91 – Joey
The lights, the smell, the dry heat.
I leaned against the door of the car, my head out of the window a little, as Alex took us toward the hotel where we were staying.
Never in a million years did I ever think I would be in Vegas.
It had been a dream of Jake’s and I… now it was a reality for Alex and me.
As we drove, every now and then, there would be the sound of a church bell ringing out and I’d grin. Someone had gotten married.
“It’s so pretty.”
“If you say so.” Alex replied, and I turned back to him, raising an eyebrow.
“Oh, come on, Alex… It’s beautiful.”
“I know of something–someone, more beautiful than the whole of Vegas.” He smirked, reaching out, taking my hand. “But if you think it’s pretty, then it is.”
I beamed with the compliment he’d given me. It had been alien at first, his comments on how beautiful he found me. But the more he said it, the more I believed him.
“How long are we staying?”
“Yuka is flying out tomorrow, with Oliver and Yasu. He told me this morning; we don’t have to rush. So, I was thinking… a week?”
I blinked. “A week? We’re going to be in Vegas for a week?”
Alex turned his head to me for a second, before he turned his attention back to the road. “Am I going to regret that? Is my bank account going to suffer?”
I reached over and slapped his bicep, and he chuckled. “Asshole.”
I looked out the window again and marveled at the lights. It was bright, and flashy and I knew there was a seedy undertone to it all, but I was part of the Takada Yakuza clan, seediness had to be something I got used to being exposed to.
Alex pulled the car into the valet of the hotel we were staying at and he climbed out and came around and opened my door. Helping me out of the car, he went to the trunk. He pulled out our cases and turned to the concierge, handing over the keys to the car, in exchange for a ticket.
We walked into the hotel, checked in and made our way up to our room.
“Oh my god…” I walked to the window and stared at the view, before turning to Alex. “This would have cost a fortune.”
“Wouldn’t know.” Alex said, leaning against the side of the sofa, watching me. “Yuka paid for it.”
“You’re kidding me, right?” I turned and looked at the view again, it was spectacular. We could see the streets below, lit up with their neon lights. We could see the ranges in the distance, lit up by the setting sun. It was magical.
“Joey.”
“Hmm?” I turned and my eyes went wide. “Alex… what are you doing?”
He’d stripped off his shirt and was standing in his black dress pants. He smirked and stepped toward me and my stomach flipped at the beauty of him. “Remember our first night together?”
“How can I forget.” I mumbled. “You were the first guy to show me I wasn’t just the fat chick.”
Alex frowned.
“You’re not fat, or chunky, or large. You are perfect.” He stopped in front of me and tilted my chin up. “And you’re mine. Now and always. I will always love you, no matter what. Forever.”
I stared
up into the dark abyss of his beautiful brown eyes and I could feel tears filling mine. “Be careful, Alexander Kazumi, those words sound almost like marriage vows.”
Alex smirked, leaning in, kissing me softly, so his lips barely touched mine. “Do you want them to be?”
Setting
15.07
91–Joey
I pulled back and stared up at him, my heart racing. “Alex… Don’t tease.”
do you want to get married?”
I took a step back and stared at him, trying to figure out if he was kidding or not. Was this a joke? Was this- “Alexander…”
“Yes or no, Jolene?”
“I’m not teasing, doll.” He leaned in, kissing me again, softly, achingly slow. “I am asking you,
“You’re not kidding.” I watched as he dug into his pocket and pulled out a teal box and sank to one knee. “Oh my god…”
had “Jolene Brewster, I love you. More than anyone in this whole fucked up world. You have stuck by my side, when you every right to run. You’ve accepted who I am and have loved me for it, even when it almost cost you your life…” Alex’s voice
you, have was becoming rough and my hands lifted to my mouth, as he continued. “I want to spend the rest of my life with babies with you, grow old with you.”
Tears were running down my cheeks, and I knew if I tried to say anything to him, I would start sobbing uncontrollably.
“Will you marry me?”
I didn’t say a thing, instead I threw myself against him, wrapping my arms around his neck and knocked him backward. The ring box went flying across the carpet, as Alex’s arms wrapped around me, and we kissed on the floor of the hotel room. He rolled us over, so he was on top and Alex buried his head against my neck, “I take that as a, yes?”
I pushed him up a little, so I could look into his eyes. “A million times, yes. Over and over again, until I can’t say it anymore. Yes. Alexander Kazumi, I will marry you.”
Alex kissed me again, thrusting his hips against mine. “Bedroom, or here?”
I arched my back as he kissed along my neck, down toward the top of my breasts. “Here…”
He moved down my body, opening the buttons of my sundress as he went, kissing my exposed skin, until he was at my hips. With quick movements, he had removed my panties and buried his face against my pussy; licking and suckling at my clit.
My back arched further, as Alex took me over the edge and I cried out, threading my hands through his hair, as I orgasmed.
“Alex!”
He slowly moved back up my body, kissing as he went, and he whispered in my ear. “I am going to spend the rest of our lives, making you orgasm, just to hear you scream my name.”
I sighed, wrapping my arms around his neck as he thrust his hips against my sensitive pussy. “Looking forward to it.”
Alex chuckled and lifted himself from me. He stood over me, staring down at the way I lay, with my dress and legs open. “As much as I would love to just go hell for leather with you on the floor…”
He reached down and helped me to my feet.
“I think the sofa will be more comfortable for you.”
Alex guided us to the sofa, and he sat on it, undoing his pants. He pushed them down, exposing his erection and sat down. “Come here, doll.”
I straddled him, sinking down onto his cock and tipped my head back, and started to rock my hips.
“Fuck…” he moaned, his hands gripping my hips, and I started to move faster. “That’s it doll… come on… give me another
one.”
It didn’t take long, my orgasm building quickly, and I gripped his shoulders, lifting myself a little and Alex took over. He lifted his hips, ramming up into me and I moaned as I orgasmed again. “Oh, Alex…”
“Fuck…” Alex grunted, grabbing my hips and holding me down onto his, and I felt his pulse, releasing into me. “Joey…” I collapsed against him, wrapping my arms around his neck, as his breath came in short, hard gasps. “Holy shit…” “Just like the first night.” I said, kissing him.
“Better than the first night, because I know I can do it every night.”
“Oh, now you might be pushing your luck.” I giggled and he chuckled. “So…”
I looked at Alex. “So… what?”
“When?”
8/31
91–Joey
“When what?‘
“When do you want to get married?”
I turned my head and looked for the little teal box. It lay on the floor, discarded, and I climbed from his lap and did up my dress, as I walked over to it. Scooping it up, I took it back to Alex and sat next to him. He’d tucked himself back into his pants and as I sat, he put his arm around my shoulders.
Opening the box, I stared at the ring.
It was huge.
“Alex…” I looked up at him. “It’s too bi-”
“Nope, don’t say it. It’s perfect and shows you how much I love you.” Alex plucked the ring out of the box and picked up my hand, sliding it onto my finger. “And it shows everyone else how much I love you.”
I stared at the four–carat cushion–cut diamond ring and smiled.
Was it flashy? Yes.
Was it a little over the top? Also yes…
Was it perfect?
Damned fucking right it was.
“You never answered my question either.” He said, nipping at my ear, and I giggled.
“Tomorrow.”
He pulled away and looked at me. “Tomorrow?”
I nodded, smiling up at him. “We’re in Vegas, Alex. Let’s get married tomorrow.”
Alex chuckled and lifted himself, going to the counter near the door, before returning with his phone. He winked at me, as he pressed a couple of buttons, and I squinted at him.
What the-
“Ollie, she said yes. It’s on for tomorrow. I’ll text you in the morning.”
He hung up and tossed the phone to the side and looked at me. I stared at him. “What?”
“How long have you been planning this?”
Alex chuckled, putting his arm around me again. “Marrying you? About three weeks after you moved to New York… I bought the ring, just before you went back to Miami, I was going to ask that night, at dinner…”
I looked at the ring, then to him and slapped his chest. “You asshole.”
Alex blinked. “Wha-”
“If you had told me, I would have stayed.”
Alex closed his eyes and tipped back his head. “I’m sorry.”
Sighing, I leaned against him and turned, curling up against him and I could feel the pull of sleep. It had been so stressful the last couple of days, “It’s okay. I love you anyway.”
Alex wrapped his arm around me, and murmured, as he started to nod off as well. “I love you too, Jolene.”
92–Alex
Fuck.
I couldn’t believe I was doing this.
Getting married…
I paced the hotel room, waiting for Ollie. He’d promised he’d be there for me, as my witness and best man. I just hoped the big idiot hadn’t flaked.
There was a knock at the door, and I crossed to it, opening it.
I looked at the man who stood on the other side. “Can I help you?”
He smiled, and I tilted my head to the side. He had the same little lop–sided grin as his daughter… “Mr. Brewster.”
“Alexander Kazumi.” He stepped forward, wrapping his arms around me and hugged me, as Oliver chuckled and stepped into the room behind him.
“Surprise.” Ollie chuckled, closing the door.
Joey’s father let go of me, clapping me on the shoulders. “She was right, you are a good–looking young man.”
“Sir, I would have asked-” I stammered, but he cut me off.
“Nonsense. I am not that old–fashioned. I know Joey loves you, and you have made her extremely happy. So, you can marry my daughter. And you can call me Eion.”
I chuckled. “Eoin. Irish. Now I can see where she gets her feistiness from.”
Eoin Brewster laughed. “That was her mother. Redheaded and wild. Like a pagan—”
“Goddess.” We both said in unison and started to laugh.
“Oh yes, Jolene has always had fire in her soul and Irish whiskey in her veins. You’re going to have your hands full with that one, and I wish you all the luck in the world.” Eoin chuckled.
“Oh, don’t I know it.” I chuckled in return. I turned to Oliver. “How is Yuka?”
“He’s-”
There was another knock at the door, and I squinted at Ollie as he walked to the door and opened it. Aoto stood on the other side, Yuka in a wheelchair in front of him… Sota by his side.
“Sota!”
I practically ran across the room as Sota stepped into the room and stopped in front of him. I wanted to throw myself at him, but I knew he would still be sore from the surgery to remove the bullet from his breastbone…
“Come here, you little shit.” Sota grabbed me, hugging me to him and mumbled in my ear. “Thank you for saving my life,
Alex. We’re even.”
I chuckled, letting him go and stepped back, bowing to him, then turned to Yuka. “Sir, you are supposed to be home.”
“And miss you and Jolene getting married? Not on your life. I’m not going to die, Alexander. Let me enjoy this.” He chuckled and I smiled, bowing. Turning, I flipped Oliver off, who laughed and turned back to Eoin. “Eoin, this is Yuka Takada. He is mine and Joey’s boss.”
Eoin came over and bowed to Yuka, then shook his hand. “It’s an honor, sir.”
“No, the honor is mine, Mr. Brewster. If it wasn’t for your daughter, I would not be here. She saved my life.”
Eoin smiled. “Sound just like
my Roo.”
I scrunched my eyebrows together. “Roo?”
He laughed and told us the story of the young Joey, and the kangaroo at the zoo, and we all laughed. “I am going to have to
mention it.”
“Oh, please don’t.” Eoin laughed. “She will skin me alive.”
“What time have you booked this in for, Alex?” Oliver asked, coming over to me and putting his arm around my shoulders. “I want to text Jade and let her know to have Joey there on time.”
Setting
15.07
92 Alex
“Jade’s here too?”
“Yeah, like she would miss it.” Ollie mumbled. “Damned woman threatened me with divorce if I didn’t get her a flight over
to it.”
I laughed. “Well, couldn’t have that then, could we? I have the chapel booked for a six pm start.”
Oliver looked at his watch. “Well, better get ready.”
I nodded and went to shower, quickly dressing in the suit I’d bought that morning, and walked out into the hotel room. “Oh, very dashing.” Yuka said, as Oliver took a photo, and I flipped him off again.
“Have you got the ring?”
“Sure do.” Ollie replied, pulling out the box and handing it to me.
“Alex, if I may ask a favor?” Eoin stepped up to me and held out his hand. In it, sat a ring box and I looked at him. “It was Joey’s mother’s wedding ring. In the end, they didn’t fit her fingers anymore. Joey already has the engagement ring, reforged into a pendant. If you don’t mind…”
I smiled, as he trailed off and I took the box from his hand and opened it.
Inside sat one of the most exquisite wedding bands I had ever seen.
Filigree gold and silver entwined in Celtic knots. “It’d be an honor, Eoin.”
“Thank you. Well, I best go and see my girl, before everything.” He smiled and hugged me again. “I will see you in a little while.”
Eoin left and I inhaled. “Phew…”
“Having second thoughts?” Sota asked and I shook my head.
“No, just never thought I would ever get to this point, with anyone. Ever.”
“Well, neither did we.” Yuka said. “But here you are.”
After a few more minutes of talking, we made our way down to the chapel in the hotel and waited. I bounced nervously on the balls of my feet, eager to see the woman I was about to-
The moment the door opened, and Joey stepped through, on the arm of her father, it was as if I had forgotten how to
breathe. She was ethereal.
The white dress she wore, while not traditionally a wedding dress style, looked incredible on her and my heart thudded painfully in my chest, at the sheer beauty of her, and the fact she was about to become my wife. Tears burned in my eyes, and I bit my lip, trying to stop myself from crying.
Eoin handed Joey’s hand to me, and she stepped up beside me.
Joey looked up and frowned. “Are you crying? Don’t cry, you’ll make me cry and I’ve already cried enough today.”
“I’m not, but you look incredible, doll.”
“Thank you.” She whispered and we turned to the celebrant.
He ran through the traditional sayings of a wedding, of how it was sacred and blah, blah, blah. I didn’t really hear much of it, I was too busy staring at Joey.
I didn’t deserve her…
This perfectly wild and beautiful woman, who had gone through so much, and was still standing here, with me, getting married.
“Do you, Alexander Kazumi, take this woman, Jolene Teresa Brewster as your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold until death do you part?‘
I looked down at Joey and smiled. “I do. Always.”
She slid the simple gold band onto my finger and held my hand tight.
“And do you, Jolene Teresa Brewster, take this man, Alexander Kazumi to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold until death do you part?”
Joey looked up at me and smiled. “I do. Always.”
12/31
92–Alex
I took the ring from Oliver and slid it onto her finger, and she looked down at it.
“Oh my god… papa…”
She turned to her dad, who was fighting back tears, and he blew her a kiss.
Joey smiled at him, before turning back to me, biting her lip, to stop herself from crying.
“Then by the power vested in me, by the state of California, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride.”
There was nothing I wanted more… and I stepped forward, wrapping my arms around Joey and kissed her as if I would die if
I didn’t.
A cheer went up through the cathedral, but I didn’t really take much notice of it.
We were complete.
Final.
Married.
There was no other woman on earth who would ever take Joey’s place in a million years, and I knew, as she wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me, she would always be by my side no matter what.
Pulling away, I looked down at her. Joey looked up at me, tears sitting on her lashes, “Ready for our next chapter, Mr.
Kazumi?”
I chuckled and leaned in, hugging her to me. “Always, Mrs. Kazumi.”
Joey, giggled. “Hmm… I like the sound of that.”
“Good. And do you like the sound of two weeks in Hawaii?”
Joey pulled away from me and looked up. “No… you didn’t.”
I put my hand out and Oliver quickly came up, handing me the tickets and I gave them to her.
“Two weeks. Just you and me, doll.”
“Oh Alex!” She flung herself at me this time, kissing me again and I heard Oliver yell out.
“Get a room you two!”
I lifted my hand, flipping him off, as I continued to kiss my wife and as the most important people in our life laughed, I held onto Joey, knowing we were going to be just fine.
Mr. and Mrs. Kazumi were now a reality.
END AND THANK YOU!!!
To everyone who has read this story, thank you!!!!
I never in a million years, thought this would do as well as it has. You have given me faith back in my writing. This is the biggest story I have ever written, and it flowed so well, I was so incredibly happy with it.
I have been asked if I can do a sequel to this and am trying to find a storyline that won’t seem like I am trying too hard with
- it.
Hopefully I can and hopefully I will be able to bring you back Alex, Joey, Sota, Oliver, Aoto and Jade in a future book.
But for now, I am done with Joey and Alex’s story.
I am going to let them go to Hawaii and have their happily ever after.
Once again, from the bottom of my heart, thank you!
