“You’re stunning,” Crickett said as she clasped her diamond necklace around my neck. It was my something borrowed.

I stood, staring at my reflection in the mirror for a couple of minutes, trying to take it all in. This is really happening. This is really my wedding day. It didn’t seem real yet. Even though I was standing there in my dress, about to walk down the aisle, it still hadn’t sunk in that I was about to become Mrs. Walsh.

My hair was swept up in a loose, curly ponytail. My makeup was on fleek. My dress was simple: a sweetheart neckline, strapless, formfitting, off-white, and lace. My something new was an Unacceptables patch stitched to the underside of my dress at the bottom as a surprise for Ryder and my father.

“Dad has my something old and blue right?” I asked while fixing a few curls in my stepmother’s hair that had fallen a bit.

“That’s what he told me. I don’t know what they are, though.” Crickett and I both hated surprises, and my old man fucking loved teasing us with them.

Right as I was about to complain about Dad running late, he and my brother both walked through the door. They were in charcoal gray three-piece suits, and I was taken aback by how well they had cleaned up for the big day. Collin was the spitting image of our father—stormy eyes, dark hair, beard, tall, and muscular. The resemblance was almost scary, and if not for my dad’s graying hair and crow’s feet, people would mistake them for twins.

“Very dashing,” Crickett remarked as she kissed her husband and son on the cheek.

My father stood with his jaw hanging open as I turned to him. “You like?” I motioned to my dress before hugging him.

“I have never seen a sight quite this stunning in my entire life.” His voice was low as he held me tight. My father wasn’t usually one to get sappy, but I caught him getting teary as he looked down at me in his arms.

“Don’t you fucking cry, Abel.” Crickett sniffled. “I’m barely keeping it together over here and I do not want to have mascara running down my face before I even get out there.”

Collin wrapped his arm around his mother’s shoulders, pulling her into his side. “I think a lot of us are going to lose our man cards today seeing our little Raine finally tying the knot.”

I shoved my brother’s arm. “Don’t forget that I’m older than you, punk.”

My dad forced a cough while pulling a jewelry box and an envelope out of his jacket pocket. “Sweetheart, I have something to give you.” He opened the box to reveal a stunning set of blue sapphire earrings. “They were your mother’s.”

A lump formed in my throat as he helped me take them out of the box. I was speechless, and then he hit me with another blow—the card.

“It has never been opened. I don’t even know what it says. Your mother insisted on writing it the day you were born, said she never wanted to worry about not having the right words to say to you on this day. I never knew what it truly meant, but I kept it all this time.”

With shaking hands, I opened the card, sinking down in a chair to read the simple note my mother had written to me all those years ago.

Tears streamed down my face. It was the first time in my life that I’d ever seen her handwriting. My mother’s death happened when I was still in diapers and I barely knew what she looked like, but in that moment, I felt a connection with her that I’d never known I craved.

I grabbed a tissue, checking my eyeliner in the mirror. “Well, that was a kick in the feels.” I tried to make light of it all and everyone followed my lead perfectly.

“Are you ready to get this show on the road, sugar?” Dad held out his arms for me to take as Crickett and Collin walked out of the room.

“As ready as I’ll ever be. Are you?” I asked, looking up at him.

“Let’s get one thing straight: I am not giving you away to Ryder today. I’m just letting him marry you. You’re always going to be my little girl.” With a quick hug, we were off to meet my Prince Charming. He might not have ridden a white horse or worn armor, but in my opinion, a cut and motorcycle were way sexier and badass, and I knew my mother would have agreed.

Holy fuck.

This is it.

I couldn’t believe how damn nervous I was.

Suck it up, buttercup. It’s show time.

Standing in the middle of the Unacceptables bar and pool hall in a suit and tie while sweating bullets was making me jittery. It felt wrong not being in my cut, flannel shirt, and worn out jeans, but Raine wanted me dressed in a monkey suit and she was the boss.

Happy wife, happy life—right?

I couldn’t believe it was finally time to make Raine Hellock my wife. It felt like it had been forever since I asked for her hand in this same bar, and I couldn’t decide if I had been more nervous then or if this moment was going to trump it.

The whirlwind of our relationship was finally calming, and there I was standing knee deep in my version of a happily ever after. I didn’t know how an outlaw like me could ever deserve someone as perfect as Raine, but I wasn’t going to question my luck.

All of my club members and their families were gathered to help witness our big day, donning their Sunday best—well, all except the Unacceptables. They were embracing the complete biker heaven wedding with cuts and beer flowing from the kegs.

My dad was standing next to me with a shit-eating grin plastered on his face. He put his hand on my shoulder as he said, “I’m really proud of you son.”

“Thanks Pop.” I gave him a quick hug.

Holton Walsh had become so much more than just a father to me in the short time we had been together. It was strange to think that he hadn’t always been in my life, but better late than never. We had all come a long way since I rode into that small mountain town in the middle of North Carolina. I had nothing more than a name to find a man who hadn’t known I existed. My mom kept my existence a secret from my biological father for the first eighteen years of my life. I didn’t blame my mother for making the choices she had in raising me, but I was happier with the life I had found with the family I hadn’t known I was missing. Holt, along with the rest of the Unacceptables were my true family and I don’t know how I went so long without them in my life. All I knew was that I never wanted to be without any of them.

I tugged at the tight-ass collar of my dress shirt as Crickett and Collin walked in through the front doors and down the makeshift aisle. My soon-to-be mother-in-law walked up to me, kissing me on the cheek. “You look like you’re shitting bricks, Ryder. Try to take a few deep breaths or something.”

I could always leave it to Crickett to help me relax in her own blunt way. “Thanks, I’m trying.” But there was no way it was going to work this time. I was nervous as all hell.

And then I saw her. Everything faded. Nothing existed except the woman walking through the wooden door. The world seemed to stop spinning—Raine was that damn stunning. She slowly ambled with the biggest smile on her face in a simple lace gown hugging her curves. Abel was being his normal, stoic self as he escorted his little girl in; I knew he was putting on a brave face for the crowd and would tear up sooner rather than later.

It felt like forever before they finally made it to the daisy-covered alter, and Raine practically bounced her last step to me.

“Holy! Fucking! Shit!” Raine was laughing her ass off while I was fighting waterworks like a damn pansy. “We’re actually doing this!”

The bar was decorated in something that Crickett and Raine called shabby chic. We were standing in the middle of the bar with Abel next to us as our wedding was about to start, and there Raine was being her goofball self.

“Honey, hush.” Abel cleared his throat. “We’re supposed to be taking this seriously.” Abel shook my hand. “Ready son?”

I nodded. “Fuck yeah I am.”

After Abel hugged Raine, he took his spot in between us. Abel put his hand in the air, motioning for everyone to take their seats and be quiet. “As all of you know, Raine asked me to get ordained, and even though my knee-jerk reaction was to say ‘hell fucking no’, here I stand about to marry my precious daughter and one of the best men I know. Ladies and outlaws alike, we have come together today to witness and celebrate the union of Raine Hellock and Ryder Walsh.”

Raine sniffled and whispered, “I love you Daddy. Thank you.”

He flashed a closed-lipped grin over to her before he continued, “Raine and Ryder have been on this journey for longer than I care to know—yes, I knew you were climbing through my daughter’s window long before you thought I did.”

I could feel my cheeks prickle as I looked over to my president and soon-to-be father-in-law. “Well, at least I’m about to make an honest woman out of her.”

Everyone laughed, thankfully.

Abel put his hand on my shoulder. “I should have wrung your neck all those years ago, but in some ways, I’m glad I didn’t, because I have never seen my little girl as happy as she is when she is looking at you. Ryder fought to prove himself worthy of the cut, and that love has led us here today. Their road has been paved with rough patches and fond memories, and their experiences of that togetherness have led them here, to make a public pronouncement that they have each found their one true love.”

I could hear his voice start to catch as he read from a binder clutched in his subtly shaking hands. “When you say to each other ‘I love you’, what you are saying is, ‘Hold on tight, the ride is long.’ Be empathetic to your partner’s wants and needs. Hold each other in the highest regard, always. Have a sense of humor as you meet life’s challenges. Honor one another when you are together or apart. Respect each other’s differences and embrace them. Enjoy the good times, and endure the storms. When your heart and the wide-open roads call to you, follow just to see what awaits you both. Don’t be afraid to satisfy your dreams with new and different experiences. Make your dreams come true, together. Most of all, love one another without limits or restriction. Raine? Ryder? Are you ready to make your promises to each other?”

Raine and I locked eyes as we responded in unison, "We are."

I closed my eyes, taking a slow breath in, silently praying I wouldn’t forget the vows I wrote for Raine. Grabbing her hands a little tighter, I looked into the eyes of my love as the words leapt from my soul. “Raine, I love you more than the wind whipping through my hair, but never ask me to take back seat while you drive and we will be happy forever. As we take our vows of marriage, I promise to love you and take you anywhere we can ride on two wheels. Please take my heart and ride with me forever.”

Raine wiped a tear from her cheek before replying, “I love my leather, and I love the way I can cuddle up with you on the back of your bike. Being with you, holding you close as you take the turns tightly, I can feel a connection with you, with your spirit, and I love that feeling. I want to hold you forever, riding off down any highway we come to. Our marriage and love will take us through any weather, and it makes me overwhelmingly happy to now become your old lady.”

Abel’s gruff voice boomed, “May I have the rings, please?”

Holt pulled them from the inside pocket of his cut. “Here they are, brother.”

Abel continued. “Rings are a precious metal, and they are also made precious by us wearing them. Your wedding rings are special because they enhance who you are. They mark the beginning of your long journey together. Your wedding ring is a circle, a symbol of love never ending. It is the seal of the vows you have just taken to love each other without end.”

Before handing Raine and I our bands, Abel stared at them for a few seconds. With a kind smile on his face, he gave us each other’s rings.

I slid the ring onto Raine’s dainty finger. “I offer you this ring as a symbol of my love. With this ring, I thee wed.”

Raine’s eyes filled with tears as she placed the band onto my finger. “I offer you this ring as a symbol of my love. With this ring, I thee wed.”

Crickett came up next to her husband as his voice started to shake. “May your love grow ever stronger as you share your lives together, and may your future be even more wonderful than you ever dreamed possible. You have made your promises and exchanged your rings. Family and friends, we have been waiting for this moment for what feels like a lifetime. So, get ready to put your hands together and make some noise. By the power vested in me by the world-wide web for a small fee of twenty-five dollars, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Ryder, you may kiss your beautiful bride!”

Everyone leapt to their feet, cheering and hollering for us. I grabbed both sides of Raine’s face and crushed my lips to hers. It was the best kiss of my life. It was the most important kiss of my life. I knew right then what people meant about seeing fireworks. In that moment my heart exploded into a million, love-filled pieces, igniting my soul.

Abel yelled over the roar of celebration, “I now present to you Mr. and Mrs. Walsh!”