Updated Mar 21, 2026 • ~7 min read
SUMMER – FOUR MONTHS LATER (3 YEARS POST-EXPLOSION)
Wedding planning with Jax is nothing like it was with Theo.
We’re at a coffee shop. Looking at venues on my laptop.
“What about this one?” I show him a warehouse space in Brooklyn.
“Industrial. I like it.”
“Not too unconventional?”
“Summer, we’re getting married. We can do whatever we want.”
The freedom is intoxicating.
No parents dictating. No social expectations.
Just us.
“I want something small,” I say. “Maybe fifty people.”
“Sounds perfect.”
“And personal. None of that stuffy formal stuff.”
“Agreed. Marco can officiate. He got certified online.”
I laugh. “Perfect.”
This is what I wanted all along.
Choice. Freedom. Authenticity.
JAX – VENUE HUNTING
We visit the warehouse.
It’s perfect. Exposed brick. High ceilings. String lights.
“We could set up the tattoo station here,” I joke.
“Wait. That’s actually genius.”
“What?”
“A tattoo station at the wedding. Guests can get matching tattoos. Small ones. To commemorate the day.”
“You’re serious?”
“Completely. It’s us. Art. Ink. Love.”
I grin. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
We book it.
SUMMER – DRESS SHOPPING
Rose, Melody, and I are at a vintage shop.
No David’s Bridal. No mother dictating. Just us.
I find a simple cream dress. Tea-length. Lace sleeves.
“Try it on,” Melody urges.
I do.
Look in the mirror.
It’s perfect.
Not a ball gown. Not a princess dress.
Just… me.
“You look beautiful,” Rose says.
“I feel like myself.”
“That’s how you should feel.”
I buy it. $300. Not $5,000.
My wedding. My rules.
JAX – BACHELOR PARTY
Marco throws me a low-key bachelor party.
No strippers. No Vegas.
Just my crew. At the shop. Tattooing each other.
“You’re really doing this,” Felix says.
“I am.”
“She’s good for you. The real version of her.”
“She is.”
Marco adds, “I’m glad you gave her another chance.”
“Me too.”
“You trust her now?”
“Completely.”
“Good. Because marriage is hard enough without trust issues.”
He’s right.
But I’m not worried.
Summer and I built our relationship on honesty this time.
We’ll be fine.
SUMMER – BACHELORETTE PARTY
Rose keeps it simple.
Gallery opening. Wine. Art.
“No strippers?” Melody jokes.
“God, no. Just us. Celebrating.”
We look at art. Drink wine. Laugh.
“I’m proud of you,” Melody says.
“For what?”
“Everything. You lost everything three years ago. And you rebuilt. Better.”
“I had help.”
“But you did the work.”
She’s right.
I did.
And I’m proud of myself too.
SUMMER – ONE WEEK BEFORE THE WEDDING
Theo reaches out.
THEO: Hey. I know this might be weird, but I wanted to wish you well. You and Jax seem really happy.
I stare at the message.
Show Jax.
“You can respond if you want,” he says. “I’m not threatened by him.”
I write back.
SUMMER: Thank you. That means a lot. I hope you’re happy too.
THEO: I am. I’m seeing someone. Elena. She’s great.
SUMMER: I’m glad. You deserve happiness.
THEO: So do you. Congratulations.
It’s closure.
Real closure.
“That was mature,” Jax says.
“We’ve all grown up.”
“We have.”
THEO – SAME DAY
I show Elena the text exchange.
“You handled that well,” she says.
“I’m over it. Finally.”
“Good. Because I need you fully present.”
“I am. I promise.”
And I mean it.
Summer was my past.
Elena is my future.
JAX – THREE DAYS BEFORE THE WEDDING
Summer moves into my apartment.
Our apartment.
She doesn’t have much. Books. Art. Clothes.
“This is it?” I ask.
“I’ve been living minimally. It’s liberating.”
“I like it.”
We unpack together.
Her books next to mine.
Her clothes in my closet.
Our life. Together.
“Nervous?” she asks.
“About the wedding?”
“Yeah.”
“No. Are you?”
“A little. Not about marrying you. Just about… everything being real.”
“It is real.”
“I know. It’s just… three years ago, I was planning a wedding I didn’t want. Now I’m planning one I do. It feels surreal.”
I pull her close.
“This is real. We’re real. And in three days, you’ll be my wife.”
“I can’t wait.”
SUMMER – TWO DAYS BEFORE THE WEDDING
My mother helps me with final details.
It’s strange. But good.
“I’m proud of you,” she says.
“For what?”
“For choosing yourself. For being brave.”
“I wasn’t brave before.”
“You were. You just didn’t know it.”
“Mom?”
“Yes?”
“I’m sorry. For everything. For embarrassing you. For—”
“Stop. We’ve apologized enough. Let’s just move forward.”
“Okay.”
She hugs me.
And I feel it.
Forgiveness. Acceptance. Love.
Not conditional anymore.
Just… love.
JAX – ONE DAY BEFORE THE WEDDING
I’m at the warehouse with Marco.
Setting up.
String lights. Tables. Chairs.
The tattoo station.
“This is very you,” Marco says.
“That’s the point.”
“You happy?”
“Happier than I’ve ever been.”
“Good. You deserve it.”
“So does she.”
“She does. She worked for it.”
He’s right.
Summer put in the work. The time. The honesty.
She earned this.
We both did.
SUMMER – NIGHT BEFORE THE WEDDING
I’m at Rose’s. Can’t see the groom before the wedding.
Tradition.
One I’m actually keeping.
“You ready?” Rose asks.
“Yeah. I am.”
“No cold feet?”
“None. This is right. He’s right.”
“I’m happy for you.”
“Thank you. For everything. For being there when I fell apart.”
“That’s what sisters do.”
We stay up late.
Talking. Laughing. Remembering.
“You know what’s crazy?” I say.
“What?”
“Three years ago, I was lying to everyone. Living two lives. Miserable.”
“And now?”
“Now I have one life. My life. And it’s perfect.”
“Not perfect. Real.”
“Even better.”
JAX – WEDDING DAY
I’m nervous.
Not about marrying Summer.
About everything being perfect for her.
Marco notices.
“Relax. She doesn’t need perfect. She needs you.”
“I know.”
“Then breathe.”
I do.
The warehouse looks incredible.
Guests arrive. Our families. Friends.
Felix. Marco’s wife. Rose. Melody.
My mom. Summer’s parents.
Everyone we love.
Music starts.
Summer appears.
And my breath catches.
She’s beautiful.
Not magazine beautiful.
Real beautiful.
In her vintage dress. Hair down. Smiling.
She walks toward me.
No father giving her away.
She’s giving herself.
Choosing me.
Freely.
SUMMER
Jax is crying.
Happy tears.
I reach him.
Take his hands.
“Hi,” I whisper.
“Hi.”
Marco begins.
“We’re here to celebrate Summer and Jax. Two people who found each other. Lost each other. And fought like hell to find each other again.”
“Their story isn’t perfect. It’s messy. Real. Human.”
“But it’s theirs.”
He looks at us.
“Summer. Jax. You want to say your vows?”
Jax goes first.
“Summer. Three years ago, you broke my heart. But you also changed my life. You showed me what I deserve. What real love looks like.”
“These past two years, you’ve shown me honesty. Growth. Authenticity.”
“I love you. Not the perfect version. Not the easy version. The real you.”
“I choose you. Today. Tomorrow. Forever.”
I’m crying.
My turn.
“Jax. I lied to you. Hurt you. Nearly lost you forever.”
“But you gave me a second chance. You let me prove I’d changed.”
“You taught me what real love is. Not obligation. Not fear. But choice.”
“I choose you. Freely. Completely. Forever.”
“No more lies. No more hiding. Just us.”
Marco smiles.
“Rings?”
We exchange them.
Simple bands. No diamonds. Just metal and promises.
“By the power vested in me by the internet, I pronounce you married. Kiss already.”
Jax pulls me close.
Kisses me.
Our families cheer.
And I know.
This is my happy ending.
JAX
My wife.
Summer Torres.
God, that sounds good.
We walk back down the aisle.
Together.
Married.
For real this time.
“We did it,” she whispers.
“We did.”
“No regrets?”
“Not a single one.”
At the reception, we dance. Eat. Laugh.
The tattoo station is a hit. Half our guests get tiny matching hearts.
Summer and I get matching phoenixes.
Rising from ashes.
Perfect.
SUMMER
At the end of the night, Jax and I stand outside.
Looking at the city.
“Mrs. Torres,” he says.
“I like the sound of that.”
“Me too.”
We kiss.
And I realize.
I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.
With exactly who I’m supposed to be with.
It took three years. A lot of pain. A lot of work.
But I made it.
We made it.
And that’s all that matters.
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