Ride with Me (9 page)

Shooter points to the duplexes around back. “Got a place set up for you to clean up.”

“Damn, y’all thought of everything.”

Shooter laughs as Axel pipes in, “No, Momma and all the girls did. We’ve had to listen to them giggle and mess over this stuff for days. Then they had a ‘spice party’ and ‘it was so much fun.’ They keep going on and on. I’m a little worried Lux is gonna burn your stomach up with all the spices she got.”

I shake my head, unsure I even want to know.

Following Shooter, I make my way inside the room to find Roundman, Frisco, Ruby, and my mom hanging out.

My mom is the first to greet me with a huge hug. She rolls up on her tip toes and whispers in my ear, “I’ve never been happier for you than I am today. She loves you, Drexel. She loves your son. She loves my son and my grandson with all her heart. I couldn’t ask for more for either of you.” She pulls away, and I can see the tears in her eyes.

Roundman greets me next with our usual half-hug, back slap man thing. Frisco and Ruby follow in the same manner.

“So what’s it gonna be, brother?” Roundman asks. “We wearing suits or cuts?”

I am taken aback by his response.

“You’d wear a suit for me?”

He meets my eyes. “Caroline didn’t have a father. After losing Claudia, Doll’s all I had. Caroline is the next closest thing to another daughter I’ll ever have. If she wants us in suits, I’ll wear my version of one.” He smirks. “Question is, you gonna give Fancy Nancy that side of you?”

“You gonna walk her down the aisle to me?”

“If she wants me to.”

“Then looks like I’m wearing a suit, and you’re wearing your version of one so that we can give Lux the deluxe wedding day of her dreams.” I look at the man who has stood by Tripp and me since we were teens. “She’s giving up New York just to be mine. The least I can do is clean up for her.”

“Rex, learn something, son.” Roundman looks me in the eyes again. “She’s not giving up anything. She’s getting everything she wants: family, your name, and she’s already got love. Hold tight; it’s gonna be a bumpy ride, but you hold on to her and her to you, and you’ll be just fine.”

I look over at my mother, and I swear she’s swooning at the Hellions Original. I nod my head, agreeing with him as he slaps me on the back before taking off to get himself ready to walk Caroline down the aisle to me.

I look around the room. She has brought everyone together to share in our special day. She has given up New York dreams for a wedding on a compound because it’s what fits me. She shows me right here, right now that it’s not about the city, and it’s not about the glamour; it’s about us. And this here, together with those closest to us, is our perfect ceremony. Even considering the Hellions may not want to wear suits, she’s willing to accommodate, because in the end, she simply wants me. Lux did all this just to be my wife.

I stand in awe that she would give up her big city dreams in order to start our life together. Right here, right now, I need to get dressed in my suit then wait to see my woman make her way down the aisle to me.

With help from Sass and Doll, everything is coming together. My nerves are beginning to win over as I wonder if he’s going to go through with this. What if he doesn’t want a wedding here? What if he hates the idea of a suit? I didn’t say he had to wear it, but what if he hates me taking charge like this?

What have I done?

“Stop freaking out and have a drink.” Sass shoves a shot in front of me. “Fireball. Cinnamon for luck.”

I throw it back and allow the burn to go all the way down. Immediately, I think I may puke.

Doll stands in front of me. “We’ve gotta cover your something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue.”

We all crinkle our noses at the color blue. It’s just not the Hellions.

She opens her hands, and tears fill my eyes when I see her mother’s sapphire earrings, the very ones Doll, Sass, and both their mothers wore in their weddings. Her mother married Roundman and said she needed sapphires so dark they looked black because she wouldn’t want to really wear something blue.

“Are you sure?” I ask on a cry-filled croak.

She smiles with tears in her eyes. “You’ve been as close as a sister to both of us since college. You’re marrying a brother today, and we will share a last name. There isn’t anyone I would want to wear these more other than a daughter of my own one day.” Her hands shake as she hands over the precious jewels.

Sass clasps her hands together. “That’s borrowed and blue.” She goes over to a table and pulls a box out of a bag. “Remember when we first got to school and you were determined to buy your own high-heels and never be without fancy-ass shoes?”

I laugh, remembering very well how hard I worked to have this one pair of silver, strappy heels. I wave my hands in front of my face, hoping my makeup doesn’t smear as the tears fall freely when she pulls out that very pair of shoes from the box.

“We know you have been through a lot the last few years, and you went through hell living with the governor. In the end, though, it all brought you where you were meant to be”—she waves her hands in the air—“with the Hellions. These shoes were your first step into our lives, and today, they will be your first step into your new life as a wife to a biker.”

With tears already in her eyes, Tessie walks over after Sass and I hug tightly. “I’ve got your something new.” She hands me a small, white box, and now my hands are the ones shaking.

Slowly, I find a way to lift the lid. Inside is a charm of a mother and child in a circle holding hands.

“For far too long, I was all alone. For far too long, things were a mess for Rex and me. The best thing to come out of that is our son, Axel. When I think of the future, there isn’t another person in the world better suited to be my son’s other mother than you, Caroline. You are the de
lux
e model.” She smiles. “Today, you don’t only become Rex’s wife, you carry my son’s last name, and today, you become his other mother.”

I don’t even try to stop the tears as I hug Tessie tight and shake with all the emotions filling me. It takes a moment, but we finally compose ourselves, and then she proudly hooks the necklace around my neck.

My girls and I finish getting ready as they don their red sundresses and I slide into my mermaid cut, white, strapless, lace overlay gown.

There is a knock at the door as we adjust my lace veil with its red and black silk trim. Roundman walks in wearing black pants; a white, button-up shirt; a red tie that’s nowhere near tight; and his Hellions’ cut. His long hair is braided back, and his goatee is trimmed. He looks every bit the badass he is.

Walking to me, he touches my earlobes and smiles. “I remember these well. You are as beautiful today, Caroline, as ever. Rex is a lucky man.”

I smile. “You’re always the charmer, Roundman.”

I look into the eyes of the man who has done more for me than my own father ever has. Then I look around the room at all the people here to share this special day with me. I feel love.

I twist my fingers nervously. “I may be overstepping here, but do you think you could escort me down the aisle today? I’m not sure I can make it on my own.”

“Never alone, Caroline,” he promises me. “You haven’t been alone since you came into Doll’s life. I’d be honored to have you on my arm.”

This is what it’s all about: family riding through every curve of life together.

Blowing out a breath, I grip Roundman’s arm a little more tightly. Just outside the backdoor of the clubhouse is the makeshift aisle. At the end of that aisle is an arbor decorated in red and black tulle. Kneeling under that arbor is Drexel Devon Crews in a full-on black tuxedo, adjusting the red bow tie on Axel as my bridesmaids—Doll, Sass, and Tessie—watch with tears in their eyes. Standing beside him in black pants, red dress shirts, and their cuts are Rex and Shooter.

The music cues and Rex stands tall. His eyes meet mine, and time stands still. This is it. My every dream comes true as my dirty talking, badass biker stands under the arbor, dressed in a suit, with his cut as his vest under the coat, a red tie, and his hair down for me to run my fingers through.

I want to run to him, yet I want to stand here forever to stay in this very moment. Right here, right now, I am giving my life to a man I never would have imagined for my future, but he is the man I damn sure can’t be without. His smile brings me to life, his pain is my pain, his burdens are my burdens, and his secrets are forever safe with me as mine are with him. From this moment on, ride until we die, we will be one.

A nudge from Roundman has me moving. I blow out a nervous breath as I put one foot in front of the other, walking to my future.

At the end of the aisle, Roundman stops us and lifts my veil. Leaning in, he whispers, “The road before you has no end. Hold on to your man at every bend. This is it, Lux.” He smirks before he places my hand into Rex’s. “Don’t fuck it up, brother. She’s a deluxe model.”

We all laugh as I settle in beside my man. Tonka stands in front of us to begin the ceremony. He’s a retired Navy Chaplain who is also a patched Hellion.

Everything starts in a blur as my eyes fill with tears at the thought that I am, indeed, getting married today.

I think of how far we have come from two people living separate lives, yet we fit. From the first meeting when he openly checked me out and I shut him down, to learning he was my safety in all the chaos around me, we have become one. This man who holds my hand rock steady was once an annoyance I dealt with for Doll. Now he’s the man of my every dream.

After the traditional opening, Tonka smiles at me. “Caroline has written her own vows today and would like to share first.” He looks at Rex. “I understand this was sprung on you, brother, so pay attention because you’re up next.”

Rex looks at me, and my eyes find his ocean blue ones. I get lost for a moment in the depth of emotion I can see in them.

“Rex,” I say his name breathlessly and have to fight back everything I’m feeling. “Our ride began innocently enough.” I smile at the man in front of me. “You wanted in my panties.” Everyone laughs. I lean up and whisper in his ear so only he can hear me, “That first day, you should know I wasn’t wearing any.”

He drops my hands and pulls me close, his hands moving to cup my ass in my form-fitting gown. He then drops his head to whisper in my ear, “I sincerely hope you aren’t wearing any now.”

I wink as I laugh and continue my vows. “I tried to fight the connection we shared, only to find there is no fighting destiny. The ride hasn’t always been smooth, and we have had our share of bumps along the way. In the end, it always comes back to me holding on to you and finding my place.” Reaching up, I run my hand over his long hair. “I know I’ve told you I wanted New York, but I learned while you were away that I don’t need the big city lights. I don’t need some drawn-out ceremony. What I need, Drexel, is you.

“I stand here today, in front of our friends and family, and I vow to love you for always. I vow to stand by you through all of life’s curves and changes in direction. I vow to ride with you for the rest of my days, just as you are.

“You always tell me, if I want something, I just have to ask. Today, Rex, will you vow to ride with me for the rest of your days?”

He smiles and leans down to kiss me, and Axel quickly chimes in with, “No, you can’t kiss her yet. Geez, you know the drill. We did this with Momma and Shooter. You gotta say I do and shhh … stuff,” he corrects himself before slipping.