Every time I think I can't get any happier, I swear the universe opens right back up and says,"Hey, Sallow. Look out below."

Just like that. Another heap of happiness. Another round of joy. Another day of fucking perfection that makes me wanna stop everyone I see on the street and ask them if they have any idea what this feels like.

I hope other people know what this feels like. I hope they know this goodness, at least once in their lives.

Sometimes, that goodness infiltrates my life so deeply that I'm tempted not to trust it. The cynic in me begs to be heard, pounding at my door and shouting to be cautious. We haven't always had it like this is the ever present reminder.

And some days, it's not just a reminder. In my line of work, that's been particularly true. Some days are harder, heavier, and often with a touch of gloom thrown in. That's life. But see, even on the bad days, I know everything will still be okay. Because of her.

And that makes all the difference.

She makes the hard times easier and the happy ones a million times better. She turns the average into spectacular, breathes life into places where hope seems far away, and uses love to glue broken things back together. And today, she became my wife.

Fuck, I became her husband. I never thought I'd be someone's husband. I never imagined making it to this day with the person made just for me. That we'd let love win over all the hardships we've both faced and become stronger. Together.

There's no better feeling than that.

Amber steps out of the car, her hand in mine, the skirt of her dress flowing like a cloud of ivory and lace in the wind. A beam of sunlight catches on her hair as it falls in waves down her back, and she looks downright angelic. My beautiful bride. My forever girl.

"Wife," I say to her, pulling her close as we pause in Trevor and Lacy's driveway. My arms wrap around her waist, enjoying the way her body molds to mine, the feel of her hands as they land on my shoulders.

"Husband," she whispers back, and up on her tiptoes, her mouth finds mine. She tastes like vanilla chapstick and the happiest day of my life.

"Have I told you how beautiful you look?" I force myself to drift back and hold her at arm's length, eager for another glance of her in this dress. Like I haven't already been staring at her all day. I can't help it.

She's a vision in wedding lace, the material hugging her just right while the intricate threads offer me glimpses of her golden skin underneath, setting me on fire at the sight of her.

"I think you did mention that," she mutters as she leans forward and captures my lips once more. Between kisses, she laughs and adds, "I lost count the twentieth time you said it."

"Just making sure." My hands grip her waist a little tighter, and I pull her against me. She's soft and warm, inviting.

For a moment, everything else seems to fall away and it's just me and her, getting lost in each other's mouths. Lost in the memories of what just happened on the beach when we swapped promises and smiles, proclaiming the tender establishment of our family.

We're a family.

Me, her, and Mia.

Before long, the sounds of our waiting reception meet us from the backyard where our family and friends have gathered after the ceremony in the sand. It's time for the two of us to go back there and greet them, but I'm not ready.

I'm not ready to share her. Or Mia. Or this new feeling of bliss that's completely taken over me since we said I do and became a family. I just want to steal them away.

Amber tugs on my hand, encouraging me to follow her out to the yard. But I stop and pull her back to me.

"Do we have to?" I whine. The smile she gives me only drives my conviction. "We can leave right now and go somewhere. We already did the important part, we don't have to stay and be with all these people."

Amber laughs. "You mean our family and friends?"

She's got a point, but I'm still determined to hideout for a while. "I'll start the car, you go grab the kid and the dog," I suggest eagerly. "We can make a run for it. Go back to the beach and do family shit."

Amber's eyebrow lifts with amusement. "What about the cake? You've been talking about it for weeks."

Oh shit. I forgot about the cake. But honestly, that's a minor detail.

I shrug. "We'll take it with us."

Her laugh makes my chest go all fluttery as she steps into me, her hands clutching the material of my shirt and pulling me close.

Holding my eyes, a quiet moment passes between us before she sighs and brings her lips to mine again. But it's not the same kind of sweet and innocent kiss we shared moments ago when we first got here. There's no reminiscent thoughts of exchanging vows on the beach.

This one's all tongue and inappropriate touching. Feeling her smile against mine. Tasting every inch of her mouth, while my hands trail her body, outlining lace and delicious curves. Her hands teasing the waist of my pants.

"I think," she sighs, her swirly caramel eyes swimming with desire, "taking the cake might be a little hard."

Not as hard as...

Chill out, Sallow. "You're probably right."

"But..." Her voice is all dreamy and distracted when she speaks again, I'm hanging on every word. "Maybe we could slip away for a minute."

I give her a pointed look. "You sayin' you're in?"

She nods with enthusiasm. And a big ass smile on her perfect lips. "I'm in."

Seconds later, we're stumbling through the front door. But barely have a chance to get up the steps when Lacy skips into the foyer.

"If it isn't the beautiful bride," she beams at Amber before turning to me, "arriving in a beat up muscle car with her charming prince."

The nerve. "Hey, my car's not beat up."

"Oh, you know I'm kidding, Sallow," Lacy laughs and waves it off, before bouncing her eyebrows at me with excitement. "You ready to get into this cake, buddy?"

Define cake. Because there's a cake out back, dressed in flowers and frosting, and a cake on the step right beside me. Dressed in lace and a sexy smile. That's the one I'm ready to devour.

Not like I can really say that out loud though.

"More ready than you'll ever know," I mutter instead, my fingers doing a nervous dance on the stair railing. "But, uh... Amber's gotta pee and she needs help..." I trail off, looking up to meet my wife's amused head shake, before glancing back at Lacy, who's looking at me like I have a third head. "With her dress," I choke out. "Amber needs help with her dress."

"Help with her dress. Sure..." Lacy's eyes narrow, shifting over to Amber's dress.

The one that's lacking in neither elegance nor simplicity. The one with no puffy frills whatsoever, and only hits her at the knee. The one she absolutely doesn't need help going to the bathroom in. But that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Lacy looks back up at me, her hand goes to her heart. "I'm hurt, Sallow. You know I'm the last person you need to lie to when it comes to a quickie in the bathroom."

Amber snort laughs. "Lacy–"

"No, Amber," she insists, holding me with a pair of disappointed eyes. "I thought your husband and I were better friends than this."

As her stare burns a hole in my forehead, all I can think about is getting the hell out of here and getting Amber alone. But since this is Lacy's house after all, and we are better friends than that, I quickly rectify the situation.

"I'm gonna go fuck my wife in your guest bathroom," I tell my new sister-in-law. "Keep everyone occupied for us."

"That's more like it!" She claps her hands and jumps with joy as I drag Amber up the stairs.

._._._.

Mom's face lights up like a Christmas tree when I spin her on the patio a few hours later. As the night comes to a close, I'm buzzed on wedding cake and bliss and a dance with my mother before she heads back to New York makes for a perfect balance.

"Did you ever think you'd be this happy, Tommy?" she asks, a smile in her voice as she glances up at me. Her eyes hold an abundance of love. And a joy that hasn't always lingered there. To see her look so over the moon right now is a blessing I'll never tire of.

"I didn't, actually," I answer honestly. "Sometimes, I think I'll wake up one day and this will all be a dream."

"That's when you know you've made it though. When reality feels like a dream."

I can't argue with that logic. "Sounds about right."

My gaze falls on Amber as she dances with her mom, and then on Mia. She's swaying with her Grandpa Ed, holding her own as she watches his feet and mimics his movements. Her brow is wrinkled in concentration, and her steps are on point. The determination is admirable.

"She's growing up so fast," Mom frets, her smile turning into a pout as she follows my eyeline to her bonus granddaughter. "Not even stepping on Ed's feet like she did on New Year's."

"I know," I mutter, matching her in the pouting department. She really does seem more grown up with each passing day. It's downright depressing. "She's been determined to learn how to dance properly, since she found out Amber and I were getting married. And everything she sets her mind to, she gets."

Mom nods. "Well, we do like our girls strong in this family."

"We sure do," I smile at my mother, thinking about her and my sisters. About Amber and Lacy. We really do strong here, and Mia's no exception.

A couple of silent minutes pass between us and, somehow, I know what Mom's going to say next before she even says it.

"Has she asked about her father yet?"

My stomach does a spin and my chest goes tight. "Not really"

The subject of Vince doesn't come up too often in our home. At least not yet. Because nothing's changed, Mia hasn't been bringing him up, and we aren't in any hurry to do so either. That particular similarity in Mia's and my life is one I'm perfectly fine putting off for as long as possible.

The history I have with my own father, the one she's currently building with Vince... It's a common trial I never wanted to share. But I guess we don't get to choose such things, all we can do is play the cards we're given. Mia hasn't picked hers up yet. She has plenty of time though.

As far as the hand I'm holding, I'm happy to say I've been on better terms with my dad these days. For the comfort of my mom and sisters, he's not in attendance today. But that decision was a selfless one made by him, and not the first he's made lately. It's crazy to admit, but I'm kind of coming around to the old man. Excited to rebuild everything we lost when I was growing up.

Things Mia lost on her own level and will one day have to face. But I'd rather not think about that now.

"She's going to ask one day, you know," Mom infiltrates my thoughts and I wince at the reality she's speaking. She's got some experience in these matters, especially where Harper and Evie are concerned, and I know I should welcome any advice she has. But it, honestly, makes me anxious and I'd rather go back to not thinking about it.

"It could be tomorrow or ten years from now," she continues softly. "Maybe even twenty years. But she'll have to face it, Tommy. For her own sake. You and Amber need to be ready."

"Yeah, I know," I sigh, my eyes drifting back over to Mia, smiling at the way she giggles uncontrollably when Ed spins her. She looks so happy and carefree. You'd never know that such a dark cloud sits in wait for her, although I know damn well that it's coming. I experienced it, too. I'm still experiencing it, even if things seem to be looking up for me.

All it does is make me wonder where Mia and Vince will be when she gets married one day.

"Don't think about it too much, Tommy," Mom says, giving my shoulder a squeeze as the song comes to an end. "I shouldn't have brought it up. Not today."

"I don't mind, Mom," I reassure her. "Everything you said was true anyway. I just don't want her to ever hurt like we did. The thought of it breaks my heart."

"I know," she smiles warmly. "But she's got two of the best people in the world to help her through it, son. I can't think of a better pair for the job."

"Thanks, Mom. That means a lot."

Just as I'm about to escort her back to her table, there's a soft tap on my arm. We both look down and find the amazing girl in question standing beside us, bright eyes pinned on me with a smile.

"May I have this dance, Dad?" Mia asks sweetly.

Fuck. My chest.

"Of course, kiddo," I choke out and take her hand, as Mom pats me on the shoulder, swiping her hand through Mia's hair on her way off the patio. I watch her disappear, nervous for a minute. Having Mia here with me, after such a heavy topic was just being discussed. About her.

But then, I look down at my little girl. The one who officially became mine today, even if it's only in part. I like to believe it's the best part.

"Tucker dropped his cake and Stella got to it," Mia says to me out of the blue as we dance, and all of my nerves melt away. As grown up as she seems sometimes, she's still just a sweet and innocent kid. Mostly unaware of the ugliness in the world, despite what she's already seen of it. "I'm pretty sure she also ate some grass. I hope she doesn't throw up on my pillow again."

I laugh. "I think that was just bad luck last time. I'm sure she'll be alright."

"Maybe," she mutters, looking lost in thought, no doubt recounting all the details of Stella's last encounter with grass eating.

"Hey," I say, spinning her around to the music. "Since she ate the frosting, at least it would be a pretty color."

Her giggle makes my heart sing. "Yes! It would be pretty puke."

At that moment, another beautiful girl joins us on the dance floor. "What kind of conversation am I walking into right now?" Amber asks, looking unsure but amused, her caramel eyes sparkling with affection.

Mia and I smirk at her. "Stella's pretty puke," we say at the same time.

"Oh boy," my bride laughs. "I was going to ask if I could cut in, but maybe I shouldn't."

Amber makes like she's walking away, but I grab her before she gets far.

"You're not going anywhere, wife," I pull her against me and Mia shifts to the side to make room. We link hands in a circle and keep dancing, swaying to a love song we're too preoccupied to pay attention to.

Lost in our own little world, we joke about Stella's loose stomach and her love of sugar and grass. We talk about how good the potatoes were and how pretty Amber's dress is. We talk about Mia starting school soon and our trip to New York for Christmas.

We talk about everything. As a family. Because that's what we are. A strong family. The kind that's seen pain and gone through hard times, but came together in triumph over it.

Today, we let love overcome the hard stuff.

-----

One more bonus chapter coming before we close things up here and dive into Playing the Game next week! Thanks for being here!