Page 177 of Rule Breakers Fall Hardest

She blinks rain from her lashes. “What?”

“Get married—for real, this time.”

“For real,” she echoes.

EPILOGUE

DAIRE

September

Beautiful doesn’t even beginto cover the way Rosie looks as she glides toward me down the aisle. For a while, she wasn’t sure she wanted her dad to walk her, but in the end, she asked him, knowing she’d regret it if she missed out on this moment.

I’m so overcome with emotions that my vision blurs so badly I can’t even take in the dress she’s wearing.

When she stops in front of me and comes into focus, I feellike I might fall over.

I’m so undone for this woman.

With a watery smile, she passes her bouquet to a heavily pregnant Bertie.

We say our vows, and at the end, I lean in to whisper in her ear. “I broke my own rules for you, baby, and fell hard. I never want to come back up.”

And I mean it too.

Once upon a time, I thought Rosie was a temporary stop on the journey toward my future. In reality, she was the end game all along. If it weren’t for Sammy, I might not have ever gotten my head out from my ass. I could’ve missed out on the love of my life. Sleeping with my professor may have been a reckless, stupid choice, but it’s one mess I’ve made in my life that I can’t regret.

Becoming a father is the best thing that could’ve happened to me. Because of Sammy, I cleaned up my act. He gave me back the things that matter in life, like family, but most importantly, Rosie. Sammy’s the reason I have the love of my life.

We exchange our rings—the same ones as before; over the last several months, they’ve certainly become strong symbols of our love—then I’m told to kiss the bride.

This kiss is so different from the one we exchanged in the courthouse.

That one was intense, but full of hate and a strange intensity neither of us understood.

This one is pure passion and love melding together.

Cheers ring out, and we break apart.

Rosie smiles up at me with hearts in her eyes, and goddamn, I hope she keeps smiling at me like that for the rest of her life.

“What?” she asks, no doubt because I keep smiling at her like a complete and utter goof.

“I get to spend the rest of my life you. This… today… it’s only the beginning of all the things we’re going to do together.”

“Don’t you dare make me cry.” She gives a laugh that’s edged in a sob.

I take her hand, facing our gathered friends, family, and all kinds of people I’ve never met but her mom deemed worthy of inviting.

Behind us, the officiant says, “I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Daire Hendricks.”

Heart leaping at those words, I dip Rosie, pulling a squeak from her, and kiss her again.

Before we can start down the aisle, I grab Sammy from Roman’s arms. He’s a part of us too, the biggest part. He looks adorable in his baby tux and black Converse sneakers. His blond hair is slicked over more to one side, making him look like a gentleman.

With him tucked in to my chest, I lead Rosie to the private room we sectioned off, where we can relax while our guests move to the reception venue.

“I can’t believe we just got married.” She spins around, her dress billowing around her.

---