Epilogue

EPILOGUE

Gage

I stood in front of the mirror, trying to adjust my tie for the tenth time. My fingers trembled slightly, making the task more difficult than it should have been. The room was filled with the hum of nervous energy, and I could hear Greyson and Asher chatting animatedly behind me.

The evening was surprisingly chilly, with a crisp, cool breeze that seemed to seep through the windows and had chased away the usual humidity. The sky outside was a deep, twilight blue, and I could feel the excitement of the coming evening pressing down on me. I’d looked forward to this day for three damn years and I couldn’t believe it was finally here.

“I hate these things,” I growled.

“Gage, you’ve got to calm down. You’re going to strangle yourself with that tie,” Greyson said, his voice filled with amusement as he stepped up beside me. His easygoing nature was a stark contrast to my current state and helped me breathe a little better. Right now, I needed all the help I could get to calm my jangling nerves.

“Here, let me help,” Asher chimed in, already reaching out to take over, flitting his fingers at Greyson in a gesture that told his twin to move out of the way. He deftly undid my sloppy knot and started over, his fingers moving with surprising skill.

“Hey, I had it,” Greyson whined, punching his brother in the shoulder even as he stepped back to let Asher take over.

How was it my brothers managed to have a knack for being both annoying and endearing at the same time?

Both grown men in their own right now, both with relationships, careers, and homes of their own, Grayson settled in Texas and Asher in Georgia, they still remained the same mischievous twins they’d always been to me. Don’t get me wrong, their happiness made my heart soar, but seeing that little bit of the old rivalry tugged at my heartstrings, too. They were finally grown. I’d done it. Now it was my turn for a happy future and they were both here to support me. Nothing could’ve made me happier.

“Thanks, Ash,” I muttered, sniffling back the tears that threatened behind my eyes and trying to muster a smile. My heart was pounding in my chest, and I could feel the nerves settling in my stomach like a lead weight. “I just... I want everything to be perfect.”

“It will be,” Greyson said firmly, clapping a hand on my shoulder. “Xavier loves you, Gage. Nothing else matters.”

I nodded, trying to take comfort in his words.

Xavier.

Just thinking about him brought a rush of emotions. Love, excitement, and a hint of fear all swirled together, making it hard to breathe. We had been through so much together, and tonight was the culmination of it all.

Our wedding.

The thought of seeing him as I walked down the aisle, of finally pledging our lives to each other, was almost overwhelming.

“You look good, Gage,” Asher said, stepping back to admire his handiwork. The tie was now perfectly knotted, sitting neatly against the collar of my crisp, white dress shirt. “Xavier’s going to be blown away.”

“Yeah, well, let’s hope I don’t pass out before he gets the chance,” I joked weakly, earning a laugh from both of them. Their presence was grounding, a reminder that I was never alone in this.

There was a knock at the door, and Ellie poked her head in, her eyes bright with unshed tears. “Gage, it’s almost time,” she said softly. “Are you ready?”

I sucked in a deep breath, letting it out slowly as I glanced at myself once more in the mirror. The sharp, tapered lines of my suit fit over me like a glove, the dark material soft against my skin and the burgundy pocket square providing a splash of color. For a firefighter, I had actually managed to clean up pretty well tonight. Not half bad if I did say so myself.

“Yeah, El. I think I am.”

Xavier

As I made my way to the ceremony, Dexter by my side and standing in as my best man, the cool December air hit me, calming my nerves slightly. The garden was beautifully lit, with fairy lights twinkling in the trees and candles flickering along the path.

Our guests, coworkers from the Station Twenty-One and their respective spouses and plus ones, were already seated, their faces turned expectantly toward the front. Even Jackson and his husband, Ayen, who sat staring at his husband in awe, tears shining behind his eyes, had flown out to Baton Rouge from California for our special day. The fact thrilled me to no end. I hadn’t seen the man since I left my teaching position at the aerial program, the very program responsible for bringing Gage and I together, and moved to Baton Rouge three years ago. So much had happened for us both in that time and he looked good. Happy. Married life clearly agreed with him. A far cry from the player I’d known for most of my career there.

Kate and Dan were the other guests sitting in the second row that really shocked me. I’d invited them out of respect for Dexter but, truth be told, I never actually expected them to come. They’d been tolerant of my relationship with Gage, polite and cordial even whenever we had to interact in any way for something for our son, but I never actually expected them to support my impending nuptials on account of their religious morals. Color me impressed at Kate’s changes over the last three years where my relationship with my son was concerned; she’d come leaps and bounds since that day I confronted her about the abuse our son had suffered. This though, sitting in actual support of me at my wedding, this was a change I could never have predicted. I knew having his mother there would mean the world to Dexter, too, and the thought that one day, despite our bad history, that Kate and I, and our respective spouses, might truly be a blended type of family for Dexter simply brought tears of happiness to my eyes. I wanted nothing more for my son than for all the past tensions and hurts to be erased and his future to be the brightest it could be. Maybe, just maybe, Kate’s presence here today would be the start of that.

Captain Clarke stood at the front of the garden, an imposing yet welcoming figure. His navy dress uniform was immaculate, each medal and ribbon perfectly aligned. A tall man with broad shoulders and a dignified bearing, he commanded respect with a mere glance. His presence added a touch of formality and gravity to the occasion, but his warm smile and kind eyes softened his demeanor.

Captain Clarke had been a firefighter for over three decades, a Captain at Station Twenty-One, for the last one and a half, and his experience showed in the calm, steady way he carried himself. He had been a mentor to Gage, guiding him and supporting him through some of the toughest times in his career and his personal life, one of the very few commanders-in-chief who ran his station as an all inclusive, all accepting company, and it seemed only fitting that he would be the one to officiate our wedding.

I took my place at the front, standing tall and trying to steady my breathing even as I brushed at the tears collecting in the corners of my eyes. Dexter flashed me a smile and gave me a quick, one-armed hug, his supportive presence a comforting force.

He’d grown into such a fine young man, his grades at LSU were in the honorary role all through his last three years there, and amazingly, he’d gone to a therapist and managed to deal with all the horrors of his childhood and come out an incredible person despite that past. He’d even met someone he really liked and their relationship, though still in the early stages, seemed to add a sparkle to his eyes and a lightness to his step.

Our father/son relationship had progressed beyond my wildest expectations, and we often spent time together just doing things normal families did. All the things I’d missed out on in his childhood. I couldn’t be more proud of the man he’d become, and I told him that often

The music started, and my heart skipped a beat. This was it.

As Gage appeared at the end of the aisle, my breath caught in my throat. He looked stunning, his smile lighting up the night. All the nerves, all the fear, melted away in that moment.

All I could see was him.

My love, my future.

When he reached me, we joined hands, and everything else faded into the background. It was just us, standing together, ready to face whatever came next. I squeezed his hands, and he squeezed mine back, his eyes shining with love.

“Ready?” he whispered, his voice steady and sure.

“More than ever,” I replied, my heart full to bursting.

And as we said our vows, surrounded by family and friends, I knew that this was just the beginning of our forever.

Gage

As Xavier and I joined hands and stood before him, Captain Clarke’s deep voice resonated through the garden. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he began, his gaze sweeping over the assembled guests, “we are gathered here today to celebrate the union of Gage and Xavier. It is an honor to stand before you, to witness and bless the commitment of these two remarkable men.”

He paused, looking directly at us with a mix of pride and affection. “Gage, Xavier, you have chosen to walk this path together, to face the challenges and joys of life as partners joined in matrimony. Your love is a testament to your strength and your devotion to one another.”

Standing just underneath a simple, yet elegant arch adorned with small white flowers, Captain Clarke’s presence was both reassuring and inspiring. His words carried the weight of wisdom and experience, and as he continued the ceremony, I felt a sense of peace and certainty settle over me.

With Captain Clarke guiding us through our vows, just like he’d guided me through much of my life in the way that I thought a loving father would have, I knew we were in the best possible hands. His blessing was more than just ceremonial; it was a heartfelt endorsement from someone who had seen us grow and thrive together. Someone who I respected and cared for very much. His presence was a connection between our past and our future, and as we spoke the words that would bind us forever, his blessing falling over us, and the crowd cheering when we were pronounced husband and husband, I felt truly ready to take this next step in life with my man by my side.

Xavier was my heart, my everything.

He’d come into my lonely life and changed everything in ways I could in no way have imagined. My world would never be the same and I couldn’t be more excited for our future together.

I pressed my lips to his when we were finally granted the leave to do so, and with his hand grasped tightly in mine, tears of happiness tracing down my cheeks, we turned to face our family. As they all roared their approval, we made our way down the aisle together.

This was just how I’d dreamed my life would be.

One big family.

Thank you for reading the continuation of Xavier and Gage’s story.

Oh, and if you enjoyed this book, maybe you’ll consider doing me a huge favor and leaving a review. Even a few words would mean the world to me, and it also helps other readers find the stories you love.

Watch for Greyson, Asher, and Dexter to star in their own books sometime in the future. Don’t forget to follow me on Facebook to keep up to date on all things yuMMy and the crazy antics of all the bad boys inside my head.

In the meantime, why not check out some of the other books in my backlist. A handy list is on the very next page!

Love,

~Eve Riley