Page 168 of Tyler's Rule
The reception took us back to our club, music, laughter, and drinks flowing.
Ash leaned on a crutch, stubborn as hell and determined to be back to work, despite still being on pain meds. His brother hovered, ready to catch him if he so much as breathed wrong.
“Sit down before you make that worse,” Heretic snapped.
“I’m fine.” Ash rolled his eyes, his gaze on one of the bartenders serving drinks in a cut-off shirt.
“You’re acting like an idiot.”
“Accurate, but irrelevant.”
Dixie leaned in to me. “Everyone’s happy. I love this.”
I did, too.
Kane had Lovelyn tucked at his side, his expression softer than I’d ever seen it. Mila and Convict weren’t far off, her head on his shoulder, something calm and settled between them. With Dixie, this was my family. The one I chose.
A little while later, Shade caught my eye across the room
He followed me to a quiet corner. “Ye okay?”
I shrugged.
He studied me. “Sure about that enigmatic gesture? I don’t want to mistake ye for actually happy.”
I glanced back through the crowd. At Dixie. Laughing. Alive and mine.
He followed my gaze, a faint smile tugging at his mouth. “Are we going to get another wedding soon?”
“Can I ask my woman first before telling ye?”
Fucker beamed, punched my shoulder, and left me to gather my thoughts.
I went back to her.
Dixie gazed at me. “Where’d you go?”
“Needed to clear my head.”
She narrowed her eyes. “You’re thinking dangerous thoughts again.”
“What does that mean?”
She pointed a finger. “I can tell. Your face does a thing. A ‘this man is about to ruin my life in the best way’ thing.”
I huffed a laugh. “You’re crazy.”
“Correct. But you love my fine grade delulu.”
I pulled her into me, her body fitting against mine.
“Holy shit,” she breathed. “This wedding really did something to you.”
“Maybe.”
She slipped her arms around my neck anyway, smiling up at me with trust I’d never break. That feeling in my chest tightened again. Something to hold on to forever.
I leaned in to her ear. Paused so my wild heartbeat didn’t trip me up. Then asked what had been gathering inside me for a long while. Probably from the first time I saw her and my soul decided she was mine.
