Chapter Seven
Ana
The day is finally here.
I’ve been dreading this day. I have been selfish in using Maverick as my comfort to get me through this. I’ve reminded him over and over again that this doesn’t mean anything, and he just says, “I know” and nothing else.
I thought there would be more fight on that, but maybe he’s doing what he said and is actually just here for me. It’s something I will have to deal with when the time comes, which will now be by the end of the day.
I don’t know if I have the energy for that right now, even though I know it’s coming.
Tears well in my eyes and fall down my cheeks as I get dressed in a black dress. I put it on and look at myself in the mirror. Seeing myself in the mirror pulls me into reality and causes the dam to break.
My knees get weak as I fall to the floor while sobs take over my body.
You always know in the back of your mind that this day will come, but nothing can ever prepare you for it.
I don’t know how long I sit there crying but, at some point, I feel the arms of my husband as he picks me up and puts me onto his lap. I turn my head into his chest and cling to the shirt he’s wearing.
“I’ve got you, Button,” he whispers in my ear.
I let the grief consume me as Maverick keeps me safe to let it all out.
“We’ve got to go now, Button,” he says in my ear, his voice sounding rough.
I shake my head.
“I know you don’t want to do this, but now’s the time to say your goodbyes. You will regret it if you don’t go,” he rasps.
“If I go, then it will be real,” I say with my voice cracking.
“It already is real. I’ll be with you every step of the way.”
It takes a few more minutes before I finally manage to get up.
“Let’s go before I crumble again,” I choke out.
“Crumble as much as you need, Button. I’ll be here to pick you up,” he says, wrapping an arm around me and leading me out of my room.
We get down the stairs, and my mom and sister are standing at the bottom waiting for me. Both of their eyes are rimmed red.
“Let’s go, sweetheart,” my mom says.
We get into vehicles and make our way to the church.
The time moves by too fast before we are there.
I let out a gasp and tears fall for a different reason this time.
Dani, Rage, Prez, Robyn, Tank, Knuckles, Rock, and Ice are here.
“What are you doing here?” I ask Dani as soon as I open the door.
“Like we would let you go through this alone,” Dani says with a scoff.
She pulls me tightly into her arms.
“You can do this. Not everyone can be here, but the club has your back. Let us hold some of the weight with you,” she whispers in my ear, and I nod my head.
