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“Admit it. You do like me.” I smirk at Pam as Jules fits my veil over my hair.
“Don’t get all gushy on me. I’d do this for anyone.”
“She’s lying,” Jules says.
“She totally adores you,” Joey, the Old Lady of Axel the VP of the Flagstaff chapter tells me. “Why else would she have gone to the trouble of coordinating this?”
Pam got with the Old Ladies who would be here to give me my something, new, old, and blue. A sweet gesture for someone who once hated me and saw me as an enemy.
“Okay fine you caught me okay. I think of Murder like a blood brother. He gave me one of the greatest gifts. Something I thought I would never have, and he loves you. That man loves you like no other. I guess I was partly jealous. Not that he was with you but of the bond between you. Link and I have always had a love for each other but not the epicenes that is between you and your man. I want that. Anyway, what I’m saying is I’ve never saw that man as happy as when he got rid of Ruthie and you took him back.”
I squeeze her hand. “You and Link are at a crossroad, but if anyone can survive it, I know it will be the two of you.”
Pam nods with a smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes.
Wylla Mae pokes her head out the door then back in. “It’s time.”
“That’s our cue to get to our seats ladies,” Jules starts ushering everyone out of the room, leaving only my daughter behind as she’s my maid of honor.
She turns me toward the full-length mirror one of the guys brought in just for today. “You look like a queen.” James would probably have a shit fit if he saw all the makeup and crap all over his desk.
“I feel like one. Thank you for being the best daughter a mom could ever dream of having.”
“I know I haven’t told you it enough, but I love you, Mom. I know you had it rough and did the best you could.”
I fan my face. “Stop. You’re going to make me cry and Pam will kill us both for ruining my face.”
“You’re probably right but I just needed to say that I never appreciated you enough, but I do now.”
“Damn it, sweet pea.” A tear slides down my cheek. I change the subject. “Do you think I’m doing the right thing?”
“In marrying Dad?”
“All of it. The wedding, the new house, the baby. It’s a lot at once.”
“This was meant to be. You’re finally getting everything you wanted it. Embrace it.”
“Again, when did you get so smart?”
“I learned from you.”
“You’re determined to ruin my makeup, aren’t you?”
“Let’s get out there. Dad is waiting.”
“Okay.” I suck in a breath. I glance at my appearance one more time in the mirror. Jules took a flat iron to my hair and added some extensions in to give me a little more length for the occasion after I got a wild hair up my ass and chopped it off the other day. Smoky eyes and red lipstick. My ivory dress has a shimmery heart-shaped bust. And an A-line skirt that slits up both sides. The heels are diamond studded and kick ass creamy satin. I pick up my bouquet of deep, burgundy-colored roses with touches of baby’s breath in them.
I follow Wylla Mae down the hall. The tables in the bar are set up for the reception after. Black candles and flower arrangements that match my bouquet in the center. Pam and Jules thought of everything. East is waiting for us by the back door. I don’t have anyone to give me away, so he volunteered to escort Wylla Mae and I down the aisle together. I know people probably talk a lot of shit about us, but East is family and always will be one of the best men I’ve ever known.
“Pretty as a picture. Both of you. Glad you’re feeling better.” East gives me a hug, and I know he is genuinely happy for me. “Congrats on the baby, darlin’.”
“You too.” I kiss his cheek and release him.
“Ready to do this?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be.” East hooks one arm with mine and loops the other with Wylla Mae’s. A rock ‘n roll version of the Wedding March filters through the speakers from the tent the wedding is taking place in behind the clubhouse.
Rows of black chairs filled with club member and their old ladies makes up our guests list. Nothing but smiles meet us as we make our way toward James and Holy. Though I only have eyes for my motorcycle man. His dark gaze meets mine and the rest of the world fades away.
Wylla Mae kisses his cheek, stepping off to the side for East to give my hand in marriage to James. Years ago, some thought it’d be East and me tying the knot. However, this is how it was meant to be. I can feel it.
“Who gives this woman in marriage.”
“Her daughter and I do,” East answer’s Holy, placing my hand in James’s.
“Hey,” I whisper.
“Babe.” He grins at me and I already want to cry. This is truly happening. I’m marrying my dream man.
“Let’s get straight to it. These two crazy kids have danced around each other for years,” Holy says. “Marriage is sacred. A bond between souls. Alexa and James knew from the moment they met that there would never be anyone else. No matter what life has thrown at them their love has stood through the test of time. Enemies and grief. Nothing will come between them. Today in front of their Royal Bastard family they pledge their eternal devotion.” He takes a pause. “I’m gonna spare you the bullshit and get right down to it. Prez, Murder, my man. Do you promise to be the man Alexa needs?”
“I do.”
“Fine ass, Alexa. Fucking beautiful, woman. Mean that.” James glares at him. “Do you promise to be a down ass chick who’ll ride or die for Prez here? To love him and be true to him?”
“I think I’ll keep him.”
“Good. East, give’m the rings.”
East fiddles in his pocket and fishes out our silver wedding bands. James and I exchange rings.
“By the power vested in me by the wild and wonderful state of West Virginia I pronounce you Prez and his Old Lady. Kiss your woman.”
James puts one hand on my hip, pulls me in close, strokes my jaw, then kisses me deeply. Hoots, hollers, and whistles sound in the background. “Love you, babe.”
“I know.” He kisses me again.
After the ceremony we move inside to the reception. I steal away upstairs long enough to change into a different dress. One that is sparkly and gold and cuts off above the knees.
I find James at the bar taking shots with Void, Rael, Crucifix, and FOCUS. The last two are out of the New York chapter. Rael’s cut puts him from Nevada, the club Papa rides with. Void rode up from Florida with his Old Lady, Ivy also known as Toxin. I know it means a lot to James that so many members from other clubs showed up to support us today.
I look around the room and it doesn’t even feel real. But this is my life, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.