The brothers are seated in rows of white chairs, all of them have their cuts on over dark shirts and jeans. The door opens, and Amy marches in with Hope and her parents.
My throat closes up immediately, and I swear my heart stops. Vegas intercepts them, and I can’t hear what’s being said. All I can do is stare in awe at my future wife. My dad takes Sharon’s arm and leads her to her seat in the front row. She begins to dab her eyes with a tissue. I give her a comforting smile, but I can’t help the way my gaze shoots back to Hope.
The lights dim, candles flicker on every surface, and the flowers frame the wooden arch above me. It's not what we planned, but it's perfect.
The music begins, and Amy walks down the aisle in a simple dress, her usual fierce expression softened… barely. When she catches my eye, she gives me a look that’s half warning and half approval, and I nod back. Message received:Don't fuck this up.
The music shifts to the wedding march, and everyone stands. Hope's on her dad's arm, and she looks... fuck, she's stunning. The short white dress hugs her curves, the corset bodice laced tight, and she looks every bit like a biker's bride. Her hair falls in soft waves over her shoulders, and her smile is radiant.
Her eyes find mine, and everything else fades. The brothers, the clubhouse, the music, it all blurs into background noise. All I see is her. She walks toward me, every step seeming to take forever, and I can't stop the tears that burn the corners of my eyes. My vision blurs, and I blink hard.
I almost lost this, almost losther. The other night, I let fear and doubt turn me into someone I didn't recognize. I almost threw away the best thing that's ever happened to me because I was too scared to believe I deserved it.
Hope’s here, though. She continues toward me, her own eyes glassy but locked on mine, and a smile on her face.
I’m the luckiest bastard alive.
As she gets closer, I see the way her hands tremble slightly as she holds her dad's arm. When she finally reaches the altar and stands right in front of me, I can't hold it back anymore.
Tears stream down my face, and I don't give a damn who sees. This incredible, fierce, beautiful woman is about to become my wife.
House clears his throat, and the clubhouse quiets down. He looks at Ted, his expression serious but warm. “Who gives this woman to be married to this man?”
Ted’s voice cracks when he speaks. “Her mother and I do, but also Hope.” He pauses, swallowing hard. “She's chosen Frost, and that's all a father can ask for, that his daughter chooses her own happiness.”
He turns to Hope, kisses her cheek, and whispers something in her ear that makes her smile through her tears. Next, he turns to me and extends his hand. I take it, and he pulls me into a brief, tight hug.
“Take care of her,” he says quietly, his voice thick with emotion.
“Forever,” I promise, my own voice breaking.
He nods, steps back, and Hope's hand slides into mine.
House looks at us, then at the crowd of brothers and family packed into the clubhouse. “Marriage isn't just about love,” he says. “It's about choice. It's about waking up every day and choosing that person, even when it's hard. Even when you're scared, and life throws everything it's got at you.” He pauses, and a small smile tugs at his lips. “And judging by the last forty-eight hours, life's already testing you two.”
A few chuckles ripple through the crowd.
House continues, “Did either of you prepare vows, or are we doing traditional?”
“Traditional.”
“I prepared something.”
Hope, and I speak at the same time. I reach into my pocket and pull out the folded piece of paper. My hands shake so badly that I almost drop it.
Hope's eyes widen, fresh tears spill over. “You wrote vows?”
“I did,” I confirm. Unfolding the paper, I stare at the words I wrote and take a shaky breath. “Hope.” I swallow my nerves down. “I met you at a coffee shop in Spring Valley when a douchebag wouldn’t leave you alone. You were holding your own pretty good, and it was your tenacity that drew me in.” Her breath hitches. “You were there for me while I grieved my mom. Even when I ran back to New Mexico, you didn’t give up on me and gave me another chance. You became my life. My home. My future. Everything I didn't know I needed until you were standing right in front of me.” I blink hard, tears blurring the words on the page. “I've made mistakes. I let fear make me doubt what we have. I let it turn me into someone I'm not.”
Her hand tightens around mine.
“I'm done running. I'm done letting fear win.” I look up from the paper to meet her eyes. “I promise to always communicate. To talk it out, even when it's hard. To never let doubt come between us again.” My voice breaks. “I promise to choose you every day. To stand by you and be the man you deserve.”
I fold the paper with one hand, keeping her hand locked in mine. “The club, these brothers,” I say with a gesture to the crowd. “They're your family now, too. I promise to build a life with you that's full of love and laughter and all the chaos that comes with being part of this world."
“You're my everything, Hope. My heart… my reason for waking up every damn day. I love you. More than I ever thought I could love anyone.”
Tears streak down her cheeks. I tuck the paper back in my pocket, and take both her hands in mine.
