I pull her into my arms, squeezing her tight. The love I have for this woman for all she’s done to put Teller back together could fill this entire hospital. “I’d never leave my favorite ginger twin.”
“You can get your paws off my woman any time now,” Teller grumbles.
Charlotte chuckles and pulls back. “I’m going to go wait for Heidi. I have a small surprise for her.”
Feeling about a hundred and ten years old, I shuffle my way to the front of the chapel. All my brothers are here. Have been here throughout this whole ordeal.
Jake’s here, too. Might not wear a patch, but he’s a brother in his own way.
At the front of the room, a priest greets me. A priest. This wasn’t in our plans. But he seems like a nice enough guy. Someone had explained the circumstances, and he was happy to perform the ceremony.
The chapel’s ugly as sin. Seventies-style yellow carpet and gray wooden benches. Empire Med must be lacking big donors.
Teller checks his phone. “Sit down. She’s going to be a minute.”
I’d love to tell him to fuck off. That I’m perfectly fine standing. Except, I feel like I’m about to fall over.
So, I sit. And I wait for my bride.
Heidi
“Heidi, you don’t have to do this today.” Hope brushes hair out of my eyes and cups my cheek. “There’s no hurry.”
She’s been trying to talk me into waiting until Murphy’s out of the hospital.
I love her, but no fucking way. “Today’s the day.”
Hospital or not. Today’s our wedding day, and we’re getting married.
Trinity stops by to help me finish my hair.
“Word is, Murphy’s up and about.” Trinity slowly curls each section of hair around an extra-long iron. “Teller’s planning to coax him into the suit.”
I chuckle, imagining how that conversation’s going.
I dab on a light amount of makeup and then it’s dress time. “Hope, will you help me?”
“Of course, I will.”
She holds the dress over my head and lowers it without mussing my hair or smearing any makeup.
“I’ll wrangle up little miss,” Trinity promises.
“Shouldn’t be too hard, she’s excited about her new dress and boots.”
Hope slides the zipper of my dress into place and rests her hands on my shoulders. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you.” The smooth silver satin gaps at my chest a little. I glance down, wondering if I’ll end up flashing everyone. “It’s looser than when I bought it.”
“Living off hospital coffee and air will do that.” Hope squeezes my shoulders. “It will be fine.”
The hospital might be chilly. I don’t own a wrap or shawl or anything fancy like that. I run into my room and grab a navy, button-up sweater and pray it doesn’t look too silly with the rest of my outfit.
I slip the first piece of jewelry Murphy ever gave me—my key pendant—around my neck. The stone in the middle is green, not exactly a match to everything else, but I can’t imagine getting married without wearing it.
And last, I pull out the purple boots and lace them up.
This isn’t perfect.
It’s not ideal.
But love isn’t about parties and cakes or the perfect outfit. It’s about loving someone through thick and thin. Being there for them at their best moments and their worst.
Forty-Six
Heidi
My boots click over the slick hospital floor, announcing to everyone in our path that I’m a woman on a mission to get married today.
People stop and stare.
They probably think I’m some prom party runaway.
But I don’t care what anyone thinks.
Trinity’s next to me, carrying Alexa, keeping up a steady stream of conversation to keep Alexa occupied.
“Are you going to show Daddy those spiffy purple boots your Aunty Hope got you?” Trinity asks.
“Yes!”
Rock meets us outside the chapel doors. “You’re beautiful Heidi.” He takes my hands and leans down to kiss my cheek. “I’m happy you two finally made it here.”
I promised myself I wouldn’t cry. “Me too,” I whisper. “Is he okay?”
“He’s waiting for you.”
Z holds the door open. Hope hugs me as she goes by. Trinity kisses my cheek.
Charlotte stops in front of me and slips a bouquet of purple flowers into my hand. Then she bends down to hand Alexa a smaller version.
“Where’d you find these?” I whisper.
“Rush job at the florist in Sterling.” Charlotte winks at me.
“Pretty, Mommy!” Alexa waves the flowers at me, shaking petals everywhere.
“Hold it still until after.” I touch Charlotte’s shoulder. “Thank you.”
“No problem.” She gives me a quick hug. “After today we’ll be sisters.”
“There’s still time to do a double wedding.”
She laughs off my invitation. “I’m not stealing your thunder. We’ll get there. Don’t worry.” She steps into the chapel and walks to the front.
Rock holds out his arm to me.
There’s no music, but everyone stands and watches me make my way to the front of the room.
Tears burn my eyes as Blake stands and turns my way. I’m so thankful he’s alive, awake, and okay.
I rush the last few steps just to get to him. He reaches out and takes my hands, and we face the priest.
Together.
Murphy
She’s finally here.
We’re finally doing this.
I’ve been waiting for this moment for longer than I’ll ever admit to anyone. Not even Heidi.
“You look beautiful,” I rasp.
“Thank you.”
She squeezes my hand.
“Are you nervous?”
“Nope.”
The priest clears his throat. Since this all came together so quickly, neither of us have special vows or anything prepared. So, I guess we’re winging it.
“Heidi and Blake, are you here before me freely and without reservation to give yourselves to each other in marriage?”
Fuck yes.
“Yes,” Heidi answers and I follow.
“Will you honor each other as man and wife for the rest of your lives?”
“Yes,” we answer at the same time.
Heidi grins at me and nervously bounces up and down. It’s so sweet, I want to lean in and kiss her.
“Now,” the priest says, “Heidi, repeat after me. I, Heidi, take you Blake to be my husband. I promise to be true to you in good times and bad…”
Heidi starts reciting the lines but stops at “in sickness and health.” “We’re getting married in the hospital, Father. I think we have that one covered.”
Everyone laughs, even the priest. “Very well. Do you promise to love Blake and honor him for the rest of your days?”
“I do.”
“Blake, do you take Heidi to be your wife?”
“Hell. Yes.”
The priest gives me a stern look before carrying on. “Do you promise to be true and faithful in good times and bad?”
Wait a second. Did her vows include faithful? I’m feeling a little judged here.
“Yes.”
“Will you be true in sickness and in health?”
“Yes.”
“Do you promise here in front of your family and friends to love and honor Heidi for all the days of your life?”
“I do.”
He looks each of us in the eye before continuing. “Heidi and Blake, from this moment on, you embark together on one shared path. You have stood before your loved ones and declared your intent to commit to each other in marriage.” He stops and takes a breath, gazing out at the audience. “Your road to this moment may not have always been smooth but you’ve fought hard for each other. Never lose that faith and tenacity. Let it keep your bond to each other and your family strong.”
He
has no idea how rough our road has been.
“Thank you,” Heidi whispers.
“By the power vested in me by the state of New York, I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
I don’t even wait for the cue, I grab Heidi and kiss the hell out of her. “I love you,” I whisper against her lips before kissing her again.
Alexa jumps up and down, tossing her flowers in the air. Chance runs up the aisle and hugs Heidi’s legs quickly before Z captures him and returns to their seat.
I pick Alexa up and hold her in one arm. Heidi takes my hand and together we face our family.
Cheers and whistles fill the small chapel.
Rock steps up to hug us first, then moves aside to talk to the priest.
“Did anyone pay the guy?” I say to Teller when he hugs me.
“Is that what you’re worried about?” He pats his pocket. “It’s all taken care of, brother.”
“Congratulations.” Wrath gives me the gentlest pat on the back he’s probably capable of. Still almost knocks me off my feet.
“Are you okay?” Heidi asks.
“I’m fine.”
Teller takes Alexa from me, but I refuse the wheelchair.
My desire to carry Heidi out of the chapel and straight home must be written all over my hairless face, because Heidi stops me with a hand on my arm. “Don’t carry me over any thresholds here. It’s probably bad luck.”
“We’ve definitely had enough of that.”
Forty-Seven
Murphy
Heidi’s finally my wife.
And I’m her husband.
Man, it feels like it took a lifetime to get here.
I’m ready to keel over by the time we make it back to my room. Suit and all, I flop down on the bed and pull Heidi up against me. Alexa climbs up next to us and I’m able to snuggle with my family for a few uninterrupted minutes.
Word spread through the hospital about our wedding. The doctors give us some leeway with visitors and food. People stop by all afternoon to congratulate us.
Finally, Hope starts sending people home.
“You need to rest, Murphy.” She leans in and kisses my cheek.
“Thanks, Mom.”
“Don’t start.”
Wrath carries a sleeping Alexa out. I hope she sleeps all the way. I hate that I’m not the one driving her home tonight.
Heidi stays. “I’m not spending our first married night apart,” she insists.
No one disagrees.
“Not how you thought we’d be spending our wedding night, is it?” Heidi whispers later when we’re finally alone.
“Nope.” I snuggle her closer. “Still wouldn’t change a thing.”
I reach down and slide my hand up under her dress. “You sure you don’t want to change.”
“Too sleepy,” she murmurs.
“Sleepy, huh?” My hand travels higher, until my fingers encounter smooth satin. “What’s this?”
“My wedding panties.”
“Wedding panties?” I pull her dress up. “I need to see these.”
She laughs and shifts her leg so I can hike her dress up higher.
“Blake? Should we be doing this?”
“Definitely.” I finally hook my fingers in the material and drag it down her legs.
“Are you trying to see them or take them off?”
“Oh, definitely taking them off.”
It’s a small bed. Already at capacity with my big ass. She turns, frantically kissing me. Hands on my face, pulling me closer like she can’t get enough.
Something wet hits my cheek and I pull back. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m so happy.” Her hoarse voice cuts straight to my heart.
“You’re crying.”
“They’re happy tears.” She sniffles. “I can’t believe I’m finally your wife. If this is a dream, please don’t wake me up,” she whispers.
My sweet, beautiful woman never stops amazing me. “Trust me, if this was a dream, we’d be somewhere with a much bigger bed.”
She presses her forehead against my chest and shakes with laughter. I finally succeed in getting those panties off.
“What if someone comes in?”
“No one’s coming in.” I pull the sheet over us.
Carefully, she shifts and turns until her back’s against my chest. I nuzzle my face into the curve of her neck. “You smell good.”
“I’m so happy you’re mine,” she whispers.
I stroke her hair and down her side. “I’ve always been yours.”
Forty-Eight
MURPHY
Two days later, I finally get my discharge instructions from the doctor. Takes all fucking day to actually leave the damn hospital, though.
“We need to find you a physical therapist,” Heidi says, reading over the sheet.
“Right now, the only therapy I need is my wife’s hot as fuck pussy wrapped around my dick.”
Heidi side-eyes me. “Who says romance is dead?”
I wrap my arm around her shoulders and press my lips to her temple. “What else can I say? Your pussy has healing properties. And I am very much in need of them.”
“Should we grab the doctor and have him write that down in your chart?” She’s laughing too hard to sound stern as she points down the hallway.
“Yup.” I raise one hand as if I’m about to spell it out in neon lights. “Heidi O’Callaghan’s pussy is miraculous.”
This time, she presses her forehead against my chest and snort-giggles. “You’re such a dirty bastard.”
“You love it.”
Finally, we’re on our way home.
Marcel picks us up. I want to sit in the back and cuddle with my bride but end up trying not to puke for the entire ride instead. Still not feeling quite right.
Instead of stopping in front of the clubhouse, he continues on the driveway we extended into the woods late last year. Past Rock and Hope’s, stopping in front of our house.
“We don’t have anything here, bro.”
Marcel grins at me. “No? Guess you’re sleeping on the floor, then.”
I’d actually prefer that to ever spending another night in a hospital.
I must still be out of it because I totally miss all the sneaky signals he’s giving off.
We walk into the house, and I stop and stare.
It’s furnished. I mean, there’s still boxes and stuff everywhere, but the big stuff is already there.
“When did you?” I can’t stop gawking. Someone did a lot of work since the last time I was here.
“I didn’t,” Teller explains. “Well, I helped with some stuff. But Hope and Charlotte knew where a lot of it was going. They supervised the guys. Everyone took turns setting it up.”
Heidi throws her arms around her brother’s neck, hugging him tight. “Thank you.”
“Welcome home!” Hope and Rock push open the front door. Alexa runs over to us.
“Daddy!”
I bend down to pick her up, and my vision swims. I catch myself and lift her slowly, hugging her to me. “I missed you, Alexa. Were you good for Aunty Hope?”
“Yes!”
“She really was,” Hope agrees. “How do you feel?”
“Like I went a few rounds with a baseball bat.”
Heidi smacks my arm. “That’s not funny.”
“I’m happy to be home.”
“You two get some rest.” Rock pins me with a look. “We’ll talk tomorrow.”
The three of us end up crashing on the couch to watch a movie. Sometime during it, I must have fallen asleep, and Heidi gently shakes me awake.
“What’s wrong?”
Her anxious face stares down at me. “Sorry. I’m all freaked out now every time you go to sleep.”
“Docs cleared me,” I remind her. Yeah, I’m not back to one-hundred percent, but I’m a hell of a lot better than I was. I sit up. “Let’s go to bed.”
Alexa’s sound asleep, so it’s easy to get her settled in her new room.
Heidi bites her lip. “I’m worried she’s going to freak out in the morning.”
“The door’s child-proofed. We’ll hear her if she wakes up.” I take Heidi’s hand. “I need to wash the hospital stench off me.”
“And you need my assistance?”
“Yup.”
I put a lot of effort into our master bathroom. The shower’s the size of a bedroom with built-in benches and shelves. Heidi twists her long hair into a knot on her head and waves her arms at me to get in the shower. I installed multiple sprays and take full advantage of every single one, letting the hot water pound down over my aching muscles.
Heidi slides her hands over my back. The scent of pine fills the air as she soaps me up. “We could fit an entire family in here.”
“That might be a little weird.”
She laughs softly and steps around me to wash my chest.
“Someone’s enjoying his shower.” She wraps her hand around my cock and slowly squeezes.
“Fuck yeah, I am,” I groan and stroke my thumb over her nipple. “Got my hot wife naked and wet in front of me.”
She’s killing me. I take her by the hips and guide her over to the bench. “Come sit on your husband’s lap.”
Her sexy laughter echoes around us.
I drop down and wrap one hand around her ankle. “Up here. Hang on to me.”
“Fuck.” I groan and close my eyes when she sinks down on my cock. “That’s it. Ride that cock like you fucking stole it.”
She’s one hundred percent focused and only moans in response.
I bend down and flick my tongue over her nipple, sucking it into my greedy mouth.
“Blake!”
“Shhh.”
“I’m going to…oh my God.”
She’s wild, untamed, bucking like crazy against me. Fire sizzles straight down to my groin. “Better hurry,” I warn her.
I groan through my release, which seems to go on and on because she never slows down.
“There,” she whispers the word over and over, finally going limp and dropping her forehead to my shoulder.
I press a kiss to her temple and run my hand over her back. “You okay?”
White Lies Page 28
