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“I’m afraid not,” I say, unable to keep the smile off my face.
Thanks to Cash, I’m happier than I’ve ever been, and it’s impossible to hide.
“Think you can keep your hands to yourselves for five minutes?” he quips as he plates the tagliatelle carbonara and garnishes it with parsley and pecorino Romano.
“Oh my god, this looks delicious,” I gush when he places a dish in front of me.
“I’m glad you think so,” Theo says as he serves himself some pasta. “How are the wedding plans coming along?”
“Johanna, Presley, and Marlow are handling most of the planning. All I told them is that I’d prefer something small and simple.”
They called me the other day and offered to take care of everything. With my busy work schedule and wanting to spend my free time with Cash, I was glad to pass on a sizable portion of the planning to them. Since Cash and I are already legally married, the wedding is mainly for our families.
Cash scoffs.
“What?” I ask, casting him a sidelong glance.
“Ev, if you’re wanting simplicity, involving my mom and Presley wasn’t the best idea. It’s the first wedding in the family, and I guarantee they’ll go overboard on all fronts.” He sits next to me and pulls his plate of pasta closer.
Now that I think about it, he may be right. When I suggested a dress shop in Aspen Grove, Presley texted me an hour later, informing me she had booked an appointment for early next month at an exclusive wedding boutique in New York. I don’t need an expensive dress, but I’m looking forward to making memories with my new family.
“As long as you join me at the end of the aisle, I don’t mind what the venue looks like,” I say with conviction.
What matters most is being able to exchange our wedding vows surrounded by our loved ones.
For years, I dismissed the idea of a happily ever after. Love seemed like a fairy tale for those who didn’t know better. Then Cash came along with his battle-worn armor and the scars from his past.
I think about the boy who brought me a milkshake and the man he’s become. His kindness, patient heart, and sense of humor have shown me that true love does exist, and now I’m lucky enough to call him mine.
Getting a husband didn’t turn out like I expected, but now I know what happens when a billionaire gets a bride…
She becomes the center of his universe, and he becomes the center of hers.
epilogue
CASH
THE MONTH SINCE THE ACQUISITIONwas finalized has been a whirlwind.
Everly, August, and Liam have seamlessly transitioned into their new roles at Townstead International. They have weekly calls with Harrison to touch base but handle the daily operations.
I’ve been busy onboarding several new hires for the Stafford Holdings London branch, and I finally gave Marcus the go-ahead to decorate my office. When Everly visited me at lunch last week, she was pleasantly surprised to find the place fully furnished. Her favorite decoration was the photo of us in the pink Cadillac from our wedding night in Vegas, set in a vintage gold frame.
With Fallon in the process of moving to New York, Everly decided to enroll us in a couple’s cooking class. However, after mixing up baking soda and baking powder when learning to make cookies and burning a lasagna in the third session—causing an evacuation of the entire building—we cut our losses. Instead, most evenings, I pick her up from work, and we grab a bite to eat on the way home.
I like the simplicity of our daily routine and am grateful for every moment spent with the woman I love.
However, tonight is the exception.
We’re in Aspen Grove to celebrate our union. Everly and I agreed a vow renewal made the most sense, considering we’re already legally married. We wanted to keep it simple, surrounded by the people we love. Thankfully we were able to convince my mom and Presley to go along with our plans for a small affair.
The sun dips below the horizon, casting a warm glow on my parents’ backyard that has been transformed into a whimsical, romantic setting. A canopy of fairy lights glows above several rows of chairs, and lanterns line the path leading to a floral arch made of daffodils and hyacinth.
My parents are sitting in the front row, where my mom is already dabbing her eyes with a tissue, and my dad has his arm wrapped around her shoulder. They are the perfect example of true love. After thirty-six years, they still look at each other with unconditional adoration, and I feel so lucky to call them my parents.
Jack and Presley are seated next to my parents. Presley adjusts Jack’s tie and when she’s finished, he kisses her forehead. She leans against his shoulder, looking up at me with a smile full of pride and love.
Dylan and Marlow are in the second row holding hands. Waffles and the puppies are in the playroom in my parents’basement. Everly said she didn’t mind if they were here, but I didn’t want to chance them causing a mess. I wanted tonight to be perfect.