Epilogue
Slater
Two years later
Standing at the threshold of our master bathroom, I can’t take my eyes off my wife long enough to answer the flurry of texts coming in from our group chat about meeting down at Rusty’s for Sunday brunch. I’m too busy tracking her every move as she flitters about, trying her hardest to get ready and not make us late.
We’ll be late anyway, because—let’s face it—we are those people, the ones who are chronically late. Not because my wife takes too long—but because we are one of those couples, ones who can barely keep their hands off each other long enough to get ready on time.
We’ve been married for a year now, and I’m thankful every day that she picked me.
I’ve only ever been really choked up twice in my adult life. The day I saw my wife at her weakest, and the day I saw her at her most beautiful—our wedding day—the day I made it official that I’d always fight for her…
“She’ll beat your ass if she catches you standing out here, man,” Lucky says, and I chuckle, knowing he’s one hundred percent right. She will. Alina might not have wanted a huge production for our wedding, but she was adamant we not see each other until we meet at the end of the aisle where we will officially become one.
“I know, I know,” I chuckle, “I can’t seem to stay away, though.” I shake my head, listening to my future giggling with her girls inside our bedroom, where the door is slightly ajar, as they gush about how beautiful she looks. Butterflies swarm in my stomach as I shift on my heels trying to peek, despite knowing Ali would have my balls for her bouquet if she caught me. Unfortunately, I can’t see anything because she’s surrounded by her tribe. And although seeing that isn’t as good as catching a glimpse of my future, the sight of Roxie, Pais, and Shiv all dressed up, coupled with all the laughing, appeases my impatience. A little. And I find relief knowing I won’t have to wait too much longer until I’ll be seeing Ali. And the next time I do, she’ll be mine.
“She’s come a long way, Slate,” Lucky says, looking thoughtful. “Thank you for loving my sister, for not giving up on her. She and I don’t have anyone but each other, haven’t for a long time, and…” he clasps my shoulder, as we both stand at the threshold of the bedroom where the girls still haven’t made us. “…I know it hasn’t always been easy. Ali’s the happiest now that I’ve ever seen her, and you did that. Welcome to our family, man. Take good care of my girl,” he says, shaking his head, closing the door and making me laugh.
“With my life. I promise, she’ll always come first. She’s the most resilient person I’ve ever met. I couldn’t have given up on her if I tried. She’s my other half,” I tell him. My chest swells thinking about how much I love her, and how truly incredible she is. I might have seen Alina Cassidy standing in the shadows before, but I’ve watched as she’s fought like hell to find her light, and that’s where I vow to help her stay. “And I’m the thankful one here, Luck. I’ll always do right by her, be there with her, and for her. No matter what.”
“I know you will,” he nods. “Now, get out of here before her guards hear us and come kick my ass for letting you try to spy on their girl.”
“You’re right. We guys need to stand together around that crew.” I turn, starting to walk away, and then stop. “Do me a favour, Lucky?”
“Sure.”
“Try to hurry them up for me. I’m not sure how much longer I can wait.”
“Can do,” he smiles, as I make my way out to our backyard.
“You ready for this, dude? It’s a forever thing, you know,” Rain the dipshit says, not ten minutes later, coming up beside me where I’m standing with my eyes glued to the sliding door, waiting for Ali.
“Sure am. That’s what’s so appealing.” I elbow him, nodding for him to go sit back down just as the voice of Jamie Lawson singing “Miracle of Love”—the song Ali choose to walk down our makeshift aisle to—starts to play, signalling it’s finally time.
Today, Alina Jayne Cassidy will become my wife in front of thirty of our closest friends, in a low-key ceremony in the backyard of the home we bought together here on the outskirts of Toronto. It’s a house with a huge yard, complete with not only a white picket fence, but also a treehouse. The only things missing? The kids I hope will come along at some point to make everything I never knew I wanted my reality. Love really does exist, and Alina reinforces just how much every single day.
As the song trails off and our guests stand, my eyes catch sight of her as the patio door slides open. My breath hitches in my throat and I almost fall to my knees as I take her in.
She is a vision.
Dressed in a simple white off-the-shoulder gown that hugs her curves—curves she’s learning to love as much as I do—I can’t take my eyes from her. I’ll never ever tire of taking every opportunity to tell this woman how beautiful she is, both inside and out. How I got to this place in my life is beyond me, but I’m grateful to whomever put her in my path.
Eyes landing on her face, I gasp when I see her smile, a smile that’s directed at me. Her makeup is subtle, highlighting her flawless skin, and I can’t wait to see what’s hiding under the lacy material of her dress later on. On cue, as if she knows my thoughts, she flushes before making a point of dropping her eyes, raking them over me from head to toe and back up to my face. The satisfied smile on her face makes my chest shake with laugher, knowing she likes what she sees. Her hair is swept up to the side, exposing her neck, my favourite place in the world. I can’t stop myself from mouthing, “Get up here, already!” There are a few whoops from the lunatics in the front rows who caught me. Ali nods, taking the final steps to meet me.
“Hi, baby,” I say, reaching for her and taking her hands in mine, because I can’t not touch her any longer.
“Hey, Slate,” she whispers, her ultramarine eyes unable to hide how she’s blatantly checking me out again. I’m dressed in a dark blue tux that she obviously likes. “So damn handsome.”
“And you. God, you’re breathtaking. So stunningly perfect. I’m such a lucky, lucky man.” I lean in and drop a swift kiss to the sweet spot on her neck. “I thought Lucky was going to give you away?” I ask, seeing Lucky slip into the seat beside Teresa, his fiancée.
“I changed my mind. No one’s giving me away. I’m coming to you freely, willingly, and so in love that it seemed wrong for someone to be bringing me up here,” she says shyly. “I didn’t like what I felt it would represent.” She pauses, shrugging like it’s no big deal, when it’s the exact opposite. I can’t hide a shit-eating grin at my girl’s logic.
“You never cease to amaze me. I can’t wait to marry the hell out of you, you know that?”
“I love you Slater. And I want you to know that always,” she says, then adds, “Beside you is where I belong.” Ali beams and the love I see reflected in her eyes obliterates me. And despite it not being that part of the ceremony just yet, I pull her in tight to my chest, crashing my lips over hers.
“I love you so much, baby,” I whisper in her ear, and then walk us up to stand in front of the minister, who’s shaking his head and laughing along with our guests because they know exactly what my girl does to me…
Ping!
Ping!
Ping!
My cellphone goes off with more texts from the members of both Sicken Union and Happenstance asking where we are, bringing me back to the present, and I decide it’s time I tell my wife she needs to hurry-up, or else we’re going to be really late. I’m craving a Belgian Kreme doughnut, even though I only ever end up with just half.