“Yes!” He shouts, his features twisting. “This is crazy, A!”
Theo flicks his pocket knife open, staring down at my sibling with half-lidded eyes. “You can try, Hughes, but I don’t think you’ll get far.”
Dom tucks his hands into his pockets, turning his head in challenge at Logan.
“You can’t be serious…” Logan mumbles in disbelief. “I’m just as upset as you are, but this is extreme. You’re going to marry someone you don’t even know…”
I sigh, giving my brother a patient look. “I do know him, Logan. I know about his childhood, that he loves deeply and cherishes those close to him, and that he would never hurt me.While the rest of my family was busy keeping secrets from me, Rowan told me everything. He entrusted me with the whole truth, and he seesme. I chose him. You can either accept it or not.”
My brother shakes his head, breaking eye contact with me as he stares at the ground. “You’re going to regret this one day.”
No, I won’t.
And I can feel it deep within me.
Logan will come around eventually, and when he does, I’ll be ready to try this sibling thing. Until then, I need space.
I grab Rowan’s face, smiling so hard it’s making my cheeks hurt. “What are you waiting on, Row Row? Don’t get cold feet on me now.”
He chuckles. “I wouldn't even dream of it, Sunshine. Let’s get hitched.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Addison
When I pictured my wedding, I didn’t imagine a courthouse in Montana. I also thought I would be wearing a dress, but as I stand in the meeting room with a judge, Dominic as our witness, and my hands wrapped in Rowan’s as we smile at each other like lunatics, I can’t imagine it happening any other way.
The judge, a stout man with withering hands and saggy eyes, glances between us like we’re a nuisance. “By the authority vested in me by the state of Montana, I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
He doesn’t stick around for our celebration. As he rises from his desk to attend his next appointments, I bounce on my heels in excitement, the reality of what just happened hitting me all at once. Before I know it, I’m throwing my arms around my husband’s shoulders. I giggle, nerves turning into joy, before Rowan kisses me passionately to seal the deal. Our infectious happiness grows as we grin against each other’s lips.
“Congratulations, you two.” Dom cracks a small smile. It’s the warmest I’ve seen him since meeting him. He gathers the certificate we signed off the desk before handing it over to us.
Rowan and I hold the certificate together, happiness lighting up our faces as we stare down at our joint signatures.
“My beautiful wife,” he purrs softly into my hair as he feathers light kisses behind my ear.
I hum, turning into his affection as joy swells in my chest. “Forever.”
“Forever.” He promises.
***
Seeing the shock on my mother’s face is like a punch to the gut. At first, hope flickers through me that she might understand, but she can’t mask her disappointment as she turns the certificate over in her hands.
“Addie…” she says quietly, her tone breaking my heart. “What have you done?”
We’re alone inFord’soffice while the others wait for us to finish talking. I originally didn’t want to speak with my mother so soon, but I wanted to share this with her.
I knew seeing her despondency would hurt, yet hiding this from her would hurt even more. I never kept anything from her. Someday, I hope she can accept thatthisis my life now.
I take the certificate from her, treating it with care as I gently place it atop Ford’s desk. I take my mother’s hands in mine before easing onto one of the office chairs. She’s right behind me, falling into the leather beside me as her glossy eyes bounce around my features.
“I wasn’t there when everything happened between you and Ford, but I know this is much deeper than you’re letting on.” As I speak, my tone is calm and steady. I keep the rage at the situation on a light simmer as I have this moment with my mother. Iwantto understand. I don’t want this to tear us apart.
She bites at her lower lip, the inherited indicator that she’s nervous, before she sighs. “I loved him, Addie. With everything in me.” She shakes her head, her gaze straying to a window as she becomes trapped in a daydream. “I had no idea about the syndicate at first. All I knew was that I was in love with the man who regularly frequented my father’s bar and sat quietly by himself. It started out small. I would ask him questions and make jokes, but he wouldn’t give me the time of day. I spent months trying to break down his walls.” She smiles absently. “The first thing he ever said to me was, “Do you everstop talking?” So romantic, right?”
I snort as she continues.
