AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Trying to get a grip on my hormonal self, I fill my lungs and let it out slowly. Maceo smiles at me, nodding for me to hurry and spit it out—eager as always to get to the good stuff. “Maceo, I was a stubborn, independent, bitch in heels when you met me—and nothing has changed.” Maceo lets out a belly laugh, along with everyone else.
“Nothing has changed because you accept me for who I am, bad attitude and all. You see my ambitions and dreams as something to admire and nurture. You see my stubbornness and unwillingness to yield as charming and desirable. You encourage and push me when I’m reluctant to leap because you see how much it would mean to me.”
I take a deep breath, letting my emotions pump through my heart and out of my mouth. “You are the balance I have been searching for—the yin to my yang, the dark to my light, the push to my shove. You’ve held me when I was at my lowest and scared of my own shadow. You saw strength in me when I believed I’d run out. You’ve lent me your strength when being forced to deal with my own issues head-on instead of letting me run away. You’ve loved me at my highest and my lowest, and through it all, it has been consistent and growing.
“My love for you has no expiration date. There will never be a day I will love you less—only more. I promise to keep you on your toes and hold yourself accountable when merited, to stand beside you no matter what battle we’re facing or whatever issues arise. I promise to give you stolen moments on the trails—or anywhere, for that matter. I promise cuddles every night, kisses anytime you want, and the home you’ve always wanted. I will love you, honor you, cherish you, and keep you at the center of my universe, always. My heart, mind, and soul are yours—they’ve been yours since the moment I met you. Your mine, and I’m yours.”
“You’re damn right your mine, and I’m yours,” Maceo says with a hitch in his voice. He doesn’t bother hiding his tears of joy when he takes my waist in his hands. A big man like him getting all emotional is kind of turning me on—mean and hard as steel with everyone else, but with me, he’s a soft teddy bear.
Maceo looks at Tony, sniffling. “Can I kiss her now?”
Tony shakes his head. “No, Atlas.”
“Why the fuck not?”
“You wantedtraditional,” Tony emphasizes with finger quotations. “Now, suck it up and retrieve the rings from your hellhound.”
Maceo’s jaw ticks, but he gets on his knee to address Hades. “Hey, big boy, can you be my wingman and let me have the rings?”
Hades woofs in approval, turning around to give Maceo his back and access to the ring bearer pillow.
Maceo stands and smiles, taking my hand and repeating after Tony. “As a sign of my love that I have chosen you above all else, with this ring, I thee wed.” Maceo slips the diamond wedding band on my finger to line up with my flower engagement band.
Maceo looks at Tony again, his eyes flashing with hope. “Now?”
Tony glowers at him with a look that screams, ‘no.’
Smiling, I take Maceo’s hand and repeat the words. “As a sign of my love that I have chosen you above all else, with this ring, I thee wed.” Maceo practically jabs his finger through the band to get it on faster, and I have to bite my bottom lip to stop my giggling.
“And now by the power vested in me by the state of Colorado and getordainedin24hours.com, it is my honor and delight to declare you married. Go forth and live each day to the fullest with each other. You may now seal this declaration with a kiss.”
Maceo doesn’t move. He stares at Tony with a deadpan expression. “Are you sure? Not going to say some more fancy words or scream out, ‘just kidding,’ when I go at it with my wife?”
Tony rolls his eyes. “Will you fucking kiss Little Jo already?”
“‘Bout fucking time,” Maceo growls. He swoops in to cup my face with one hand and wraps an arm around my waist, lifting me off my feet and claiming my lips with his. I melt against him as everyone cheers in celebration.
We haven’t stopped kissing, but Tony wraps it up. “I’m pleased to present the newlyweds, Captain and Missus Maceo Cruz Tabares. Now let’s get our fucking drink on.”
* * *
My face aches from how much I’ve been smiling throughout the evening.
The photos we took went smoothly, with the wedding party being in a constant state of giddy. Chef Jordan made an incredible sit-down meal of duck and steak with all the trimmings. Cutting of the beautiful three-tiered buttercream wedding cake Opal made went perfectly—probably because I threatened to body slam Maceo if he got any wild ideas of smashing cake in my face. The wedding toasts and speeches given by Gauge and Simone were tearjerkers. Everyone is having a blast.
When it comes time for the first dance as husband and wife, Maceo pulls me into his arms and spins me around the patio toThe Very Thought of Youby Billie Holiday as he sings along low in my ear.
After having a dance with my dad and the whole wedding party, the dance moves start breaking out.
Ebony reappears wearing the no-no dress, making half the crowd whistle with approval. Tony makes a beeline for her and refuses to let her dance or talk to anyone else but himself, holding her close and whispering in her ear—surprisingly, Ebony is not complaining.
Gauge and Opal move as one unit the entire evening around the patio, never breaking contact. Chase has caught Simone and convinces her to dance with him. She leans into him like she knows he would hold her the whole night.
My parents laugh with Ziggy and Jared near the lit fire pit. Punk talks shit with Darnel, the tattoo artist. Hades keeps getting fed scraps from Lloyd’s plate. A bunch of my crew members play a card game with their significant others. Luke and some of the other invited officers overrun the bar. And every other member and guest is dancing, drinking, or stealing a kiss.
As the evening wears on, my head lies against Maceo’s chest. I listen to his steady heartbeat instead of the music playing as we sway in one another’s arms. An unfamiliar voice breaks our spell. “May I cut in?”
I turn to see a gentleman I’ve never seen before. He looks to be in his fifties and is in very good shape. Four other gentlemen of similar age and stature stand close behind him.
