“It’s all I’ve thought about, Jersey. This isn’t some random thought I had on a whim. I love her. She loves me. Let me give her what she’s never had, what she’s always wanted… security, love, and a family.”
“I’ll get her there,” she promises.
As I stand with the judge waiting on Jersey to escort Britton into his chambers, I smile when I hear her grumbling as the old ladies hold her arms and help her inside since she’s blindfolded. “I don’t like this, ladies. Y’all aren’t my besties anymore. I hate the dark!”
“Stop torturing my old lady and remove her blindfold,” I order.
A laugh escapes me when Britton gasps. “I knew y’all were up to something,” she accuses. While the women remove the bandana from her head, I bend down on my knee and hold up the jewelry box that has the ring I stopped and bought along the way. When her vision is no longer blocked and she sees me in my crouched position with the velvet box held out in my hand, she cups her mouth as tears form in her eyes. “Tanner.”
“I don’t have any flowery words prepared, so I’m just going to speak from the heart, Britt. Before you came into my life, I used to look at my brothers and envy what they had. I wanted to wake up beside one woman for the rest of my life, share everything with her, and let her see the real me. For a long time, that felt like nothing more than a pipe dream. But what I have with you is even better than anything I ever imagined. You’ve fulfilled me in ways I can’t begin to explain. Every morning that I wake up with you beside me, I feel like the luckiest man in the world. I’ve pictured us growing old together, watching our kids and grandkids play in the yard, building a life full of love and memories. I want forever with you, baby girl. So make all my dreams come true and marry me. Be my wife, my partner, and the person I share my life with.”
“Yes,” she cries. “Before you, I was scared to stay in one place, to let somebody own a piece of my heart, but you’ve alleviated those fears and instead have filled my heart with dreams that only you can help me make true. So yes, I’ll marry you. I’ll spend my life with you. I’ll help us both make our dreams come true.”
I slide the engagement ring on her finger and stand up, grasping her hips with my hands and drawing her to me. “I love you, Britton,” I declare as I slam my lips down onto hers.
When we come up for air, she replies, “I love you too. Now, make me yours forever.”
“I really thought that was gonna bite him in the ass,” Indiana jokes before walking up to me and saying, “Happy for you, brother.”
“Stop raining on my parade, Indiana,” Britton says, shoving my brother back. “This day is about me, you selfish bastard.” Before Indiana comes up with a retort, Zoey grabs his hand, gives him a ‘cut it out’ look and drags him back to where the rest of the club is congregated.
“If you two will step before me, we’ll begin,” Judge Morrison says.
I lace my fingers with my woman’s and ask, “You ready to do this?”
“I was born ready to do this as long as it’s with you,” she replies.
I peck her lips one more time before drawing her with me and place her in the spot the judge indicated for her to stand.
In less than twenty minutes, I’ve bound her to me in a way neither of us will ever forget. She faced her demons, took control of her fears, and changed everything. And now, she’s given me the greatest gift I’ve ever received—herself.
The club still has plenty of questions, and the answers won’t come anytime soon. But for now, we’re going to celebrate our victories and brace ourselves for whatever comes next. Because sooner or later, the other shoe will drop.
Life is messy and unpredictable, it’s full of bumps and curves, but as long as we take them together, we’ll come out on top because we’re Kings, and nobody fucks with the Kings.
THE END
