Cooper

“You’re one crazy-strong woman, Chelcie,” Emmy says, and I see so much respect in her eyes.

“I couldn’t have done it without you, Em. You saved my life that day. Mine and Zac’s.”

She blushes an adorable blush that covers her face and neck.

“I’m just glad I had decided to stop by. I had been sitting on your baby gift for a few days—ever since I had gotten back in town—and with everything going on, I had forgotten to bring it to you.” She shakes her head, and I reach out, hugging her tight.

When I think about just how much her showing up was a huge tip of fate, how close I came to death that day, I still get sick.

Just another reason for me to put it to rest and move on.

“Go on in and get comfortable. Asher has the food out on the grill now, so it shouldn’t be long.”

She moves past me, and I don’t miss the look of pure fire she shoots at Maddox when she slips through to the kitchen, where I hear Asher greet her with a loud yell. He’s decided that Emmy is his honorary sister. I think it’s adorable. He gets almost fatherly with his protection over Emmy.

Which should be hilarious to watch if Maddox ever decides to make a move on her.

“Don’t ask me about it, girl,” he growls when I move my eyes from where Emmy disappeared to take him in.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I sweetly respond, batting my eyelashes in mock innocence.

“Sure you don’t. How are you? And I mean how are you really. None of that sugarcoated shit you’ve been handing out.”

“Is there anything that doesn’t get past you?” I evade.

“I’m waiting.” His tone leaves no room for argument.

I sigh. “I’m really good. I don’t let what that woman did to me keep me from getting sleep at night. Do I have nightmares occasionally? You bet I do. Any normal person who went through that would. But, Maddox…if there’s one thing I’ve learned this past year, it’s that life is way too short to sit back and dwell on things I have no control of. I’m alive, I’ve got a wedding to plan with a man who worships me with love, and our son will be here in just over a month. We all have bad days. The only thing that matters is whether you focus on those days and not the ones that are full of magic.”

I reach out and cup his rugged cheek. His whiskers tickle my palm, and I laugh.

“One day, Maddox Locke, when you decide to let go of that pain inside you, you’re going to understand what I mean. You have so much love to give in you.”

And for just a second, he lets all those walls he’s built around him down. It’s a fortress of protection so heavy that I’m not even sure many people have seen the real him. I gasp when I see the unadulterated pain that swims in those coal-like eyes.

“Yeah, sweetheart. Maybe you’re right.”

We turn and walk into the house. Everyone is laughing and talking above each other. There is so much love in this house right now that I can’t stop the huge smile from forming.

***

(Asher)

Damn, she is beautiful. I can feel my cock tighten in my pants when I see that huge smile curve her lips. Her face is so open in this moment, the love and happiness clear to anyone who looks at her.

“You want me to wipe your drool there, Ash?” I vaguely hear Axel harass.

“Maybe we should get him a bib,” Greg booms with laughter.

“Leave him alone.”

I move my eyes off my gorgeous woman and whip my head sharply to Maddox. He just storms past me and out to the back deck.

“What the hell was that about?” Beck asks.

“No clue.”

I know things have been tough since Maddox got home. With whatever happened between him and Emmy while they were gone hanging around them in thick waves of tension, it’s only a matter of time before one of them explodes.

“Hey, baby,” Chelcie breathes, sidling up to my side and curling her arms around me. “Did you invite Sway and Davey? They haven’t gotten here yet, so I wasn’t sure if we should hold dinner for them.”

“They can’t make it, Sunshine. Davey is taking Sway home to meet the folks this weekend.”

“What?” she gasps, excitement almost vibrating off of her.

“You heard me, babe. It looks like Davey is getting pretty serious. I’ll tell you this much—if they get married before us, I will not be a happy man.”

She cocks her head to the side in the most adorable way and ponders my threat. “Okay. Let’s go to the courthouse Monday. I’m free, you’re free—let’s do this.”

I study her—trying to determine if she’s pulling my leg or not. “You serious, Sunshine?”

“Now, Asher Cooper, would I joke about something as serious as making you mine?”

“I think you’ve got that a little mixed up, babe,” I laugh, the sound roaring through the room.

“Nope. You’re going to be mine and I’m going to love every second of it.”

It takes me a second to realize that the room has gone completely silent. I glance over her head and into the living room and see each one of our friends—no, our family—looking in on us, listening to our conversation with no shame at all.

“Well, it looks like we’re getting married on Monday!”

I give her a deep kiss that is packed with all the desire I have for her.

I used to live my life in the past, stuck on a quest I was willing to die for. Trapped in a pit of darkness that I felt I would never leave. Until one incredible woman took a chance on me—shined her light full of love and hope in on that darkness—and she saved me. She showed me how to live my life for a future I wanted—how to make peace with my pain and how to embrace my happiness.

And in two days, she’s going to be my wife.

Mine.

***

(Maddox)

I walk past Chelcie while I choke down a lump the size of fucking Texas. I purposely sideswipe Emmy when I see her standing just behind us, her eyes full of tears. Fuck. It kills me to see her hurting. Fucking breaks me. I want nothing more than to pull her into my arms and promise her the world.

But I keep walking.

She deserves so much more than me—a broken man with nothing but the trail of pain behind him.

I want to laugh when I remember Asher telling me about the darkness that was surrounding him. He acted like there was no way I could understand his situation. There’s no doubt about it—he had a shit run. Losing Coop cut us all deep, so I can only imagine that the slice he took losing his brother cut him to the core.