabs my hand, pulling me to my feet. “Let’s go downstairs and have a few drinks to celebrate with the men. Tomorrow you will be Mrs. Elena Evans.”
I smile widely at him. I can’t wait for tomorrow. When we reach the top of the stairs, I see all the MC men are around the bar. When their eyes catch us, they cheer and clap. Viper’s hollering. Heat rises up my neck and to my cheeks, but I’m smiling. As I step down the stairs, I trip on the first one. My stomach plummets, but two hands come around my waist and pull me upright.
“I’ve got you, babe,” Axle says with a wink. He yells out to the crowd, “She’s always falling for me.”
The men and I start laughing. I swat at the cheeky devil. We’ve been on a wild ride. After all the love and deceit, the joy and heartbreak, I still love him. I’m happiest and most confident when I’m with him.
Twenty-Three
Commitment
Elena
Today is the big day.I’m an absolute mess. I haven’t seen Axle. I need his reassurance right now. Cash and I are outside, waiting for the music to play, to go inside.
“Is there anything I can do to... um... help you?” Cash asks, his eyes wide. He’s keeping his distance from me.
I shake my head. My skin is on fire. I flap my arms, trying to cool down my armpits because I’m sweating up a storm. I hope I don’t leave marks on my satin wedding dress. I went with an elegant, white, off-the-shoulder mermaid dress with a short train.
“Do you want me to cancel the wedding?” he asks.
“No!” I reply. My voice is harsh. “I want to get married to Axle. I’m just anxious about walking down the aisle while everyone’s looking at me. I’m not good with being the center of attention.” I close my eyes. “And what if Axle changes his mind?” I suck in a sharp breath, my heart threatening to burst. “What if he realizes he doesn’t want to spend the rest of his life with me? What if?—”
“He loves you,” Cash says soothingly, his hands on my shoulders. “Everything is going to be o-kay.”
I take deep breaths, but my mind tortures me. “What happened to my parents? Are they here? Is my sister here?” I hope my sister’s here. I don’t want to do today without her.
“Yes, Viper said they’re sitting in the front row. Rage is by their side, keeping an eye on your parents so that they behave. Everything is under control.”
“Wicked Game” by Chris Isaak begins to play. It’s the instrumental version. I thought it was appropriate given our love story. Cash holds his arm out and I link mine with his, then pull him close to me. “Don’t let me fall...” Because it is highly likely I’ll trip over my own feet, especially in these heels.
He chuckles. “I won’t let you fall.”
I peer up at him to see his soft, reassuring gaze. I smile, grateful I chose him to walk me down the aisle.
One slow step at a time we make our way in and down. I keep my eyes on the incredible man at the end of it. I know everyone is looking at me, so I put all my focus on Axle. He’s facing me. He’s wearing normal attire—dark jeans, a white shirt with his cut over the top—and I’m fine with that. I don’t want to force him to change. I want him to be himself. It’s his day too.
I glance at the front row. My sister is smiling widely and dabbing the corner of her eye like she’s crying. When we reach Axle, Cash hands me off to him. Axle gazes at me adoringly. My anxiety floats away in his presence and at seeing his love for me. I know deep in my soul that I made the right decision to marry him, and I’ve never been so certain of something in my life.
Axle slowly raises his hand to my cheek, and I nuzzle into it. “You look beautiful, baby girl.”
I blink back tears. We aren’t even married yet and I’m barely holding back my emotions.Don’t cry, don’t cry.
His eyes devour every inch of me. He arches his neck and peers around the side to see my ass. “And that dress...” He whistles and wipes the sweat off his forehead, giving me his signature grin. He pulls me into him, then his eyes flick to my lips, and before I can utter a single word, his lips are on mine in a slow, tender kiss.
The priest clears his voice, and then I hear, “You’re not supposed to kiss her yet.” I instantly know the voice from the crowd belongs to Viper.
I pull back, giggling. It’s so typical of Axle.
“You taste delicious,” he says wickedly. “Are you ready to be Mrs. Evans?”
“I’m so ready to spend the rest of my life with you.”
