I stare, eyes wide. “I think he is. I’ll be damned.”
Soft music starts playing and that is our cue. Mom is waiting, just around the corner, Bill by her side, waiting for her grand entrance. Jasmine and I start walking, smiling as we move down the carpet. When we get to the end, we both kiss Chief on thecheek, and then stand beside him and wait. His eyes remain fixed, not focusing on anything else but the spot where he knows the woman he loves most in this world is about to walk toward him.
When she steps out, a gasp radiates through the crowd. Her hair cascades in loose waves, teased by the wind, each strand catching flecks of gold. Her gown hugs her curves, and her cheeks glow with happiness. I already knew how beautiful she looked, but seeing her there, the wind in her hair, the love in her eyes, it is enough to break even the strongest of us. My throat tightens, and I swallow hard against the lump. Jasmine squeezes my hand, fighting back her own emotions.
She walks down, her smile radiant. When she reaches Chief, he brushes the tear from her cheek and cups her face in his rough palms. Though I can’t hear his words, I see the way he gazes at her: as if she’s the only woman in a crowded world. Their vows rise and fall like ocean waves, promises laced with laughter. When they finally say, “I do,” I erupt with a spirited whoop that echoes against the dunes.
Chief chuckles, and my mother’s delighted giggle ripples through the crowd. Then, with a practiced flourish, he sweeps her into a long, fierce kiss, sealing their new life together beneath the blissful sun. The applause crashes over us like a tide. I brush away the last of my tears, and Jasmine stands beside me, eyes shimmering.
As the couple greets each guest, I inhale deeply and let relief wash over me. Travis steps close, his black sunglasses reflecting the sunlight, leather jacket pressing warm against my back. He wraps his arms around me, and I lean into him.
“You know you look fucking amazing,” he murmurs against my hair.
“Oh, I know,” I say, teasing.
He spins me toward him and brushes his thumb along my cheek. “A perfect bridesmaid. But I can’t wait to see you as a bride.”
“Oh?”
He grins. “Come on, let’s go party!”
I huff, rubbing my belly. “I don’t get to, but I’m sure you will drink plenty enough for the both of us.”
He chuckles and then runs a hand over my bump. “I can really see our baby when you’re in this dress, it’s fucking magical.”
“It’s only going to get bigger,” I point out. “It’s cute now... but...”
“It’ll be cute the entire time. You’re beautiful pregnant.”
He kisses me, long and deep, then leads me toward the reception—an elegant room in a seaside hotel. Inside, chandeliers swing above a dance floor dotted with miniature bike centrepieces. Rough metal meets delicate crystal, just like my parents: steel and lace, rebel and princess. When Bill raises his glass with a booming “To Chief and his Angel!” the room shudders with cheers and clinking champagne.
Slow music drifts through the air. I lean against the balcony railing, watching my parents’ first dance. Their silhouettes sway under the glittering lights, and joy blooms in my chest so fully it aches. Travis finds me and takes my hand, guiding me down. Reagan and Harley slip in beside us, but not before Reagan tells me just how beautiful my mother is as a bride.
She’s not wrong.
Travis pulls me into him, and we move slowly to the music. “You make a man real proud to call you his own.”
“Right back at you,” I murmur, pressing my cheek to his chest.
We dance like that for a long time, until a warm, rugged voice comes from behind us. “May I cut in?”
Turning, I see Chief standing behind us, a proud expression on his face.
“Always,” Travis nods and then, remarkably, he asks Jasmine for the next dance.
My heart swells as I watch them glide away. Chief draws me close, and we begin our dance.
“You looked real beautiful today, kid,” he murmurs.
“You too, old man,” I reply, grinning up at him. “Feel like the happy ending you always wanted?”
He bows his head, a silent laugh in his throat. “Never thought I’d see it, but yeah. Now we just have to find yours.”
I smile up at him. “It’s coming.”
He presses a kiss to my forehead. “I don’t say it much, but I love you, Mischief. You make me proud.”
“Don’t let Jazzy hear you,” I tease.
He laughs, “Don’t worry, I told her the same thing.”
I lift my eyes and see Jasmine smiling at us. Chief and I finish the dance and then we all make our way to our spots for dinner. As I settle back at the table, I wonder, is my own happily ever after just beyond the next dance?
God, I hope so.
