Page 41 of Bad Call
Emmett follows, removing his ring from the box and slipping it on before taking my hand in his. A million memories swirl in the air between us—good, bad, happy, and sad—as we admire the way they look together.
His eyes, glistening with emotion, lift to mine as he leans in and caresses my lips with his in the softest whisper of a kiss. Butterflies take flight in my stomach, excitement for what’s to come falling over me like a warm blanket. I drop my forehead to his, existing in the moment for a few beats longer, until the overwhelming need to bind myself to this man on paper becomes so intense that I can’t ignore it.
“Hurry up and find your birth certificate, Mr. Hayes,” I say. “I’m ready to marry the fuck out of you.” He barks a laugh, the sound like music to my ears as he kisses me once more before reluctantly pulling away to focus on the task at hand.
“Whatever you say, Mrs. Hayes. You’re the boss.”
THIRTY-EIGHT
EMMETT
“The best man has arrived,”Theo bellows through cupped hands as he bursts through the doors of the dressing room. As usual, he looks weird as hell with his signature gold under-eye masks and a purple star zit patch right in the middle of his forehead. HisBest Best ManT-shirt—that he ordered completely on his own—is black with white writing, making it the most normal part of his wedding morning attire. I have to do a double take when I realize that his pajama pants are adorned with several different pictures of my face. My brows furrow in confusion becausewhat the fuck, but I refrain from saying that out loud because of how excited he’s been.
When Stella and I decided to get married as soon as possible, we were left with a lot to discuss. First, we considered inviting our parents to the ceremony, but decided against it. We plan on reaching out to my mom and dad soon, because we feel that it’s the right thing to do. They deserve a chance to be in our lives, so as long as they’re respectful of us being together, I’m willing to put inthe work to mend our broken fences. Stella has been struggling to move forward with her parents—namely, her mother. An ultimatum was given during their last interaction, and I’m supportive of my wife in that regard. I won’t push her to fix things before she’s ready, but my dream is to someday be on good terms with all of them. Until then, we have our Renegades family, and they’re more than enough.
“What the fuck are you wearing?” Maddox asks as he sips his coffee.
Theo looks down, scanning his attire and looking up at our quarterback with irritation written all over his expression. “That judgment in your eyes is exactly why Emmett chose me as his best man and not you, Dane. You’re not committed enough for such an important job.”
“Actually, he chose m—” I cut Jackson off with a quick yank of my hand across my throat. Technically, I went to him first, since he stood beside me the first time I married Stella. But with their season already started, he and Hawk only have one day here before they have to return to Daytona. Theo has been so excited that I couldn’t bring myself to tell him the truth, so we’re just letting him do his thing. Honestly, he’s been great, helping with last-minute plans since we threw this wedding together in two weeks. Between him and Sydney, who I mistakenly gave my credit card to and told she had no budget, this day is everything my wife has always dreamed of. I may be paying for it until we’re old and gray, but she’s worth every fucking penny.
Jackson sits down on the couch next to his best friend, both hands lifted in surrender as a knowing smirk pulls atthe corner of his mouth. Even without our parents here, I feel surrounded by love and support. This is what we should’ve had all along, but I’m grateful that we’ve been given a second chance to do it with them by our sides. Marriage is hard. It’s work—and without the right people in your corner, it’s a lot easier to forget that it’s always worth fighting for. Guys like Theo, with his wise words, and Austin, with his unwarranted meddling when he realized Stella and I belonged together, are gifts to our relationship. When times get tough—which I’m sure they will—I have no doubt that we’ll have all the love and encouragement we need.
We finish getting ready, putting on our tuxes and tying our dress shoes until there’s a quiet knock on the door. Maddox walks over, pulling it open just as Sydney pops her head in. She scans the room, a stern brow raised as she gives us a once-over, making sure that we’ve followed every one of her instructions. We’re all pretty terrified of her, so there wasn’t a chance that we wouldn’t. From the matching gold cufflinks that we’re wearing to the products in our hair, it’s all been done under Syd’s very bossy demand.
“It’s showtime,” she says, obviously pleased with our appearance. “Are you ready?” I know she means it in a literal sense, but my heart leaps in my chest at the question, because I can’t fucking wait to legally make Stella my wife again. In my head and heart, she always has been, but something about signing those papers and knowing that we made it back to each other has me ready to sprint down that aisle right now.
“So fucking ready,” I reply confidently. Her sternexpression softens, an understanding smile reaching her eyes as she nods. I think everyone here knows how eager I am to get this show on the road.
“Funny,” she says, tilting her head. “Your wife said the exact same thing. Let’s do this, then.”
She spins on her heel, and we follow, walking down the long, quiet hallway. My pulse quickens with every step, excitement roaring through me until I can barely breathe. The guys stop behind me as I take my place at the altar, eyes locking onto the closed door that I know Stella will be walking through in just a couple of minutes. There are only a handful of people in the audience—teammates, coaches, Mr. and Mrs. Grant—but I can’t focus on any of them with the way my attention is fixated on the back of the room. I feel like I’m eighteen all over again, my heart ready to burst from my chest as I await her arrival. I’m just as sure today as I was back then that she’s it for me, and I can’t wait to slide my ring onto her finger, right where it belongs.
STELLA
“The getaway car offer still stands,” Arden says as we linger in the dressing room, waiting for our cue. “I know you won’t take it, but as your Maid of Honor, it’s my responsibility.”
I giggle, so happy to have her here with me today. She, Lauren, Bailey, Livvy, and Syd have been the best bridesmaids, making this whole experience fun and carefree for me. In fact, if being a socialite influencer doesn’t pan out for the younger Grant sister, she has a pretty promisingcareer as a wedding planner, because she worked a miracle over the last two weeks. The way she bulldozed into meetings and shops with Emmett’s credit card and walked out with signed vendor agreements on such short notice was a sight to behold. He’s going to shit himself when he gets the bill, but he insisted on everything I dreamed of when I was a little girl. It’s all beautiful, matching my childhood fantasies down to the sparkly white princess gown that Alessia drove here from Pennsylvania, but at the end of the day, all I care about is being Mrs. Stella Hayes…not that I ever wasn’t, but still.
“Not necessary,” I reply, doing my best to keep the tears at bay. I’ve been so emotional all day, really feeling the love that surrounds us as we embark on our new adventure. I couldn’t be more grateful for my girls. Even though some of us just met, I know we have a lifetime of friendship ahead of us. I can’t wait for their weddings, baby showers, birthday parties, and celebrations to come. I’ll be there for every one of them, showing just how thankful I am that they’ve given me a place in the Renegades family.
“Damn right, it isn’t. I didn’t do all that work for nothing,” a familiar, masculine voice cuts in, making me spin around abruptly to find Austin standing in the doorway. He looks as handsome as ever in his tuxedo, a beautiful white rose pinned to his lapel. The sight of him with his soft, caring smile sends every one of my emotions into overdrive, causing the tears that I’ve been holding back to finally spill over. I tilt my head, my bottom lip quivering, and as soon as he opens his arms, I launch myself intothem. I let my sobs come freely, the comfort of his embrace making me overflow with love and gratitude.
“You look gorgeous, Stell,” he says, resting his cheek on the top of my head. “Prettiest bride I’ve ever seen.” I know it’s ridiculous, because we’re less than ten years apart in age, but this is a moment I always dreamed of having with my dad. He and I weren’t very close because he was more worried about his own wants and needs than those of his child. But I hoped that on my wedding day, he and my mother would be proud. They wouldn’t even acknowledge it the first time around, and they sure as hell don’t deserve to be here today. Which is exactly why I asked Austin to walk me down the aisle. He’s shown me and Emmett more support in the short time we’ve known him than our own flesh and blood ever did. I just hope he knows how much that means to us.
“Thank you,” I whisper, pulling back and craning my neck up to look at him. He chuckles, using the pads of his thumbs to wipe the tears from my cheeks, but I swat him away playfully. Bailey has her work cut out for her as my makeup artist today, because I have a feeling this is just the tip of the iceberg with me crying it off.
“I’ve got it,” she says, running my way. Her heels click against the marble flooring, her long, flowing dress swishing from side to side as she does. I didn’t even have to call for her, and she’s already prepared, a brush in each hand to touch up my foundation and mascara. I carefully blot my face with a tissue, sniffling as she goes to work. Thankfully, the damage must not be awful, because she steps back a minute later, a proud smile blooming acrossher face before carefully lowering my veil. “There. Now, what do you say we go have a wedding?”
I nod—because if I try to talk, I’ll probably cry again—looping my hand around Austin’s offered elbow. Lauren hands me my bouquet of roses, and we follow Sydney and Livvy down the corridor, their matching baby pink dresses shimmering as we pass under the recessed lighting. Before I even have time to think, each girl is funneling through the entrance that leads to the altar. Soft, instrumental music plays through the speakers while they slowly make their way along the aisle, fading into nothing as the ushers close the double doors so Austin and I can step up behind them.
Anticipation pumps through my veins as we wait, the wedding march bleeding through the thick wood for several moments. I dig my nails into the sleeve of his tuxedo for purchase, because honestly, I don’t trust myself not to take off like a racehorse, just to get to Emmett as quickly as I can. I spent over seven years in agony over my decision to break us, and here I am, marrying the love of my life for the second time. Do I deserve it? Who knows. But I’ll make damn sure he never regrets a single thing.
The doors open, and like a magnet, my gaze finds his. My vision blurs with tears, emotion like I’ve never felt before stealing all the breath from my lungs as I begin to walk toward the only boy I’ve ever loved. Evertouched. Everdreamed of. His brows pull tight, eyes glistening as they fill, and I swear time stops completely. He’s the most beautiful human being I’ve ever seen—inside and out—and I can’t believe he’s really mine again. This time, forever.
My feet mindlessly carry me forward, not nearly as quickly as I’d like, though. The pull to Emmett Hayes has always been incredibly strong, but never the way it is right now. It’s almost unbearable at first, but gradually ebbs away with each step I take in his direction, until finally, we reach the altar. I turn to Austin, and he lifts my veil, making sure it’s lying just the way Syd showed him before dropping a kiss to my cheek. He angles himself toward Emmett, shaking his hand before taking his spot next to Maddox. The entire room goes quiet, allowing the officiant to begin.
“Dearest friends and family. We’ve gathered here today to witness the next chapter of Emmett and Stella’s love story. It’s been a long road, with many bumps and wrong turns along the way, but as it usually does, the universe brought them back together. The couple has decided to write their own vows to express their love for one another.” She turns to me. “Stella, would you like to go first?”
