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He smiles broadly at us and then at the attendees.

“We are gathered here today to celebrate two things, the addition of Ava into our family, and the moment that Maverick pulled his head out of his ass and found someone to love him. Truly, a miracle.” The few people we have gathered with us break into laughter, the loudest coming from Rhett and Weston.

“Let us be reminded that there is no greater thing than to be loved through our failures, wins and all of life’s tribulations. ”

Mav’s turn to recite his vows comes and I feel butterflies erupt in my stomach.

“Ava, for a long time, I thought bull riding would be the only thing to define me. And while I’m grateful for that, because without the sport and my passion for it, we wouldn’t be here today.

Today starts a whole new list of dreams for me and I’m looking right at the most important one.

You and the life we set out to create together is my new dream.

Whatever your hopes and wishes are, are mine.

And I vow to pursue them with all that I have.

There’s nothing in this world I’m more thankful for than you.

You breathed life into me at a time when I needed it the most. I promise to love and protect you with all I am until I leave this earth. You are my heart. I love you.”

His words ricochet through my head all the way down to my heart. It feels too full, like it’s bursting at the seams, and the only way to make more room is to let these tears of happiness fall.

Jack looks at me, his grin wide under his thick, grey mustache. I realize I’m completely unprepared. But telling the world how much I love Maverick isn’t a hard thing to do.

“Maverick, you came into my life and turned every single thing upside down. But that led to things falling perfectly into place. Before you, I was used to doing things by myself. Carrying the weight of the world. Thanks to you, life no longer feels heavy. You’ve healed pieces of me that I didn’t even know were broken.

Sewing them back up and imprinting yourself so deeply into me that I can’t even take a breath without feeling you deep in my heart.

Loving you will be the greatest thing I have ever done.

Wherever life leads me, I know it will be okay as long as I have you.

I love you until forever ends, Maverick. Always.”

When the part for rings comes up, I realize I don’t have one for him. “Mav, I don’t have one for you.” My eyes are wide with a little bit of panic .

Maverick shakes his head, hands still in mine. “You didn’t need one.”

“What do you mean?” Of course he needs a ring.

“You see that guy over there?” He drops my hands and points to a man in the back row.

“Yes?” I question.

“When the ceremony is over, he’s tattooing my ring on. You’ll forever be inked into my skin like you are in my heart.”

My eyes grow wide, and I almost can’t believe that. The only marks on his body are scars, and now there will be his signal to the world that he’s mine. That tattoo is about to become the most attractive thing about him in my eyes.

The ceremony ends with Maverick dipping me into a picture-perfect kiss. The crowd hoots and hollers.

“Get a room, you two!” Weston yells. Maverick puts me back into a standing position and kisses me one more time. My cheeks start to burn from smiling so much.

Maverick turns us, holding our hands up, showing us off to the crowd like I’m the grand prize. All the heartache I’ve lived through was worth it for this moment.

Since we get to skip the whole signing the marriage license thing, Maverick darts straight for the table set up in the back. I go to follow him, but he stops me. “Go enjoy our guests and your friends. I’ll find you as soon as we're done.” He leans in and kisses me while he squeezes my hand.

Erin and Aspen stand at the dessert table, and I hear them quietly arguing over it. “No, the white cupcakes should be up front, and the chocolate ones in the back. It’s a wedding, it’s supposed to be all decked out in bridal white. ”

The laugh under my breath isn’t as quiet as I hoped, and both of them whip around to look at me. Both squealing when they realize it’s me.

“Hi, babe! So, was it the wedding you always dreamed of?” Erin asks, taking my hand.

“It was more, so much more. And I had zero stress over the whole thing. Minus the one-second panic attack I had over vows and rings.” Today was a dream.

But it really isn’t about the day, it’s about the man I get to spend my life with.

Today could have been an absolute disaster and I still would have been counting myself lucky.

“Well, you made for a very beautiful bride, and I’m glad you invited the rest of us this time,” Aspen pokes fun at me, and I roll my eyes.

But getting to share this day with them made it feel so much more real and special.

I finally have a family of my own, and that’s something I wasn’t sure I’d ever have again.

Walking around, a few others stop me and congratulate me, and I make one or two stops by the dessert table, if not for desserts, then for some more time with Aspen, Erin, Josie, and Cam. It’s so good having them all here.

I stand back from the crowd for a while and sip champagne. Basking in the moment. My eyes close and I think I finally feel what it is to be at peace. My mind is quiet and my heart is happy.

“Hey there, wife,” Maverick greets as he walks over.

His long-sleeve shirt is rolled up on his forearms and he’s ditched his jacket.

The late summer air is a little warm and I’m glad because all those years of holding on to a bull for dear life has left his arms corded with muscles and veins. It might be his sexiest trait.

“Well, let me see it,” I say, setting my glass down on a side table .

He lifts up his finger and I grab his hand to inspect it. It’s covered in a small Tegaderm film. The thick, inked dark band encircles his finger all the way up until it hits the front. The line goes all the way around, but he tattooed my initial on it. “Do you like it?”

I look up to him, tears brimming on my lower lash line. “I love it.” He pulls his hand away and lays it above my beating chest.

The implication isn’t missed. Because he’s tattooed on my heart, too. Forever a little piece of him is ingrained in me. “I love you, cowboy.” I drop his hand and put my mine around his neck. Sinking into the calm I feel whenever he’s near.

He gives me one of those smiles that makes my heart skip a beat. “I love you most, Grandma.”

Before I can give him a retort, he captures my lips, and it hits me that I will get to do this for the rest of my life. What a life that will be.