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When I was finally alone, I took longer than I had available to get dressed. Smoothing the skirt down, I loved it even more than I had earlier.

For fear of busting my ass, I walked slowly on trembling legs out of the master suite. My mom was facing away from me and I was unsurprised to see her hair pulled back in her typical chignon. When she turned around, my brows shot up and I started laughing.

The front of her hair was pinned in victory rolls.

“You like?” my mom asked, preening. “It was my idea.”

“Iloveit.”

Someone from the hotel guided us from the room. Our charged energy bounced around us as we filed out and down the hall.

Taking the elevators up, we walked down another hall and stopped near a closed room. The moms stood close to the entrance while Ray and Harlow moved me out of sight.

When the doors opened, I heard a lot of voices.

“There’s more than just the few people I was expecting, isn’t there?” I asked, my voice shaking.

“Yup,” Harlow confirmed with a smile.

“Don’t cry. You’ve got so much mascara on, there’s no way you wouldn’t look like Alice Cooper,” Ray laughed.

“Helpful! Thanks, that’ssupercalming,” I said sarcastically. “Quick, someone say something or I’m gonna start blubbering.” I fanned my face.

“Rhys is escorting me down the aisle. Do you think he’d let me do a shot out of those dimples later?” Harlow raised her brows suggestively.

“I’d originally thought to eat cereal out of them, but I like your idea better,” I admitted. “Not for me, of course. I’m a soon-to-be married woman.”

Familiar sounding music started playing. Listening carefully, I realized it was a slowed down, instrumental version of one of my favorite X-ers songs. It had been playing when Jake and I danced at Jet’s.

The moms disappeared into the room first. Harlow followed shortly after, turning to blow me a kiss as she went.

Ray grabbed my hands and clutched them tight as tears shimmered in her eyes. “Sometimes the road to happily ever after isn’t smooth and easy. You have to fight through trials and obstacles to get there. There are dragons and big, bad wolves in disguise to defeat. Riding in a carriage with a prince wouldn’t get you over those bumps and twists. Sometimes the road to your happily ever after is on the back of a bike with a badass knight that would kick the prince’s ass if he came near you. I couldn’t be happier you found your knight, Piper. I love you.”

“I love you, too,” I whispered past the lump in my throat. “Thanks for showing me that taking risks on a badass could pay off.”

I pulled her to me and held tight as we tried to control our tears.

A minute later, Kase stuck his head out the door. “Hate to break this up, you know how much I love girl-on-girl shit. But there’s a man waiting at the other side of this room who’s starting to look tense and a bit pissed. Not sayin’ Jake is the most patient man to begin with, but he looks about a minute, tops, from storming out here and making you walk down the aisle.”

When Ray and I released our hold on each other, she air kissed my cheek before disappearing through the door with Kase.

I’d never been one to make decisions on the fly. When faced with any choice, I overanalyzed every detail until I reached my answer. More often than not, I was still plagued with doubt.

With Jake, though, I knew the risks would pay off. I’d strapped in, held on tight, and enjoyed the hell out of the ride.

And as I stood in the hallway, about to leap off the figurative cliff into the unknown, I knew wherever I landed would be beauty.

Inhaling deeply, I closed my eyes and let my head fall back. Warmth seeped into my soul as a calm peace settled deep in my bones.

“Most dads hate this day.”

Opening my eyes, I saw my dad standing in front of me in a gray suit and black dress shirt. His expression was a mix of thrilled and heartbroken.

My eyes started to burn again.

“They dread it, the day their little girl becomes someone else’s woman. I can’t say that part is easy. But knowing you’ll be with someone who would do all this, do everything he’s done, to protect you and make you smile? Couldn’t have picked a better man if I tried. You’ve made me proud with everything you’ve done, Lil’ Rock. This is no exception.”

Don’t cry. Hold it back. Splotchy and streaked isn’t a good look on anyone. Don’t cry.