Page 24 of Tattered Souls (Whispering Falls #2)

Garrick

“Got invited to a party by a buddy of mine, wanna go with me?” I asked.

She lifted a brow, “Like you even have to ask.”

I handed her the bag I had and said, “Go get changed, Gorgeous.”

Sure, it wasn’t something that people generally did when they weren’t a part of an MC. However, I had buddies in MCs.

But this MC... well... they just needed to know she wasn’t available.

Because I was a tough motherfucker, and all the men that would be there... I knew I couldn’t take them all on.

Therefore, when she came out fifteen minutes later wearing a leather jacket that had Tink sewn onto the right side over her heart, and she showed me the back of it... Property of Garrick on the back...

I had to. I couldn’t fucking stop myself.

She was bent over the back of the couch. My cock was in her pussy in less than five minutes.

We were late to the party, but neither I nor Tatum gave a damn.

And when she walked over to Cotton’s old lady, Novalie, and asked her to take a picture, I laughed.

That picture was my new lock screen.

Her back was to the camera, and her head was turned. A blinding smile lit up her face.

Knox walked by then, and chuckled.

Fiona came over and said, “You did well. I approve.”

Kase, Knox and Fiona’s son, who was a buddy of mine, clapped me on the back and said, “Approve, brother. Approve.”

Even though Kase, I had done some work on his 1965 Shelby GTO, now lived in Georgia, he had shown up for this party.

So had every single Wrath MC brother and their old lady and kids.

I glanced at Skinner, who was now standing behind his daughter, Chelsea, with a proud smile on his face.

Chelsea had won the gold medal in her division, track, at the Special Olympics last weekend.

And I couldn’t be prouder of her.

But then, Chelsea’s man, Declan, tagged her hand and pulled her into his arms.

Skinner dropped that smile, and then he glared.

It was later in the night, the food had been demolished, and now it was nothing but good times, good drinks, and good music.

Years ago, I had come to the clubhouse before the mother chapter, Wrath MC, which was located in Clearwater, North Carolina, had purchased the surrounding land.

I hadn’t understood it at the time, but now I got it.

York stood there with his arm around Marley.

Ivan was there, whom I didn’t know that well. Had his arm around his wife, Caristiona, and their son and daughter were standing there with their loved ones.

Garret had Valerie on his lap with his daughter Creedence in her man’s lap, while Connor and Havoc stood off to the side.

Xavier and Phoebe were there along with Walker and Sydney.

Sadly... they had lost a member, Dale. He had passed away due to Covid.

His wife Lucy sat there smiling, but you could still see the hurt in her gaze all these years later.

Powers was there with his woman and his two kids.

As were Heathen and his woman, June.

Savage stood with Shiloh wrapped in his arms.

Gage was there with his woman, Conleigh, and their daughter Collins, along with her man.

And about two hundred brothers and their families were in attendance.

Tatum was in my arms, and then she looked up at me and smiled, “Thank you for bringing me here.”

I winked.

Tatum

I looked at the guest list and felt as though it was missing something.

And then it hit me.

With a smile, I walked out of the house and to the garage.

Garrick saw me coming and winked. When I made it to him, I bent and pressed a kiss to the underside of his jaw and said, “Can I have your phone for a little while?”

He nodded, then he jerked his head. “It’s on the toolbox.”

I smiled, “Thank you, Honey.”

“That’s fifteen,” he murmured.

I smiled all the way into the house.

The moment I made it back to the table, I sat back down in my chair, entered Garrick’s passcode, 728025 , scrolled to the number I wanted, and pressed dial.

It rang three times, then I heard, “Garrick. This is a surprise. Normally, I get one text a year.”

I smiled. “Hi, sorry about that. You and I haven’t met, but I’d like to. I’m Tatum, Garrick’s fiancée.”

She was silent for a few moments. Then I heard a door closing. Then she said, “He told you.”

I swallowed and then softly whispered, “Yes.”

I heard her inhale a breath. “Think about that day. That night.”

I nodded, “I get that. Can I tell you something?”

I knew I had confused her when she said, “Sure.”

“I love him all the more for doing it. He doesn’t think I know, but he did the same thing for me. My ex was abusive.”

“Why do men think it’s okay to mistreat women?” she asked.

I shrugged, “I have no clue. The only thing I can think of is that they have small penis syndrome.”

She chuckled, “Yeah, sounds right.”

Then I asked, “You're happy?”

I heard her smile, “Yeah, more than I have a right to be.”

We talked for a few more minutes, then I said, “Anyway, the reason I’m calling is that I’m going over our guest list and felt like it was missing something. Then I knew. So, I called you. Would you and your husband like to come to our wedding?”

I heard it. The emotion in her voice, “Really?”

I smiled, “Yeah. That moment in his life shaped who he is today. And Portia, he’s the best man I’ve ever had the honor of knowing.”

“When is it?” she asked.

“July 28 th . In three months.” I smiled. “It’s exactly on the date from two years ago when we met for the first time.”

“Okay, that’s sweet as hell. And yes. We would be honored.” She said.

I smiled, then I got her address, and asked her if it was okay if I saved her number. Once she readily agreed, we talked for a few minutes and then I hung up.

***

Garrick had Dom as his best man, and I had Harlee as mine.

And when I had walked out to the front of the aisle on Frank’s arm, I watched my man, my big, strong man, wipe a tear away from his cheek.

We were pronounced man and wife moments later, and then my husband dipped me low and kissed me stupid.

I couldn’t wait to see the pictures the photographer had captured.

But now was now.

I smiled as the DJ played that particular song.

From This Moment On.

It was the first song we had ever danced to, and it seemed fitting that we danced to it at our wedding.

Garrick winked at me and then led me onto the dance floor.

Being in his arms, being his, being linked to him for the rest of my life, there was no feeling like it.

And when Bryan Adams sang his part, my man sang along with him, softly into my ear, so only I could hear.

***

It was a little later in the night, and I knew when Garrick saw her.

Portia and her husband, Mike.

When Garrick tensed, I placed my hand in his and squeezed. “That’s why I wanted your phone that day. That moment shaped the man you are today, and Honey, never could I have called the man above himself, and ordered a more perfect you. I love you.”

He looked down at me, and then bent, wrapped his hands around my ass, and hauled me up. “That’s twenty.”

My legs, which were covered in my wedding dress, wrapped around his waist, and I clasped my ankles together.

And then, his lips were on mine.

Hungry. Energetic. And loving.

“Get a room,” I heard called out, and knew that it was Carter.

Talia said, “Save it for your honeymoon.”

“I want that,” Lila murmured.

“Raised him right,” Frank said.

“Excuse me?” Misty asked.

“Run,” Alec said.