***

3 years later 

***

"Excuse me, but I just had to come over and tell you how beautiful you are."

"Thank you, but as you can tell, I'm clearly married."

"So am I."

"My condolences to your wife."

Jake shakes his head, dimples teasing beneath the stubble. "You're going to drive me crazy for the rest of my life, aren't you?"

I rest my hands on his suit jacket, leaning into his sandalwood cologne. "And you're going to love every second of it."

His lips brush over my ear, spilling a breath of amusement. "Just like you're going to love getting punished for it."

"I could get punished right now, sir." I hide my face in the arch of his neck and give it a slow, lingering lick.

"Congratulations to the happy couple!" Molly, Nick, Kayden, and his girlfriend — Faye — appear, disrupting the heat.

Jake pulls away, cheeks slightly flushed. Hugs get exchanged. Molly looks breathtaking in her green, off the shoulder gown, auburn waves in a loose updo, signature blush on her freckled cheeks. Nick has cleaned up nicely too, ginger locks styled on one side, wearing a shy smile. Kayden's in a bow tie, his blue suit matching Faye's silk, floor-length gown.

"You look stunning," she fawns over me, smiling brightly at my wedding dress.

I mirror her excitement. "What can I say, my friend is a talented designer."

She waves me off while Kayden ogles her with lovestruck eyes. Molly notices and snorts, shaking her head at me. "He's so whipped," she mouths.

"What's so funny?" Jake asks when I stifle a giggle, wrapping his arm around my waist.

"Just that Molly is about to understand the joy of living with a boy," I say, smiling at her. "Call me if you ever need a rescue."

"Wow, you guys are settled in already?" Jake asks.

Molly nods. "Yup. I didn't even pack a thing, just a few of my clothes, ready for a fresh start. I don't want anything from my mom."

"As you should." I beam, wrapping my arms around her. "I'm so proud of you!"

She kisses my cheek and whispers. "It's thanks to you. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for all your help. Same with dad."

"Biiitch!" Anna joins the group, waving the wedding bouquet I tossed not so long ago.

"Oh my God, woman, can you get your shit together?" Ramon follows behind like a lost, angry puppy.

"Make me!" She retorts and shoves the flowers in his face. "Here, take this so I can hug my best friend."

Then she launches herself at me with a squeal, making me stumble back as we both laugh. "I can't believe you're married!"

"I know! But you're always going to be my number one, I promise."

We're still holding each other, ignoring our group chuckling a couple of feet away. Anna gives my cheek a loud smooch. "I love you so much, and I'm so happy for you. You deserve this."

Tears pool my eyes. "You're going to make me cry, I love you too."

She pulls back and holds my hands, her own eyes watering. "I will always have your back, don't forget."

I bite my lip to stop from bawling. "Thank you for never giving up on me."

She shakes her head, wiping her cheek. "You stupid ho, sisters don't give up on each other."

We hug again, and out of the corner of my eye, I see Jake and his dad doing the same. They pull back, both tear-stricken as Jake grabs two whiskey glasses from a passing waiter, handing one to his dad as for a toast.

When our eyes meet across the room, he raises the crystal glass and winks at me, which suddenly makes me want to get under his skin. So I give Anna one last kiss on the cheek, and walk up to him. "Can I steal you?"

"Sure." He gives me a lopsided smile and takes my hand, letting me lead us out of the white banquet room with three hundred guests, down the marbled hall, passing the ridiculously overpriced arrangements his mom insisted on having. A part of me dies at the lost money we could've used for something more practical — like a nice couch — but hey, I picked my battles.

Loud music booms from the speakers as Jake asks where we're going, but I just smile over my shoulder once we reach the corner, facing a bathroom. As I reach to open the door, Estelle— the astrology nut from the night I met Jake— stumbles out, reeking of cigarettes. "Are you guys about to do it in the bathroom?"

Jake exclaims 'no' at the same time I say 'yes,' making him crimson. I smirk with a careless shrug, then remember something. I look back at Estelle, then the cigarette pack in her hand and snatch it away. "And this is mine to break."

She snorts, throwing him a sympathetic look as she walks past us. "Typical Taurus..."

We laugh as I pull him inside, locking the door. The noises muffle behind the wall as I peer at him under my lashes.

"Feeling nostalgic?" he murmurs, placing his hand above my head, the other teasing down my satin gown, leaving a trail of fire behind.

I feign nonchalance. "Hmph. You wish..."

"I don't have to wish, I already married you." He chuckles, which bothers me, because who does he think he is?

"So? The only thing you should be celebrating is tax benefits. You still have to work for it."

He trails his mouth down the slope of my neck, biting down on the sensitive skin where my shoulder and neck connect. When I gasp, he lingers his lips over the wound while his calloused grip gathers the silk fabric of my skirt. "You talk too much, you know that?"

"Maybe you just suck at shutting me up," I tease, fisting his jacket.

In an instant, my throat is shoved against the door, knocking the air out of my lungs. "You really want to be disciplined now, with our family next door?" He taunts, stroking his thumb over my pulse.

I put both hands around his wrist, choking on a whimper. A sly finger claims the lace between my legs, intoxicating me with lightheadedness. My nails dig into his wrist, but don't faze him at all as he torments. "Go ahead, fight. But you're mine, and I'll do whatever I want with you."

My moan unravels as he teases while his other hand covers my mouth. "That's what I thought," he cooes with a smug curve on his lips.

I yank his black leather belt to unbuckle, unzip, and take what I want. He allows, freeing my mouth to thread through my hair, guiding me to my knees, praising me with 'good girl...'

Pushing him to the back of my throat, I look up to marvel at the sternness of his jaw, the sharp intake of breath through his teeth and how he doesn't take his eyes off of me.

Something in him flips, because I'm suddenly lifted, the ground no longer beneath my feet as I'm wrapped around him and kissed with such force, I forget how to breathe.

And he swallows every moan, every whimper as I draw blood from his lip. As my thighs tense around his waist. As he makes me wither and shake while dripping every filthy, dirty word I crave down the curve of my neck.

~

An hour later, after a couple of more shots and cheers to a good life, Jake and I get in the black limo and head back to his place to grab our luggage for our two weeks of honeymoon in Japan.

He's typing a work email on his phone while I look out the busy streets of Hollywood when we stop under a red light, and in the corner of a coffee shop, I spot a frail woman hunched over a shopping cart by a brick wall.

My body grows cold and I can't look away, identifying the familiar bangs on her face, the dirty blonde hair stuck to her head, the grimy clothes layered on small bones. My pulse plummets with an aching dread when she turns her face.

It's not her.

Relief, sadness, and worry swim through my head. When the woman moves to leave, my head whips to Jake. "Give me your wallet."

His brows furrow, but something in my face makes him do as I say. Pulling two hundred dollar bills out, I ask him to put the emergency lights on and get out of the car. My heels click on the concrete pavement, milky satin trailing past the strangers who stare.

"Excuse me," I quietly say, approaching her. She lifts her eyes at me, but they're glossed with deluded distance. "This is for you," I continue, holding out the money.

Without acknowledgement, she takes the money, crumples it in a fist and shoves it in her coat pocket. Then, as if I'm not there, she rotates her cart and wheels in the opposite direction.

And I stare after her, as her small, shrunken figure fades in the crowd, farther and farther away. My mom's laugh, her arms around me, her rare moments of joy ring in my ears, tingle my skin, and pulse across my hollow corners.

Then I turn to the car, where Jake stands by the open door watching me from a distance. Hands in his pockets, gentleness in his gaze, a warm smile on his lips. He smiles and beckons to me, and before I even think, my legs carry me to him, running and laughing, throat thick with tears.

"You okay?" he murmurs, catching me in his arms.

I nod, smiling up. "I love you so much."

"I love you too." He cups my face, brushing his thumb across my cheek.

"Why wouldn't you?" I grin cheekily, rolling my eyes when he snorts.

***

The End.

***

~~ A/N~~

That's it, everyone! Thank you for being a part of their journey, for the laughter and tears <3 I hope you found joy, entertainment, but also inspiration in Mia's story. 

Question: What were one of your most favorite moments? 

FYI, I might do bonus chapters later. But right now, the goal is to edit this to the best version that it can be. Let's see where it takes us :)

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your support <3