WANT (completed)

EPILOGUE

ASA'S POV

I slowly wrap my arms around her waist, pulling her back and flush against me as I lean down, nudging her cheek with the tip of my nose before moving my lips slowly to her ear. She lets out a small giggle, her hands folding on top of mine.

"Have I told you how incredible you look?" I mutter, already knowing her answer. It's yes, because I can't stop telling her how beautiful and perfect she looks. She always does, but today, in the perfect white dress, she's a whole other kind of beauty.

"Yes," she lets out with another giggle as I place a kiss on the crook of her neck, pulling some of her loose curls back before placing my chin on her shoulder. It's a bit of a stretch for me, but with her high heels, it's much easier than usual — actually, usually my chin rests on the top of her head because of how short she is. "Only about a thousand times."

I already know she rolled her eyes when I asked. I love that in the past three years, I've come to know every single little thing about her. Her birth marks, where she's ticklish — which is everywhere — how many times she hits snooze before getting up, and everything in between. Cassandra is still a terrible cook, although she makes up for that with how incredible she is with our daughter. Not only is she a great mother, but for the last year, she's been a terrific CEO for Rhodes Enterprises — recently renamed to R&R Enterprises — thanks to a little contract that we signed to merge my company with Cassandra and Zac. It technically stands for Rivers & Rhodes, but all three of us decided to shorten the name.

"I can't believe how fast time is flying," Cassandra let's out a soft sigh, her eyes gazing across the dance floor from where we are standing on the side, observing all of our loved ones and friends enjoying themselves at our reception. I know she's talking about how much Aislin has grown. She's about eighteen months right now, walking and talking away. Well, it's more blabbering, but she knows how to say certain things, like momma and dadda.

"Yeah," I can't help but smile, taking in all of it. My mom is dancing with my younger sister, Andrea. Lauren is having a blast with a few of our friends, and even Andrew is having fun with a few of the other kids. Zac is dancing with Aislin in his arms. He's her favorite, but it's a two-way streak, considering his niece has him wrapped around his finger. "I can't believe it's been three years already."

My hand glides over hers, feeling the wedding band and diamond ring on her ring finger. We met here, at the same place we are having our official wedding ceremony and reception today, exactly three years to the day at a gala, and it's crazy considering how much my life has changed since that night.

I was never one to think that I would want to settle down and raise kids, but that's exactly the life I want with my wife. And being here today? It's a reminder of how I felt when I met her that first time when Cassandra tripped and I just so happened to be the one who caught her.

It's cheesy and a story that people don't seem to believe when we tell them the story of how we met. They always say it sounds like the start of a book or romantic comedy, which Cassandra and I always end up laughing over.

"You can't? I remember every day when your alarm goes off at five am," Cassandra teases, giving me a quirky 'I'm annoyed about it still' look. I can't help but laugh, because she's absolutely right about my alarm going off so early, but it's not like she ever gets up because of it. The woman sleeps like a log.

"I love you," I blurt out, spinning her around in my arms and kissing her on the lips. I feel like even though today has been about us, I haven't truly had a moment alone with her apart from now. "I can't believe that I get you all for myself for two weeks."

"Right," Cassandra actually rolls her eyes at my remark, her hands pressed against my chest, fingers playing with one of the hems on tuxedo. "I'm nervous. We haven't been apart from her for more than one night..."