She shot me a kind smile. “Dad, I learned long ago to never get worried until you tell me to. Otherwise, I would be living my life in constantpanic.”
Chapter1
Raine
“You’re stunning,”Crickett said as she clasped her diamond necklace around my neck. It was my somethingborrowed.
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 myfather.
“Dad has my something old and blue right?” I asked while fixing a few curls in my stepmother’s hair that had fallenabit.
“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 uswiththem.
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 fortwins.
“Very dashing,” Crickett remarked as she kissed her husband and son on thecheek.
My father stood with his jaw hanging open as I turned to him. “You like?” I motioned to my dress beforehugginghim.
“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 inhisarms.
“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 outthere.”
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 tyingtheknot.”
I shoved my brother’s arm. “Don’t forget that I’m older thanyou,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 yourmother’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—thecard.
“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 allthistime.”
With shaking hands, I opened the card, sinking down in a chair to read the simple note my mother had written to me all thoseyearsago.
To myRaine,
As I sit here, watching you sleep peacefully in the bassinet beside me, I am flooded with more love than I ever knew one person could possess. I have only known you for hours, but without you, my life wouldn’t be complete. I hope you never question the undying love I have for you, how proud I already am to be your mother, or how blessed I am to have such an angel on earth. You’re truly a miracle. Today, on your wedding day, I want you to know how beautiful you are, inside and out. I know you’re marrying a prince because your father wouldn’t let just anyone have the blessing of marrying our precious princess. Always know that you are stronger than you think and when in doubt, your family will be here to back you up. I have no idea what the future holds for our family, but I do know one thing: you are the light inmylife.
I love you with all of my being, my beautifuldaughter.
Always,Mom
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 Icraved.
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 leadperfectly.
“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 oftheroom.
“As ready as I’ll ever be. Are you?” I asked, looking upathim.
“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 haveagreed.
Ryder
Holyfuck.