Page 45 of Denial

“I plan on listenin’ to every single detail Hope wants to share for the weddin’. She wants it to happen in a month. King, you already know you’re my best man. Devil, can’t get married without you steppin’ up there with me too. I’ve got one more person to ask and the weddin’ party will be set,” I tell the guys as I remove the gloves and walk out to grab my cut after washing my hands.

“You gettin’ married in a church?” Devil asks me, a smirk on his face because he was with us when we heard the girls talk about their wedding days.

“I am. You’ll be right up there with me, Devil. Not gonna let you get out of that shit. And plan on wearin’ a tux,” I state before turning and leaving my twin to realize I’m dead serious about the tuxedo part. He’s gonna be an ass about it, but not in front of Hope.

The rest of the day is spent choosing one thing after another for the wedding. Hope is in all of her glory as her mom takes notes and writes everything down. There’s one detail that shocks the hell out of me, but I know he won’t refuse my fiancé anything she wants. It’s a long day filled with food, laughter, and a ton of decisions being made. I’m there for every second until Hope starts yawning and I whisk her up to bed because sleep is her friend these days and she didn’t take a nap.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Hope

A month later

TODAY IS THE big day. It’s the day I merge my life with Carson’s. We’ve spent the last month planning, trying on one dress after another until I found the perfect one, and everything else that goes into planning the wedding of your dreams. We’re going to have a full house here today with members of the Phantom Bastards, Wild Kings, and Satan’s Anarchy filling the church and then the clubhouse after the ceremony. The ol’ ladies came back a week ago and started cooking and freezing everything we’ll need for the reception. Skylar made our wedding cake and some other desserts for the guests. My dad chose the song we’ll have our dance to and Carson chose our song. I have complete faith in them and know they’ve taken it seriously. Honestly, Carson surprised me by how into the wedding planning he was. Every time there was a decision to be made, he was right there.

None of the guys bitched about having to wear tuxedos either. Everyone in the wedding party and the man marrying us are wearing them. My dad is also going to wear one for the ceremony and pictures. I thought he would be the hardest one to convince, but all I did was ask him and he agreed. Faith, Jemma, and Paige’s dresses are beautiful and they fell in love with them as soon as we saw them in the bridal store. The colors are amazing on them and I know today is going to be the best day of our lives.

Last night was the hardest part of this last month. For the first time since Carson and I got together we spent the night apart. He slept at our home behind the clubhouse while I had a girl’s night in the clubhouse with my sister, cousins, friends, aunts, and mom. We watched sappy movies, laughed, ate a ton of junk food, and stayed up way too late. The entire time I missed Carson and knew he was with the guys at our home. Their plan was to play cards and watch some game all night while drinking. King and Devil assured me they wouldn’t let him get completely wasted so he’s hungover today.

Even though we’re not getting married until sunset, the day is going to be full of getting ready and enjoying my last taste of freedom as Faith keeps saying. She told me last night that it’s not too late to run and she’ll help hide me. It’s all jokes because she knows I’m completely in love with Carson and can’t wait to spend the rest of our lives together. Faith told me last night as everyone was settling down for bed that she can’t wait to find a love like ours for herself. Yeah, we don’t fight about much, but we’re completely devoted to one another and no one will ever come between the two of us. That’s what Faith wants and I hope she finds it.

Damon still isn’t stepping up the way he should for her so she’s written him off completely. What she doesn’t know is that I happen to have an idea of someone who is in love with her already and hasn’t said anything. It’s in the way he watches her as she moves around and has been there for her when no one else could reach her. He’s a member of another club and will be in attendance today. Maybe I can push them together and take away the awkwardness of one of them having to make the first move. It’s kind of surprising because I know this guy doesn’t usually have a hard time taking what he wants. And I know he’s not afraid of my dad. I’m thinking Faith has opened up about Damon and he wants to see her happy. Even if that’s with someone else.

“Hope, you need to get in the shower. We’ve got a full day of things to get you ready and they can’t start until you’re showered,” my mom says walking in our room at the clubhouse where I’ve been sitting in bed thinking about everything.

“I’m going. Just got lost in my head for a while,” I answer her, throwing the blankets back and climbing from the bed.

“You’re not having second thoughts, are you?” she asks me, worry filling her gaze as she steps up closer to me.

“No. I’ve been thinking about everything leading up to today and Faith,” I respond honestly as I let her hug me close and hold me for a few minutes.

My mom has been an emotional wreck since the day Carson proposed to me. She’s so excited and happy on one hand, but not ready for me to be married on the other one. It’s as if her and my dad have switched roles and he’s the steady one while she’s a mess. Usually, he’d be all over the place with something this major happening to one of us girls. Instead, he’s been there for my mom and me when I need a shoulder to cry on and Carson hasn’t been around because he’s at work or on a run.

“Okay. Get ready. The girls are showering in various rooms and then they’ll be in. Skylar and the Wild Kings ol’ ladies are already in the kitchen preparing breakfast. I’ll bring you up something to eat. We can’t have you go all day without food. My grandbaby needs his or her nourishment.”

Without another word, my mom leaves me alone in the room and I laugh softly as I make my way to the bathroom so I can get in the shower. Yesterday we had a spa day and everything got waxed. I was in so much damn pain but my aunt insisted it needed to happen. So, we all got waxed and walked out of the spa looking like a bunch of crazy bitches. The guys all laughed their asses off when we got back to the clubhouse. Carson held me for a while and tried his hardest not to laugh, but failed miserably. What made the entire situation worse is that my aunt is the only one who didn’t get waxed. Claimed she was too old and didn’t need to worry about that kind of stuff because her husband loves her regardless of what hair she has on her body. I call bullshit, but there’s no way I can prove she just chickened out.

After turning on the water, I complete my morning routine before stripping down and climbing in the shower. My mom or Faith is supposed to be in the room while I’m in here, but they’re both getting ready. So, I carefully move around the shower as I wash my hair, condition it, and then start on my body.

“Hope, I’m here,” Faith calls out as I rinse the conditioner from my hair.

“Okay. I’m almost done,” I answer her, my voice muffled by the water and the door that I left partially open in case one of the women did come in.

Everything seems to move at warp speed from the second I get out of the shower. I’m pampered, fed, dressed, and everything in between. My mom surprised me by hiring a team of stylists to come in and work on everyone so we’re all getting ready at the same time as we talk and laugh together. The photographer is even in here early to snap pictures of us all getting ready. She’s doing the same thing with the guys. We’re going to have so many photos of our wedding day and I’m all for it.

Pulling up to the church in the limousine, excitement fills me. I’m not nervous like I thought I’d be as my dad looks over to me and holds my hand.

“You ready for this, Baby Girl?” he asks me as everyone else gets out of the limousine and heads inside to put the final touches on their make-up, hair, and everything else.

“I’ve been ready, Dad. I’m so happy and can’t wait to see Carson. You look very handsome in your tuxedo,” I tell him, as he stands from the car and holds out his hand to help me.

“I’d only do this for your sister and you, Baby Girl. You two are my world and orbit around your mom who takes up my entire universe. Once we’re back at the clubhouse and the pictures are done, I will be changing though,” he warns me of something he’s said repeatedly over the last month.

“I know.”

My dad walks me into the church and we come to a stop behind my bridesmaids and Faith. They’re all wearing strapless dresses with sweetheart necklines. The dresses fit their bodies like a second skin until their waist where the bottom flares out so it’s easy to walk and move around in. Jemma and Paige are wearing dark blue dresses with matching sandals. Faith’s dress is silver and brings out the blue of her eyes. She’s wearing matching sandals because none of us want to wear heels or wedges today. My feet have been slightly swollen the last week or two so sandals that are flat were our best option.

The dress I finally settled on is also strapless. I’ve got a sweetheart neckline and the dress flares out just below my chest. There’s a dark blue ribbon that’s tied around my waist with blue and silver flowers all over the bottom of my dress. My hair is all up in some kind of complicated updo with several pieces of hair framing my face in curls. I’ve once again got barely any make-up on. My mom gave me the bracelet she wore on her wedding day that my Aunt Kim gave her. Not many people know about it because she wore it on her ankle. I’d love to wear it on my ankle, but today isn’t a day I can do that. Carson bought me the most beautiful necklace for today. It’s a silver chain with the letters C and H hanging from the chain. The charms are delicate and feminine and I know we’ll add to it for every child we bring into this world. There’s already blue in my dress so I didn’t need anything blue as my mom insists I follow that tradition.

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