“He has you and that’s all he needs.” He gathers me further into him, knowing I’m about to turn to face him. He keeps me tucked in, nowhere to move.
“Don’t even bother arguing. He loves you. You are all he needs.” His breath is at my ear.
“I don’t know how to be a mom, Nix.”
“Well, start knowin’ it. We are havin’ kids as soon as I can get you knocked up.”
“Ummm, no, Nix.”
“Umm, yes, Kadence.”
“Oh, my gosh, you are a pain in my ass,” I huff out, annoyed that I can’t argue with him.
“No, Kadence, the pain is from my hand comin’ down on it earlier.” He laughs at his stupid joke.
“Agh,” I continue to pout. The damn man makes me crazy.
His hand comes to my stomach, his fingers lightly grazing the skin. “Can’t wait to see this belly, so beautiful, so big.” He rolls me back on to my back. “Nothing would make me happier to know that we created a child together, Kadence. I want that. I want that for Z. Don’t deny that for us,” he whispers, and this time I cave. Why does he have to be so sweet?
“I’ll have to make an appointment with the specialist; the scarring might be an issue,” I tell him. I don’t know how much of an issue, but the skin might not be able to stretch. His finger comes down and traces the scar, his face morphing into anger.
“I hate they did this. That he did this.” He moves down my body to kiss the ugliness. I hate when he does this, but there is no stopping him. “Gunner’s dead,” he continues, ignoring my discomfort at him kissing me there. “Nothing will make up for what they did and I can’t ever take that back, but know that they won’t ever hurt you again,” he promises. And I know he’s telling me the truth.
“I know, Nix, and I don’t hold that anger anymore.” I look down at him. “It’s over. Zane is dead. Gunner is dead. T and his boys helped save me, and you still have the truce.” I tell him everything he already knows. “Let’s be happy,” I say, for once at peace with my life.
“I am happy, and I’ll never stop making sure you’re happy, baby,” he tells me, and I know he will. He’s Nix Knight: the man does what he says he’s going to do.
Epilogue
Nix
I roll up on my bike feeling a nervous energy stir through me.
“You ready for this?” Beau asks beside me. The fucker looks ridiculous in his nut-hugging slacks, wearing his cut and riding his bike.
“How the fuck we end up here?” I ask, laughing as the rest of the boys pull up next to us. The whole crew’s wearing suits, their cuts replacing the jacket.
“You’re the fucker who fell in love, asshole,” Sy grumbles beside me.
“Yeah, well, the suit wasn’t my fuckin’ idea,” I tell them, but they just shake their head knowing I’d do anything for her.
“You right, boss man?” Jesse asks, watching me quietly.
“Yep. Wanted this fucking months ago,” I tell them, knowing it’s true. I didn’t care how I got here or how long it took me, I wanted this day.
“You might have wanted this day, but you look like you’re about to puke,” Beau laughs beside me.
He’s right. I don’t know what the fuck is wrong with me. I’m Nix Knight. I don’t get nervous. But fuck. I am. Today is one of the most important days of my life. Today, I make Kadence my wife.
Kadence
“Keep still or I won’t be able to get it right.” Holly swats my hand away, while still holding the curling iron close to my scalp.
“Don’t burn me, Holly,” I complain.
“I won’t if you stop moving,” she argues back.
“I can’t help it. I'm nervous. I feel like I could spend the day on the toilet.” Her insane laughter fills the room, and the sound heals a little of the pain I hold for her in losing her child. It’s been four months since that night, and even though the same funny, crazy Holly is standing in front of me, doing my hair for my wedding day, I feel like she’s still missing a little piece. I’ve searched and searched for that small piece, but no matter how far I travel, how deep I dig, I can’t find it. I’ve come to realize it’s not something I can give her. It’s something she can only find herself. It’s just coming to terms with that.
A knock at the door has me jumping in my chair.
“Keep it together, Kadence.” Holly laughs at how nervous I am. My dad walks in looking handsome in his suit. He wasn’t impressed when mom and I picked it out for him, but I could see behind his eyes that he would be secretly proud to wear it for his daughter's wedding day.
“You’re late,” he croaks, quickly turning away from me.
“Are you crying, Mr. Turner?” Holly calls out.
I smile at her jab, but I feel slightly sorry for my dad. I've never seen him cry. “Are you okay, Dad?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. Just got something in my eye,” he explains as Holly snorts behind me.
“We are almost ready, Daddy,” I tell him, using the name I know that he loves to hear.
“Done,” Holly declares, moving away from me. I stand from the chair and walk to look into the full-length mirror. Shit. I draw in a breath. The floor-length ivory gown sits snug against my body, a small band of crystals cinching my waist in. The sweetheart neckline is covered in a sheen of beaded lace, cut off in a capped sleeve. My dark hair is woven up into a low updo, leaving soft curls falling around my face. The ivory-netted headpiece that Holly just secured in covers half my face, the crisscross pattern sitting two inches over my left eye.
“I love it, Holly.” I turn to look at her and catch the last look of pain cross her face. “Are you okay?” I ask, walking to her.
“I’m okay, Kadence.” She wipes the lone tear away. “You look breathtaking.” She pulls me in for a short hug and then steps back smiling at me. I know she’s happy for me.
“I love you, Holly.”
“I love you, too. Okay, let me just grab your bouquet and mine, and let's get this shindig started.” She leaves through the connecting door, giving Dad and me some privacy.
“Are you okay, Daddy?” I look over at him, still trying to keep his tears at bay.
“Fuck no! My baby girl’s getting married, and by God, you’re the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen.” He walks up to me, engulfing me in his strong embrace.
“Dad, don’t make me cry. I'll mess up my makeup."
“Don’t even care. You’ll still be beautiful.” I fight the urge to tell him he’s just like Nix. I'm sure he’s already aware of that. “Jesus, Kadence, you’re breakin' my heart here. I feel like I’m losing a piece of me.” A sneaky tear escapes, but this time I don’t even care.
“You’re not, Dad. You’ll still be my dad. You will always have a special place in my life,” I promise.
“Good, just make sure you tell that to your husband when he tries to take all your time,” he sniffs back his emotion.
“Daddy, I promise. I will always have time for you.” He leans down and kisses my cheek, squeezing my hand. I never thought of it like that. Here I am freaking out about giving my life to another, while my parents feel like they're losing a part of theirs.
“Oh, God, I leave you for two minutes, Mr. Turner, and you made her cry?” Holly comes back carrying my bouquet made up of purple roses. “Come here. We’re already late.” She fusses about, fixing the damage my dad did in two sentences. God, I’m not going to last with Nix’s vows.
“Okay, let's do this,” she says after finishing up the touches.
My dad takes my hand and leads me out the door to the chapel. The chapel was Nix’s idea, to marry in the same one as his parents did. I loved the idea so much; I agreed instantly, a special part of them both with us on our day.
I love his dad. Since meeting in the hospital, he’s been coming back into town every other weekend and staying with us. Nix and Z love it, but I know Red loves it more. The boys have even had a few weekends out at the lake house. I know when Nix lost his mom things were tough between the two of them, but looking at them now, you would never know. You can tell how much Nix loves having his dad in town and has even hinted at wanting him to move back, to be closer to Z. I can’t blame him. Now that I have moved in with Nix and Z, my parents have been coming over more often. I’d love to say it’s because they miss me so much, but it’s all to do with Z. They’ve fallen in love with him just as much as I have. Their grandson, they tell everyone. Z loves them just as much as they do him, even choosing to go stay with them while Nix and I are away on our honeymoon.