Page 30 of Strike Out

Isla repeats the vows from the officiant and turns to me.

Fuck, I’m gonna cry.

“Malakai James. The first time I saw you, my heart whispered, “He’s the one.” My heart was so right, even if I was only fourteen years old. You are the reason I believe in love. I look forward to all our firsts—our first home, our first child, our first time hosting holidays—all the firsts that come with being together. To me, you are first above all things—my husband, my best friend, and my only love.” My father’s ring slides up my finger and I really let the tears go.

I sniffle and Mom hands me a tissue, and I dry my eyes and tuck it in my pocket. We look at the officiant and they say a few more things about marriage, then we all get ready for the big moment.

“Congratulations, by the power vested in me by the state of California, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride.”

My bride.

My beautiful Isla.

My wife.

I frame her face and lean my forehead on hers. “You are my reason, Isla. Someday soon, our children will beourreason. But you will always be mine.” I press my lips to hers and I drown out the sound of our parents and focus solely onher.

Unfortunately, I don’t get the luxury of taking the day off because I have an away game and we have to practice before we leave. Leaving the building, we stop at our parents’ car, giving them hugs and setting up a night where we can come by for a family dinner.

Gene pulls me aside and hugs me again. “Take care of my baby, Malakai.”

I squeeze him a little tighter and nod. “You know I will. She’s everything to me. She has been since that first day.” He pulls back and wipes his eyes, then pats me on the back.

“Good. Love you, kid.”

“Love you too, Dad.” I catch Isla watching us, so I give her a wink and she smiles. “Okay, I’ve got to get to practice. I’m going to get her home so she can get ready for classes. We’ll see you guys after I get home.”

We walk back to Isla and my mom, giving my mother a hug and a kiss before we leave. My wife and I walk to the SUV hand in hand.

Wife.

She’s my fucking wife.

“So, Princess, how do you feel now that you’re Mrs. Vaughn?” I help her into the passenger seat and buckle her.

“Like life is finally falling into place and I can’t wait to see what happens next.” She grabs me by the collar and pulls my mouth to hers.

“Hopefully a baby.” I press my hand to her belly. “Who knows, maybe they’re already in there.”

“Could be.” She smirks, kissing my nose. “Okay, we need to hurry. I’ve got class in an hour.”

Next up on the life to-do list: Get her pregnant and buy a house.

Half an hour in traffic gets us home and hustling out the door to practice and class. In the parking garage, I help her intothe SUV and kiss her goodbye, situating myself on the motorcycle. The photo on my screensaver is our first kiss as husband and wife.

I pull up my Instagram profile and post the photo with the caption:Mr. and Mrs. Vaughn coming in hot. #justmarried #youarethereason

Our social media manager is going to love me today. Then I send Isla a quick text before I take off.

Kai

Have a great day today, wife. I’ll be home first, so I’ll take care of dinner.

14

ISLA

Ipull into a parking spot at the college campus and haul ass to my therapeutic recreation class, making it inside just as the professor comes in. I take out my laptop and my messages pop up and I see what Kai texted before he left for practice.

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