Page 94 of Y'allywood Billionaire

OMG. “I love you too,” I mouth to him. The remaining ice around my heart melts away. This is everything I’ve wanted to hear from Maddox.

He waves me over. “Riley, please join me on stage to accept this award. Because if you don’t, I’m not going to accept it.”

I laugh and raise an arm but stay firmly planted in my seat. I amnotgoing up there. No way. No how. I say, “It’s okay,Maddox. I love you, too. But can we finish this conversation when we’re not on live TV?” He went from being Mr. Always Smooth to Mr. Bumbling Bonehead, and my heart jumps the track.

The audience breaks into chuckles, and I swear sweat must be seeping out of every pore. I’m so embarrassed, but also so completely blown away. Leave it to Maddox to make me feel an extreme range of emotions I’ve never felt before.

He shakes his head. “I said I’m not leaving the stage without you, and I meant it. So here I stand.” He folds his arms and plants his feet on the floor like a petulant teenager.

I want to crawl under my chair and fall through the earth when they play the music to prompt him to exit the stage.

But he doesn’t care. He never cares. “Okay, fine. Rook, if you won’t come to me, then I’m coming to you. Because I am not letting this go. And I’m not letting you go, ever again.” He pulls at the microphone to bring it to me, but it’s firmly attached to the podium. It doesn’t come off, but Maddox refuses to give up on this wild and outrageous gesture.

I’m now standing. I’m not sure why—maybe because I’m ready to drag him off the stage myself. But I’m also laughing because how could I not be?

Then the security guard comes to escort Maddox off the stage. Maddox manages to yank the microphone free and escapes, darting down the aisle.

The auditorium roars as they give him a standing ovation.

When he finally makes it over to me, he holds the microphone to my mouth. So I say, “This is your award, Maddox. But since I apparently have the honor to speak tonight, let me just say it’s so well deserved. Because you are a magnificent actor. And a more magnificent person. I love you too.”

He pulls me into a hug and kiss, and the room explodes with cheers. The security guard takes the microphone and hauls itback up, or I think that’s what he does. I’m a little busy kissing the man I want to spend the rest of my life with to notice.

Epilogue

Skye is dressed in a white explosion, and Billy is in an ivory robe as they stand at Laire’s View. The sun is setting over the horizon on this perfectly cool spring day. And with the way the light and breeze hit the couple, they almost look ethereal.

Maddox is the justice of the peace who got his marriage certification online for this purpose, although Billy and Skye aren’t actually getting married. I told him it didn’t make sense, but he insisted he be qualified.

I’m the official photographer, so I’m moving around, snapping pictures of everyone, including Eva, Lucas, Sophie, and baby Zoey. Who, by the way, is so precious in her beautiful white gown with frills everywhere. Of course, Sophie designed it just for her on this special day.

West is sitting separately, I’m not sure why—maybe he arrived late, but I get photos of him too.

Billy and Skye take each other’s hands, then call in all their spirit guides to show the way, whatever that means. I snap shots.

Billy says, “My love. My twin flame. Your happiness means more to me than my need for us to be together if it no longerbrightens your soul. As long as my presence makes your inner light glow, I will be by your side.”

Skye tears up. “My soul from Sirius. My reflection. I am here for you, on this earth and beyond, for the good moments, the bad, and the unmemorable too. But only as long as the tethered bond we share lifts us higher. I know that as long as the flame burns between our souls, we will stay intertwined from this body to the next. My love for you is greater than my need for you to be by my side. But I am here as long as my presence makes your inner light glow.”

When they exchange rings, I notice Skye’s mood ring has been upgraded to one that’s very big and very red.

I stifle a gasp. She took that Scottish jewel!

Maddox raises his hand. “These two beings have asked menotto pronounce their commitment, but their non-commitment to each other. May you choose each other anew each day, and may your loose tethers only lift you each higher.” Maddox smiles. “So with that. I now present to you Billy Road and Skye Fox, individuals who wish to journey this life together, but only if it continues to enlighten them. And for sharing times in the future if only they thereso choose, bound only by their promise to try, each day, to bring out the best in themselves and each other.”

“Is thereso a word?” Billy asks.

“I’m not sure, Dad,” Maddox whispers. “How about we roll with it?”

“Yes.” Billy nods. “I’d now like to kiss my twin flame and tangle our individual flickers of light.”

“You may do so now.” Maddox opens his arms.

Billy and Skye kiss, which somehow leads to a steamy make-out session and a butt grab, and then they run down the aisle, hand in hand. The crowd throws flower petals at them, and I capture every moment.

When the crowd disperses, Skye heads straight for baby Zoey and holds her up, like the Lion King. After the awws and coos die down, Skye cuddles that poor thing so much she probably needs air.

West approaches us, and it’s good to see him. It’s been a while since he was off shootingBridesmaid to Bride.

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