Ice Dreams Part 3 (12 page)

Authors: Melissa Johns

BOOK: Ice Dreams Part 3

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“I don’t want you to let me go but we need to be honest with each other, Hunter. If you have any doubts or fears, tell me. We will work through them together, ok?”

He nodded. “I promise.” He leaned down and kissed her lips again. She heard Alicia whistle as their friends approached them.

“Madison! What the hell?”

She looked around Hunter and realized that she never told Alicia about her feelings. “Alicia, I’m sorry. I would have told you but you had your own problems. I didn’t want to burden you with mine.”

She looked stunned. “You know I would support you with any decision that you made but I’m just surprised. A few days ago, you were trying to keep your distance from him.”

“Well...” She looked up at Hunter. “I overheard his conversation with Carter the day after your wedding and I knew at that moment he regretted his behavior and love always finds its way.”

She smiled and hugged her. She whispered in her ear. “Are you sure this is what you want?”

Madison pulled back and nodded. “Yes, he’s my true love.”

Hunter smiled. “And she’s mine.”

They kissed again as Mike, Jessie and Amber joined them. Jessie clapped her hands and smiled. “It’s about time you told him.”

Madison smiled. “Jealousy is an ugly thing.”

Hunter looked at her. “Jealous of whom?”

“The girls at the bar, they had their hands all over you.”

He laughed. “Oh Maddy, you have nothing to fear! You are the only girl that I want.”

She blushed and leaned against his chest. Her eyes locked with Mike’s as he smiled at her. “Excuse me for a minute.” She left Hunter’s embrace and grabbed Mike’s hand. She pulled him off to the side. “Hey.”

He looked at her and responded, “Hey.”

“I want to thank you for understanding. I regret leading you on but I was so confused.”

He smiled. “Maddy, don’t worry about anything. I think I always knew that it would come down to this but I thought maybe I would work my way into your heart.”

“You did, Mike. You were there when I was at my worse. You talked to me and helped me. I will always be your friend and your neighbor. I will kick any girl’s ass who dares to hurt you.”

He laughed. “That’s why I will always love you, Maddy. You are stronger than you give yourself credit for. I hope Hunter deserves you because I will hurt him severely if he messes up again.”

She smiled. “I think it will be different this time. I just feel it in my heart.”

He nodded. “Come on. Let’s go grab a drink to celebrate.”

“Wait a second. I have a question for you now and I want your honesty.”

He looked worried. “What’s up?”

“Is there something going on between you and Jessie?”

He looked away and nervously laughed. “Out of all the questions you could ask me.”

She smirked. “I knew it. I saw the way you guys looked at each other during dinner. What’s going on?”

“Nothing, I mean that. We are just talking and she’s a good listener. We haven’t done anything because she’s worried about what you would think. I am too.”

She smiled. “Mike, I know you and I had our moments but we never really even dated. It’s not up to me. You are both adults. Just treat her right, that’s all I ask for.”

He nodded. “She’s going back to Canada and I’m starting my business here. It wouldn’t work.”

Madison smirked as she started to walk away from him. She met Hunter’s eyes as he winked. She looked back at Mike. “Sometimes people decide to start over and move their entire life to be with the one person they will always love. You never know unless you try.”

She walked back to Hunter and placed her lips against his. He smiled and kissed her back. “You ready to start our life again?”

She nodded. “Let’s get this show started!”

Epilogue

The weather was beautiful. The church was packed. It was over a year ago when Hunter proposed to Madison. He rented his friend’s private beach and as the sun set Madison was presented with his love and ring. She agreed to spend the rest of her life with him.

She always dreamt of a church wedding. They found a small civil war church that was quaint and beautiful. Their florist had decorated it with white roses and silver trimmings. Alicia and Jessie were co-maid of honors since they both meant the world to her. She looked over at her girls as they stood in the small bridal room, waiting for the signal.

Alicia and Carter were more in love now than ever before and once they returned from their honeymoon, they found out she was pregnant again. The pregnancy went perfectly and Madison had little niece, Elsa who was her world. Even though she was too young to be the flower girl, they had dressed her in a matching dress and gave her the title anyways. Alicia’s parents were babysitting in the back of the church and watching over her.

Jessie grabbed her bouquet of white roses and handed them to Madison. “You ok?”

She nodded. “Just nervous, I never thought this moment would arrive.”

“You and Hunter were always meant to be. You look beautiful today.”

Madison looked down at her traditional wedding dress. It was simple, white and elegant. Amber helped her designed the dress and it was the first in Amber’s new line of wedding attire. She launched her clothing line a few months ago and it was making an impression in the bridal industry.

The door opened as Mike stuck his head in. “I just wanted to make sure we were all ready to go.” His eyes met Madison’s and smiled. “You look beautiful.”

She smiled. “Thank you.” She was surprised how close Hunter and Mike had become over the past year. Mike leaned over and kissed Jessie’s lips lightly. He smiled at her. “How’s my girl?”

Jessie smiled. “I’m uncomfortable but doing well.”

Madison laughed as she looked at her swollen belly. Shortly after reuniting with Hunter, she gave her blessing to Jessie and Mike. They hit it off and Jessie moved in with him six months later. It was soon after that she announced they were pregnant. Mike proposed to her shortly after and their wedding was a few months away.

Madison started to cry as she heard the grandfather clock next to her chime. Jessie looked back at her. “Why are you crying?”

“I just love everyone in this room so much. I went from having nothing, to all of this. I never thought in a million years, this would happen.”

“We love you too, Maddy.” Alicia said as she walked over and hugged her. “We will always be your family.”

The door opened again as Carter walked in. “We are ready. Are you ready, Maddy?”

She nodded as she looked at her brother. She had sat down with him months ago and explained to him that she didn’t want her parents there. It was a tough decision but she didn’t want any drama and in her heart, she knew this was the right decision. He agreed that it was her day and whatever she decided, he would support.

“Yes, I don’t want to keep the Stanley cup champion waiting any longer.”

Carter laughed. “It would do his ego some good to be kept waiting a little bit longer.”

Madison chuckled as she gathered her flowers and headed towards the back of the church. Mike and Carter kissed her cheek and left to join Hunter at the front of the church.

She made her way through the small hallway and peeked through the doors. She noticed her friends that she had made throughout her school year were sitting towards the back of the church. Amber was sitting up front talking with her new boyfriend. Hunter’s family filled his side of the church. Madison had decided months ago to ask Hunter’s dad to walk her down the aisle. He had become a big part of her life and he accepted her with open arms.

He agreed to have the honor as he reached his arm out for her. “You ready, sweetheart?”

She nodded. “I love him, Dad.”

“I know you do and he loves you completely. My son has never been more complete since you came into his life. You are good for each other and if he does anything wrong, you tell him this old man can still kick his ass.”

Alicia spun around. “Mr. Longo, we are in a church!”

He chuckled. “I love you too, Alicia.”

The music started to play as Jessie walked down the aisle first. Mike smiled at her from the front of the church. Alicia followed closely behind her and made her way to the front.

Mr. Longo looked down at her. “Ready?”

She nodded. “Let’s go get my husband.”

He smiled as the music changed and they started their walk. Hunter’s eyes never left hers as his dad walked her down the aisle. When they reached the front, Mr. Longo lifted her veil over her head and kissed her check. “I love you, Madison.”

“I love you too, Dad to be.”

He chuckled and put Hunter’s hand with her. “Treat her right, Son.”

He nodded and looked at Madison. “You are breathtaking.”

“You look pretty good yourself.”

The priest moved through the ceremony and presented Mr. and Mrs. Hunter Longo to the congregation. Madison cried as looked over at her new husband. They would be together forever.

As they left the church, Hunter grabbed her hand and led her to the limo. The driver opened the trunk and grabbed a large brown package.

Madison looked at him. “What’s this?”

“It’s your wedding gift. I wanted you to have it the minute we were married.”

Madison smiled as he held the package and she tore open the brown wrapping. She gasped when she spotted the painting from the restaurant. “It’s the beach painting that I fell in love with at Carter and Alicia’s rehearsal dinner. How did you get this?”

“I saw the look on your face when you saw it. You were taken by it. After all the events from that night, I reached out to the owner and he explained he was displaying it for the artist. I talked with her agent and offered a price. They accepted it. I bought it right then and there. I told myself that I would give it to you the minute we were married so you would always know that I knew we would find our way back to each other.”

She started to cry and kissed him. “I love you, Hunter Longo.”

“I love you too, Madison Longo. Forever.”

THE END