EPILOGUE

WALKER

“Nice party, Spank Banke. You clean up nice.” Dec claps me on the back and picks up Riley’s hand, lingering his lips over her knuckles too long for my liking. “And you’re stunning as always. Even more so now that you’re off the market.”

“Keep your mouth off my wife.” I smack the back side of his head and he chuckles as he rights himself. Riley and I are doing the obligatory greetings, making rounds to each of the tables at our wedding. Thanking our guests and posing for more pictures than I’d fucking like, but it makes my wife happy.

Riley and I both wanted a small ceremony with only a few friends and her father, but Kendall made fast friends with my teammates and ran her mouth at every game, practically inviting the entire team.

I didn’t think many would show, I’ve known them for less than a year, but quite a few showed up to our backyard affair. Buying the house was one of our first arguments. Riley thinks a six-bedroom estate is too much, but I plan on filling her belly with lots of babies. We both were robbed of having siblings when we were younger, and I don’t plan on making the same mistake with our family.

The backyard is impressive for being so close to Boston. It’s only an acre, but most of the property is fenced in with a huge backyard for our kids to play in. It can also hold over a hundred wedding guests, we’ve learned.

“Congratulations,” Nash Humphries says, patting me on the back and giving Riley a friendly hug.

Even though he’s a defensive end and we don’t practice as much together, we’ve become somewhat close. At least, close for Hump and me. We’re two of the quieter guys on the team who keep to ourselves.

He’s a single father, and that’s about all I know about his personal life. He’s a good guy though. Not cocky and loud like my other two sidekicks, Dec and Buck. For whatever the reason, we make a good team off the field as well, complimenting each other in some weird way.

Even though Hump is a father, the younger guys look up to me as a father figure, something I’ll never take for granted. And while Buck and I are the same age, he acts younger than Dec.

“Sucks that you’re off the market,” Buck says as he squeezes my bride too tight. “But your friends are still single, right?”

I swear drool pours out of his mouth as he grins at the ladies on the dance floor.

“Go get ‘em, Buck.” Riley laughs as she pushes him onto the dance floor, not that he needed any more encouragement.

“You realize he’s a toddler in a giant’s body. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but even Kendall is too mature for him.”

“Nah, look at them. They’re on the same wavelength. Who knows, they could make a perfect match.”

We all watch as Buck swings his arms like a wild beast grinding with Kendall. The two put on quite the show dirty dancing to whatever shit the DJ is playing. All Kendall’s requests, no doubt. Rowan and a few of the players’ wives are out there too but making less of a scene.

“Fucking idiot.” Hump gets up and heads to the opposite side of the property where it’s quieter. Can’t blame him. If I was here alone, I’d do the same. Buck gets on his nerves—on all our nerves—but I’m pretty sure they’re friends. Opposites attract and all.

Kinda like Dec and me. Although I’m more like the big brother in our friendship. Guess Hump is the same to Buck, even though they’re both the same age. Not mentally and emotionally though.

I’ve never been so attuned to my teammates as I have since being with Riley. I see a lot of myself in Hump, and I can’t help but wonder what his story is. If I can help him find happiness like I’ve found.

I’m not a matchmaker, but I wonder if he’d be interested in a double date with us. Maybe with Rowan. She’s sweet, kind. I could see her doing well with kids. I glance his way again and am surprised at the hard set of his jaw. I follow his gaze to Kendall and Buck, who are draped all over each other, making quite the scene.

But everyone is laughing, dancing, having fun, and that’s what Riley wanted for our wedding.

Friends, family, fun.

All I want is my wife alone and her naked body writhing under me. I loop my arm around her waist and hug her into my body, bending to run my nose along the shell of her ear.

“Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?”

“Once or twice,” she moans and leans into me.

“How long until I can whisk you away, Mrs. Bankes?”

Riley strokes her hand down my cheek and the diamond on her finger sparkles from lights overhead crisscrossing above the lawn.

“What do you plan on doing with me when you whisk me away, husband?”

“All the things.”

“I like the sound of that.”

I cup her cheeks and smile down at my blushing bride. I don’t know how I got so lucky to find a woman as pure and sweet and sexy, especially since I wasn’t even looking. And especially since I’m nowhere near deserving.

I never knew what it meant to love someone or to feel loved. Giving her everything she wants and desires in life brings me the joy and happiness I never thought about. The joy and happiness I didn’t think I deserved.

“Is the wedding everything you hoped it would be?” I skim the pad of my thumb across her bottom lip.

Riley tips her head and lights up my whole fucking being with her smile. “It's...perfection.”