Page 49

Tank

Seven Months Later

“What do you think?”

Tucker stood in front of me with his face scrunched in concentration as he reached up to adjust the flower pinned to my shirt. “You look good,” he said with a firm nod.

I was crouched down in front of him behind the wall of flowers that separated us from the rest of the world—Diamond, Maddie’s mom, Moose, and what looked like half the damn town.

And a preacher.

I reached out and straightened Tucker’s tiny boutonnière to match mine.

“I’m glad you’re marrying my mommy, Tank.”

My throat went tight, but I smiled through it. “I’m damn glad to be too, Tuck.”

The preacher peeked around the wall. “You guys ready?”

Tucker gave a firm little nod, then looked up at me. I stood and smoothed a hand down my shirt. “Let’s get this show on the road, little man.”

I stood at the front next to the preacher, with Tucker and Moose just beside me. He looked so damn proud in his little vest and tie. Diamond gave me a thumbs-up from the other side of the preacher.

And then… the music started.

A soft acoustic version of the wedding march drifted through the garden.

And there she was.

Maddie.

She stood at the end of the aisle, framed by white rose trellises with the sunlight dancing across her skin. Her dress was knee-length and lacy. It was fitted just enough to hint at the curves I knew too well. Her dark hair was swept up with a few loose tendrils framing her face, and her eyes—those eyes—were locked on mine.

My chest swelled.

She was everything.

She was it.

She walked slowly.

The crowd disappeared.

The noise faded.

It was just her.

My world.

My roots.

When she reached us, she crouched down and pressed a kiss to Tucker’s cheek. He giggled and wrapped his arms around her neck in a way that made the crowd let out a collective awww.

Then she stood.

And turned to me.

Her hands found mine, and she smiled sweetly.

I took a deep breath and threw her a wink. “Hey, mama.”