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And I know they're right. I'm completely, utterly fucked.

And I wouldn't change a single thing.

"Alright," I concede. "You're all right. I fell fast. I fell hard. And I'm not apologizing for it."

"Good," Phoenix says. "Because we'd give you shit if you tried." He claps my shoulder. "Welcome to the family, Priest. Both of you."

Epilogue - Paige

Two Years Later

I stare at myself in the full-length mirror in the church's bridal suite and can't quite believe this is real.

The dress is simple. Ivory lace with cap sleeves and a flowing skirt that makes me feel like something out of a fairy tale. My hair is pinned up in soft curls with small white flowers woven through. Eden did my makeup, natural and glowing, she said, though I think she meant "enough to cover the fact that you cried three times this morning."

"You look beautiful," Ivy says from behind me. She's adjusting my veil for the third time even though it's already perfect.

"I look terrified," I correct.

"That too." She grins. "But mostly beautiful."

The door opens and the rest of the bridesmaids file in—Eden, Nora, Rosie, Quinn, Hannah, Lily, Riley, June, Bree, and Daisy. All of them wearing soft blue dresses that Eden and Nora coordinated because they’re the only ones organized enough to wrangle nine women into matching outfits.

"Oh my god," Riley breathes. "Gabriel is going to lose his mind when he sees you."

"He better not cry," I say. "Because if he cries, I'll cry, and then my makeup will be ruined."

"He's definitely going to cry," June says. "Jackson told me he was already getting emotional during the rehearsal yesterday. Today he's going to be a mess."

"Good." Bree sits down on the small couch. "Men should cry at weddings. Shows they have feelings."

"Gabriel has plenty of feelings," Eden says. She's checking her phone. "Judge just texted. They're ready when we are. Ceremony starts in ten minutes."

Ten minutes.

Ten minutes until I walk down the aisle of the same church where Gabriel used to be a priest. Ten minutes until I marry the man who saved me in a supermarket parking lot two years ago. Ten minutes until everything changes again.

"Are you nervous?" Nora asks gently.

"Terrified," I admit. "But in a good way. Like I'm standing on the edge of something incredible and I'm about to jump."

"That's exactly what it is," Quinn says. She's holding Mariah's hand, the little girl is serving as flower girl along with Grace and Luna. "Marriage is jumping together and trusting you'll both land safely."

"Very poetic," Lily teases. "Did Ranger teach you that?"

"Actually yes. He's surprisingly romantic when he wants to be."

There's a knock on the door. Canvas pokes his head in. "Ladies, we're ready for you. Paige, your father is waiting in the hallway."

My father. We've been barely speaking for two years. He didn't approve of Gabriel—too old, too many tattoos, too much "baggage" from his past. My mother was even worse. Suggested I was making another mistake. Said I was throwing my life away on a man who'd never be respectable.

I proved them wrong. Kept working at the supermarket part-time while finishing my illustration degree online. Started freelancing. Built a portfolio. Got my first paid commission six months ago, a children's book illustration that paid more than two weeks at the supermarket.

My parents still don't understand. Still ask when I'm going back to school for something "real." Still treat Gabriel like he's temporary.

But they showed up today. That counts for something. I guess.

"Give us two minutes," Ivy calls to Canvas.