She waves her hand dismissively. “Mind your business, Ranger.”
Even with the teasing and bustle around me, there’s this underlying current beneath it all—this quiet disbelief that today is actually happening. After everything—the betrayal, custody fights, grief, trauma, and doubts.
I never expected to get another chance at this. Not after Calista. Not after losing my trust in everything that looked like love.
But then Ella stormed into my life like the sun breaking through a storm—all warmth, fire, and soft edges. She saw me when I didn’t want to be seen, fought for me when I didn’t think I deserved it, and held me steady when I was coming apart.
And now she’s choosing me. In front of everyone. For the rest of our lives.
It almost knocks the breath out of me.
“You ready?” Hank asks from the doorway, voice calmer than usual.
I nod slowly. “Yeah.”
He studies me the way a father might, even though he’s not mine. He gave me a chance when he didn’t have to. Trusted me with his daughter. Showed me that family isn’t always blood.
“You love her?” he asks, low.
“With everything I am.”
He nods like that’s the only answer he was willing to accept. “Good. Then today will be easy.”
Easy? I hope he’s right.
I want to go find Ella, but Ava makes sure to keep her as far away from me as possible. We’ll be spending the rest of our lives together, so I remain patient.
The ceremony starts just before sunset.
The chairs fill with people—ranch hands, family, friends, town officials, and even some of my construction crew, who Aria insisted were “practically uncles.” Aria and Daisy take their place at the start of the aisle, flower baskets in hand. They’re both glowing, braids woven with baby’s breath, dresses in soft blush pink.
I stand under the arch Ava decorated with white roses and eucalyptus, palms sweating, heart banging like I’m about to charge out of a chute on a bull.
“You good?” Zane murmurs, passing by on his way to his seat.
“No.”
He smirks. “Thought so.”
My mom squeezes my arm from where she stands beside me—my stand-in best man, because I don’t have brothers or lifelong friends anymore. And honestly? I wouldn’t want anyone but her here with me.
The music shifts, everyone rises, and the world stops.
Ella appears at the end of the aisle wearing a dress so delicate and soft it almost looks like it was spun from sunlight. Off-the-shoulder tulle, fitted bodice, the skirt flowing around her like a dream she walked into. Her hair falls in loose waves, pinned on one side with a simple pearl comb. Her bruises are long gone, smile bright enough to blind me.
Hank walks beside her, pride written in every line of his face, but I barely see him.
I only see her.
Ella. My girl. My reason.
My knees damn near give out.
She locks eyes with me, and I swear my heart stops beating for a full second. There’s nervousness there, sure, but underneath it is something steady, warm, unwavering.
Love.
The kind that doesn’t burn out. The kind that stays.
