He lifted her off the ground to the cheering around them, and she crossed her ankles and hugged him up tight when he ended their kiss. But where she expected him to be smiling when he eased away, her Bash Bear’s eyes were rimmed with moisture, and he buried his face against her neck quick. She blinked hard to clear her vision as she looked from Harrison’s smile as he whistled long and loud, to Audrey who was wiping her eyes with the back of her hand, to Mason who took pictures with a disposable camera he’d picked up from somewhere, and Kirk, who was clapping, to Clinton, who stood with his hands in his pockets. He nodded to her as though she’d done well. It didn’t matter that she hadn’t gotten the big wedding she’d thought she wanted as a kid.
There was no way anything could match this moment.
Bash sniffed and set her down, and then Harrison drew him into a manly, back-slapping hug. She hugged her parents, and they were so sweet and supportive, and when it was Audrey’s turn to embrace her, she held Emerson for a long time, rocking gently.
“I’ve always wanted a friend like you,” Audrey whispered. “Welcome to the crew.”
Emerson squeezed her shoulders and eased back to dab her cheeks with a tissue. The officiant shook her hand and said, “I’m sorry this was rushed. I don’t agree with what is happening to you and your people. I wish you a long and happy life with your mate.”
And just like that, her disappointment in people vanished. Last night had shaken her to the core. It had made her feel picked on and jaded, but the human officiant and his kind words reminded her that there was more good than bad in this world. That people could be understanding and accepting.
The world just needed to be made aware that there was no reason to fear shifters. She thanked him and turned to see Bash talking and laughing with her parents. They liked him, she could tell. How could anyone not adore Bash? He was sweet and funny and cared more than anyone she’d ever met. Emerson made her way to him and slipped under his outstretched arm, the grin on her lips feeling permanent. Today had been one of those days that had turned out to be unimaginably happy, and what a way to start their lives together.
Bash kissed the top of her head and told her, “I just invited your parents to the after-party.”
“What after-party?” she asked, baffled. She’d figured they would take the cake back up to the trailer park and hopefully order some barbecue from Moosey’s. Nothing big or flashy, since this had been about as rushed as it could get.
“It’s a surprise.”
Her mom was smiling, and her eyes were rimmed with tears, her dad hugging her tight against his side. Amanda hadn’t been able to make it last minute, but at least her parents were starting to see the magic of these people. “We’ll be right behind you.”
“Okay,” Emerson said, feeling numb as Bash ushered her out the double doors behind the rest of the chattering crew.
A short drive later, and Bash parked his pickup in the gravel parking lot of Sammy’s Bar. Harrison and Audrey slipped silently out of the truck and shut the door.
“Remember this place?” Bash asked.
“Yeah, this is where you had your Meet-A-Mate Bash.”
He leaned over the console and drew her knuckles to his lips. “And I did. You. This was the place I figured out you were mine. My bear picked you here.”
There were people piling in through Sammy’s doors. She recognized some of them from the crews she’d met over the last couple of weeks. Brooke and Tagan of the Ashe Crew. Kellen, Skyler, Bruiser and Diem, Drew and Riley, and others. Willa and Matt waved before they went in, and Beaston nodded his chin at them as he helped his very pregnant mate, Aviana, through the door to Sammy’s.
“But…I thought everyone was working up on the landings today.”
“Being C-team paid off. The Ashe Crew and Gray Backs don’t have job sites because we’re so fuckin’ behind cutting their trees. Kirk called Kong and Layla, and they opened the bar early and went to work. Damon gave everyone a day off. They came here for us. For you.”
She would not cry again, she would not cry again. Swallowing hard, she opened the door and slid out of Bash’s truck, then took his hand and followed him across the parking lot.
As she stepped inside the bar behind her new husband, Kirk lifted his beer and yelled out, “Mr. and Mrs. Kane of the Boarlanders!”
The bar erupted in applause, ear-splitting whistles, and cheers. It looked like all the crews were here, children and all, like one big family. And in the center of them were Mom and Dad clapping the loudest. Denison Beck got on the mic and lifted a shot glass. It was damn early to be drinking, but that didn’t have any bearing on this party. “You all lift your glasses. Last night, we got some rough news, and it was hard, and it hurts. But none of that matters today because Bash married his lady, Audrey registered to the Boarlanders, and today is a great day.”