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“Dad, do you think he’s right?”
James Harris—Dad, to me—walked over and laid his palm on my cheek. I tilted my head, pressing my face into his hand.
“I’ve always been honest with you about my past.” I looked into his eyes and nodded. “I’ve made some very poor choices. The drugs and alcohol. The women. Did I ever tell you that I even rode with a motorcycle gang for a while?”
“No,” I said.
“Come, sit with me.” Dad took down two of the stacked chairs. He placed them facing each other. Dad took my hands in his after I was seated.
“I did. We called it a club, but it was nothing more than a group of thugs. When you choose a lifestyle like that you learn quickly to read people. The eyes. It’s always in the eyes. Some are as cold as snakes. Some still have flashes of life left. Humanity. It was a tough life. Very stressful. Always watching your back for the next attack.”
“Dad, as much as I like hearing your stories, do we have time for this?”
He chuckled at my question. “Don’t worry, kid. They won’t start without you.” Dad wrapped his hand around the back of my neck and pulled me in for a kiss on the cheek. “Just listen, okay?”
“Okay.”
“The men turned on each other. Sometimes over perceived grievances only they saw. Sometimes over a woman. It was a mine field. That’s when I learned to watch the eyes. I learned to get out before the fighting would start.
“Every once in a while, a member like Michael would come along. Someone who could blend. Someone who was so deadly and volatile, you never knew when they would strike. Those are the ones to really watch out for.
“My point? Gray’s eyes have none of that. He’s kind. He may come from Michael, been raised in a club of his own, but he’s not really a member. He’s a fringe player. He’s a sheep dog to Michael’s wolf. Do you get what I’m saying?”
“I think I do. So, it’s okay to marry him?”
Dad raised a finger in warning. “If you want to. If not, well... I’ve got some cash, a credit card with your name on it, and a rental car waiting out front. You can just walk away.”
My jaw dropped open. “What about everyone else?” I asked.
“Who cares? Your stepfather and I would take care of it.” I thought long and hard about what he said. He was only wrong on one account. I had seen Gray’s eyes go cold and deadly back in Chicago. But, it wasn’t directed at me. Dad compared Gray to a sheep dog. Being on his farm, I’d seen a dog’s eyes go cold and wary before, too. Right before they had to protect the sheep. I’d seen Gray’s eyes go cold. Right before he needed to protect me.
“I want to marry him.”
“I thought you’d say that. Though, I’d prefer if you had picked someone not so connected.” Dad chuckled. “Let’s go.” Dad held his arm out for me. I laced mine through his. Love for my family flowed through me.
“Thanks, Dad.”
“By the way, you look beautiful. Hair and all.” I looked up and he winked at me.
The walk to the other room was short, but butterflies still battled in my stomach. Passion held up her cell phone so I could see the screen. Peyton’s face filled the window along with her two girls. My brother-in-law peeked in from over Peyton’s head. My nieces blew me kisses.
Passion opened the door and my heart exploded. Small, round tables held photographs of Gray and I over the years, telling our story. The tables created a walkway with the guests standing on the other side of them. Gray’s parents and siblings stood to the right along with Frank and a woman I didn’t know. My side had my parents, Grams, and Liam, Jax’s boyfriend. Feeling overwhelmed in the moment, it didn’t register that Jax wasn’t standing next to Liam.
The first photo was of Gray and I on the plane for our first trip. We’d known each for two weeks at the time and left on an adventure. Our heads were bent together, both of us smiling with excitement and newness.
Other photos showed our years of travel and the places we’d been. Rome, London, Aruba, Nicaragua, and many more. In some, we were dressed up for special occasions. In others we were sweaty with exertion while on hikes. I loved every moment shown. My favorite one was last. A shot taken a few days before at the Stratosphere. Gray had snapped a selfie of us after I jumped off the building. Our smiling faces said it all.
I pried my eyes from the pictures to look at Gray. He stood at the front with my best friend Jax. I craned my neck to see Passion. “Jax is here.” I laughed at the obviousness of the statement I made.
“Shh.” Passion waved one hand for me to turn back around while she held the phone up in the other. I followed her order and turned back to the guests.
Mary Francis looked pained as I neared her. Michael gave me a nod. He smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. Gray’s brother and sister looked bored and put out that they had to attend. His sister looked at her nails while his brother tried to discreetly check his phone. I moved on and put them out of my mind. I was here for Gray and only Gray.
I refused to look at my side, knowing the tears would overflow if I saw my family and friends with happy tears streaking down their faces.
Gray’s eyes never left mine. Every time I looked back at him, his were locked on my face. His smile reached his eyes. The gray color was warm and inviting without a hint of deception. I let go of my dad’s arm to reach for Gray. My future. My dad let me go after whispering in my ear, “I love you, kid.”
My stepdad, a part-time minister, stood up front ready to marry us. Passion really had thought of everything. I got to have both of my Dads involved in giving me away. The tears started to leak out. Gray wiped them away with his thumbs.
I smiled up at him. Every cell in my body was ready for this moment. Gray pulled me to him and kissed me. My stepdad cleared his throat while everyone else laughed.
The ceremony passed in a blur. It was over almost as quickly as it had begun. I couldn’t describe what was said or if I cried more later. I only remembered Gray, and my feelings. Happiness. Love. Joy. Contentment. They all rolled into one. I forgot about Gray’s family and what they did. I forgot about my hair. I forgot that not all of my siblings could be there. I wished they were, but it wasn’t what mattered. I held onto Gray’s hands with my own. He was my lifeline. My love. My husband.
After it was said and done, Gray picked me up and swung me around. While everyone else clapped and cheered, my heart exploded.