Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 59690 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 298(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59690 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 298(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
“Thanks, Annie.”
“Pissed, mind you. I should have been there.” She pointed her finger at him.
“I know, but we wanted it to be for us.”
“We can have a big reception here, and everyone will be invited,” I promised her. “I really want to wear my wedding dress again.”
Annie giggled. “I bet.”
“It was black!” Bailey told everyone.
“I have pictures,” I told them, pulling out my phone to show the dress and the few pictures I had from the ceremony. Ivy had had a photographer there, but we wouldn’t get the official pictures back for weeks. I only had a sneak peek picture that I showed off to the girls.
They took the phone and oohed and aahed appropriately.
My cousins stepped up, offering their own congratulations. Many of them understanding the desire for an elopement over a big ceremony. Except West’s wife, Nora, of course.
“I’m a wedding planner,” she said with a pout. “I wanted to help.”
“You can plan the reception. I mean, honestly, would you plan the reception? I’d love that so much.”
“Yes! I am so doing that for you.” Nora glanced back at West. My brothers were still hanging back, looking at each other in shock. “Give them a minute. They’ll come around.”
“Thanks, Nor.”
“I’ll cut them if they don’t get their asses over here soon,” Annie promised.
Eve nodded. “A hundred percent.”
But that wasn’t necessary. Once my Wright cousins cleared out, my brothers stepped forward as a unit. Chase straightened under the eyes of Jordan, Julian, Whitton, and Weston, prepared to take another punch. His joke had only been half a joke anyway. We had no idea how they would respond. We just hoped they’d accept it.
“You’re happy?” Whitt asked.
I nodded. “Beyond happy.”
“And this is what you want?”
I slid my hand into Chase’s. “This is where I belong.”
“Then, I’m happy for you.” Whitt drew me into a hug, and I melted into my brother.
West jumped in next, throwing his arms around both of us. “I’m happy, too,” he declared. “Though it seems a touch fast.”
“Mom said I’m in my rebellious era.”
West snorted. “It’s about time,” he said at the same time Whitt said, “Isn’t that every era?”
They glanced at each other and laughed. Twins.
“Like mother, like daughter,” I offered.
“Well, I, for one, think you could do better,” Jordan said as he held his hand out for Chase.
“Fair,” Chase said.
“You’re not changing your name, right?” Jordan asked. He wrinkled his nose. “I don’t know if I could call you Harley Sinclair.”
“What about Chase Wright?” I teased.
Jordan’s eyes rounded. “Is it possible I like that less?”
“We’re not changing our names,” Chase told him with a headshake. “Don’t worry your little head.”
“Maybe we’ll hyphenate!” I dared.
Julian laughed. “You would, wouldn’t you?”
“Harley Sinclair-Wright has a ring to it,” Chase agreed.
“You mean, Wright-Sinclair,” I fired back.
“Whatever you like, dear.”
“That’s the right answer,” Julian muttered under his breath.
“Anyway, it’s all to say that the family feud is over,” I let my brothers know. “Arnold is sacked from Sinclair Realty. He’s not part of the business anymore. Ashleigh actually helped take him down.”
Julian’s eyes widened. “Ashleigh did that?”
I nodded. “Couldn’t have happened without her. Look, neither side is perfectly innocent, but I want this to end. Chase is the new CEO at Sinclair Realty. He’s my husband. Let’s put the past behind us.”
“I will if you will,” Chase said to my brothers.
Whitt and West shrugged at each other. Julian crossed his arms, clearly lost in thought about Ashleigh’s involvement. But it was Jordan who finally laughed.
“If anyone could do this, it’s you, Harley.” He pulled me into a hug. “I’m happy for you.”
“You are?” I whispered, tears in my eyes.
Jordan took a step back and raised his voice. “Let’s give a cheer for the newlyweds! The Wright-Sinclairs!”
The crowd roared their approval. Everyone was applauding and going wild, yelling for us. A tear tracked down my cheek at the love from my family. Even my brothers, who had hated Chase so much at the beginning of all of this. It was amazing that we’d ever made it this far. That we were here right now.
Chase slid his hand around my waist. “A toast to my wife.”
“For my husband,” I breathed.
He smiled. “Might as well give them a show, huh?”
“Chase!”
But he was already turning me in place, dipping me low to the ground. A burst of laughter escaped me as I stared up into my husband’s bright blue eyes. They were full of adoration. Like he’d never seen anything he wanted more in the entire world. And I was that something.
Years of pining.
Months of yearning.
Weeks of longing.
Days of need.
Had all led to this moment here—forever.
EPILOGUE
HARLEY
Four Months Later
Fall was just blowing into Lubbock. Reluctantly brushing off the ninety-degree weather with easy seventies while the leaves turned crimson, squash orange, and mustard yellow. And I was in my black wedding dress in front of the vineyard.