Reaper walks over, his brows furrowed as he eyes the bike. “I didn’t know you were learning to ride until Twitch told me,” he says. Then he grumbles, “I wish you would have got her a less powerful bike.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “Nope. This one is perfect.” It looks like the men’s bikes, just a bit smaller, probably lighter so I can control it more easily.
“You’re missing something,” Twitch says, walking over to Cash. He returns carrying a club vest. He holds it out to me. My smile grows wider, and my heart surges as I slip my arms through the armholes. The crowd cheers again.
My thumb brushes over the patch on the front that readsTwitch’s Property,and more tears fall. Twitch hugs me tightly. “Thank you,” I whisper, my voice rough with emotion. I’ve always felt like I belonged here, but this vest makes it official. I’m Twitch’s partner for life.
Twitch pulls back and goes to one knee. My body stills and my lungs are tight. “Holy shit,” I mumble under my breath. This is all really happening.
“I’ve loved you from the moment I first saw you, and I’ll love you till the day I die. You’ve always been the only one for me. Take my hand in marriage and I’ll commit the rest of my life to protecting you and making you happy.”
A sob breaks free as I nod frantically. “Yes, of course!” He slides a beautiful gold ring with a pear-shaped diamond onto my finger.
He stands, and I whisper, “Pinch me.”
He cocks his head to the side and laughs. “No.”
“This all feels like a dream. It doesn’t feel real.”
He gives me a firm kiss on the lips. “It’s real, baby.”
Axle’s voice cuts through the moment. “You’re an overachiever, Twitch, trying to make us all look bad.”
The crowd chuckles, and I glance around at the familiar faces. Everyone’s different, and that’s what makes this place feel like home. Reaper and Ava have a child together, Bomber and Zara are married with a baby on the way, Viper and Sophie accidentally got married but seem happier than ever, and Elena and Axle are perfectly content as they are. Even Demon and Ivy, with their quiet, intense connection, seem to have found their own version of happiness. Not everyone needs a ring to prove their love, but for me and Twitch, this feels right.
Reaper makes his way over to us, his expression softer than I expected. He pulls me into a hug, holding me tightly.
“You approved this?” I ask, glancing at my ring with a teasing smile. I know Twitch would’ve made the effort to talk to him first.
Reaper shrugs, a small smile tugging at his lips. “You two seem happier than ever, and Twitch has proven time and time again that he’ll protect you. I can’t ask for much more than that. Plus,” he adds with a smirk, “Ava’s been in my ear about not interfering and letting you make your own decisions. And honestly, it’ll be nice to have your face around the clubhouse on a permanent basis.”
I hug him tighter. “Thank you,” I say sincerely.
As I pull back, I notice the ol’ ladies gathered to my left, their eyes sparkling with joy. I turn to them while the men move to shake hands with Twitch.
“Show me, show me!” Sophie says eagerly, practically bouncing on her toes.
I hold out my hand, and the women crowd around in a chorus of “oohs” and “ahhs.”
“The ring is beautiful,” Ivy gushes, her eyes wide. “I’m so happy I got to be a part of your special day.”
Ava steps forward, pulling me into a warm hug. When she pulls back, I notice tears streaming down her face. “Aww, don’t cry,” I say, my own eyes threatening to water again.
She quickly brushes the tears away, laughing softly. “Like Ivy said, I’m just so happy to be a part of today. Seeing you and Reaper happy—it’s a beautiful sight.”
Her words strike me right in the heart. She’s such a kind, empathetic person, and my brother is so lucky to have her. “Thank you,” I whisper, squeezing her hand.
“Yay!” Elena beams, clapping her hands together. “You finally got your vest. It suits you so well.”
I grin, pulling the vest tighter around me. “It feels amazing.” I do a playful runway turn, earning chuckles from the group.
“Now you’re officially part of the family,” Zara says with a warm smile.
“Yes, I do feel like I belong,” I reply, my voice thick with emotion. My heart feels full, like it might burst from all the love and support surrounding me. I glance over at my bike, my smile widening. “And how sexy is my new ride?” I add with a laugh.
The women cheer, their excitement infectious.
“I didn’t know you were learning to ride,” Zara says, her tone curious.
