Page 84 of Zen's Crash

Kayla turns to me, looking sheepish. “Sorry about that. I didn’t know.”

“No harm, no foul,” I tell her lightly.

She tells me shyly, “Evan says I’m a work in progress and that I shouldn’t feel bad when I make mistakes.”

I gaze at her and can’t help smiling. “We’re all a work in progress, sweetie. Evan’s right that you shouldn’t feel bad about a tiny faux pas like that.”

“People who love you will understand,” Zen’s mother says confidently. “By the way. I wanted to tell you how cute those earrings of yours are.”

Kayla’s hands come up to touch the silver fairies hanging from her lobes. I couldn’t help but notice the way she shied away from Zen’s mom and then caught herself. No doubt remembering what happened the last time someone tried toadmire her earrings.. “Thank you, I was a bit scared of wearing dangling earrings again, but this is a special occasion.”

“They look wonderful,” I tell her. “Doctor Patchett did a really good job fixing your ear up for you.”

As if sensing that we’re spending time talking about her when it’s my wedding day, she tactfully turns the conversation back to my wedding. “Thanks for asking me to be one of your bridesmaids. I love you so much. It’s an honor to be part of your special day.”

I open my arms, and she leans over for the warm hug I can’t wait to give her. I murmur in her ear, “I love you like a sister, so it’s me who should be thanking you for being my bridesmaid. My wedding wouldn’t be the same without you and your sister.”

Cindy always gets emotional when someone is nice to her awkward younger sister. Being her little sister’s mother and father for the last few years has been hard. When Kayla pulls back, Miriam holds open a couple of jewelry cases for me to look through. I reach for an elaborate diamond necklace. Of course, it’s not made of real diamonds, or it would cost millions of dollars. But it’s heavy in my hand, clearly well-made, and matches my wedding crown almost perfectly.

Miriam’s face lights up. “That’s the necklace I wore on my wedding day. Here, let me put it on you.” She clasps it around my neck, and I can’t get over how glamorous I feel. She digs through another case and holds up matching earrings. I quickly put them on and realize Zen’s mother is getting emotional.

“It’s so wonderful that you chose the necklace I wore on my wedding day. It means a lot to me for it to be part of your special day.”

Lori teases, “Don’t get attached to it. I’ve got dibs on it.”

Her brazen and flippant words make me laugh out loud. In my opinion, there is no greater gift a person can possibly give than laughter. I appreciate her sense of humor so much when my emotions are running high.

“Don’t worry,” I tell her. “I’ll take good care of it and see that your mother gets it back right away.”

Lori is all lighthearted smiles as she lifts her makeup brush into the air. “You ready for me to make you even more beautiful than you already are?”

I nod, noticing out of the corner of my eye how closely Kayla is watching Lori. It occurs to me what an amazing mentor Lori would be if only she weren’t going off to college soon.

***

The rest of the morning is a whirlwind of laughing, joking, and happiness as they help me get ready to walk down the aisle.

Everyone takes their places, and when the wedding march begins, Zen’s father proudly walks me down to where Zen is waiting. It’s as bittersweet as can be, but I manage to keep my composure. Zen’s expression is heated as he watches me walk towards him. The heat in his gaze makes me feel so beautiful, especially when his eyes soften every time they drop down to look at my baby bump.

I walk up to him with my heart beating a steady thrum in my chest. I carry the weight of our child proudly, wrapped in this gown specially chosen to hug my baby bump in the most obvious and flattering way possible. We’re both delighted and want the world to know we’ve got a baby on the way.

Once I’m face-to-face with Zen and he links my arm through his, everything in my world tilts back into full alignment.

He’s chosen Siege as his best man and Crow and Evan as his groomsmen. They stand firm as Rigs starts the ceremony by graciously welcoming everyone. Without wasting any time, he jumps right into walking us through our vows.

Peering over the podium at us, he asks, “Do you, Zen, take Lexi to be your old lady, your wife, your partner in life for all the rides, joy, and tough times ahead?” Rigs’ expression is expectant and amused when it takes Zen a couple of seconds to respond.

Finally, Zen glances down at me, giving me a look of pure, unmitigated devotion. “Yes. Of course, I do. Lexi is the only one for me.”

“And do you, Lexi, take Zen to be your old man, your husband, your ride or die in this life and beyond?”

I don’t hesitate for even a second. Instead, I eagerly respond, “Absolutely. He’s perfect for me.”

I’m glad Zen and I chose simple and traditional vows, minus the obeying part, of course. I don’t think either of us would have made it through a long, drawn-out service. We’re both a little too anxious for that.

After each of us says our vows, we slip a ring on the other’s finger. Something about Zen sliding a nice, thick wedding band onto my finger in front of my engagement ring feels like it’s being sealed into place. The permanence of the moment is not lost on me.

The serious expression on Zen’s face as I slide his wedding band into place makes me wonder if he’s feeling the same thing.

We’re still staring into each other’s eyes when Rigs says, “By the power vested in me by the state of California and with the blessings of the Savage Legion brotherhood, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Zen, you may now kiss your bride.”

Then Zen lays on me one of the hottest kisses that he’s ever given. We both get a little lost in the moment. But when we part, it’s to see sappy expressions all around.

When we start to walk back down the aisle as husband and wife, everyone stands and begins clapping and wishing us well. It’s a spontaneous outburst of their joy and happiness for us. That’s when I know from the bottom of my heart that this is the start of my happily ever after. Zen is everything I’ll ever want and need in a husband.

I can almost see my future all laid out before me in my mind. I’m intelligent enough to know that every couple faces hardships. I just know I want to face them with Zen at my side because I know he’ll do anything to get us through and make sure that me and all the kids we have are happy and healthy.

I plan to match every bit of that energy and give it right back to him. It’s the least I can do for the man who saved my life, the man I love more than anyone else on the face of the earth.

THE END