by Toni Aleo
Yes.
Okay, well go to sleep, don’t do this.
Do what?
Drunk text me, you don’t want to do that.
But I do. I want to know, he typed quickly, what do you think of me?
Why do you want to know that? Why are you doing this? It isn’t fair to both of us.
I’m sorry.
It’s fine, just go to sleep.
Erik glanced down at the phone, his heart aching for her as he typed, I miss you.
Erik.…
What? I do.
No, you are drunk.
Yes I am but it doesn’t ease the pain. I miss you so much it hurts.
Waiting for her response, he smiled when it came.
I miss you, too.
Can we talk at the wedding? He typed quickly; thankfully he didn’t have to wait long before his phone went off again with only one word.
Yes.
His smile couldn’t get any bigger as he stared down at the simple word. It was the beginning of his future. He had been so confused about their relationship, but now he was 100 percent confident that things were going to work out. Because no matter what, Piper Titov was going to be his wife and she was going to know that he loved her with every cell in his body.
Chapter 25
Standing in her sleek teal bridesmaid’s dress, Piper moved from side to side trying to keep her legs from falling asleep. She was aching and tired from the night before. The Braxton Hicks contractions were occurring more frequently and they drove her insane. She didn’t understand why she was having them so often, because Audrey and Fallon hadn’t even had one yet. Piper was having them almost every day and that worried her.
Turning slowly, she noticed that Audrey was watching her.
Piper smiled as Audrey said, “You okay?”
“I’m fine, Audrey. I promise. I’ve been having fake contractions, that’s all.”
Audrey made a face as she came closer to her. “Okay, but let me know if you aren’t, though. Even if it is during the wedding, just sit down, I don’t care. I want you to be okay.”
Piper smiled. “Won’t happen, I’m fine. Stop looking at me like that.”
Audrey smiled, wrapping her arm around Piper’s shoulders. She leaned her head against Piper’s and smiled as they looked at each other through the mirror. Audrey looked perfect, like a pregnant Cinderella ready for her ball. Piper was sure that she had never seen Audrey look more gorgeous than she did at that moment.
“It isn’t that.”
“What is it then?” Piper asked, somewhat concerned.
Audrey wouldn’t look at her as she moved her fingers together. She took in a deep breath before looking up at Piper. “I wanted to call you this morning when I heard this but I figured it would be better if we talked face-to-face.”
“Okay, what?” Piper’s heart began racing from the way Audrey was acting.
“I heard that Erik has been living with Phillip and I didn’t want to believe it because I was sure my best friend would tell me if her husband wasn’t living with her anymore.”
Piper’s guilt made it hard for her to swallow. She had known this moment would come and if Audrey had known the extent of everything she would have felt even more upset.
“I haven’t told you because I haven’t told anyone. I’ve been a little out of it.”
Audrey said softly, “I understand that, but I could have helped somehow.”
Piper tried to lighten the tone of their conversation. “No, there is no helping me. I’m at rock bottom with Adele blaring and a lot of Oreos and pickles.”
“Well, I know that you’ll be fine. You are one of the strongest people I know. You could raise a baby, draw a mural, and work on a book, all while singing and dancing. You are resilient.”
Piper grinned. “Thanks, Audrey, I needed that.”
Audrey wrapped her arms around Piper for a tight hug, but as Piper hugged her best friend, something still bothered her.
Releasing her, Piper asked, “Who did you hear that from?”
Audrey paused. “My hairdresser. She has been sleeping with Phillip, and I guess she has been coming over a lot and Erik has been there.”
“Oh.”
“Can I ask why y’all split up?”
Carefully Piper responded, not wanting to elaborate on her troubles. “We’ve had problems since the beginning. They only escalated and then I told him to leave.”
“Really? I thought y’all were solid, perfect even. It is obvious y’all love each other,” Audrey said.
“Yeah. Well.” Piper just sighed.
“Do you want it to work out?”
Audrey’s question startled her. Piper wanted that more than she could breathe, but she felt like it wasn’t meant to be.
But that didn’t stop her saying, “Yeah, I do. I miss him a lot and I hate being apart.”
“I hope it works out.”
“Don’t worry about us. I’ll be fine. My relationship will work out the way God wants it to. All you need to do is get ready to marry the love of your life!”
Audrey started to bounce with excitement. “Eek! I’m so excited!”
“Me, too,” Piper whispered softly, and she was excited. Not only for her best friend, but also to find out if Erik had changed his mind and wanted to be a part of her future.
* * *
This was not the time to have a fake contraction.
Not when her best friend was about to get married. As the minister performed the ceremony, Piper rubbed her hand up and down her right side as she breathed deeply. Fallon glanced back at her, but Piper smiled, waving her off just as Audrey was about to start saying her vows. Looking up at the many lanterns that hung from the trees, Piper tried to concentrate on the beauty of the wedding and not the pain she was experiencing.
Grace Justice, Shea’s sister, knew how to plan a wedding. The altar had dazzling white lights framing it with large teal hydrangea arrangements set on top. Teal lace runners filled the aisles with monogrammed edges, using the letters of the bride’s and groom’s first names, A and T. Audrey was beautiful in her wedding dress and Tate super-good-looking in his tux, with only their baby bump separating them.
And Piper was not going to let these stupid Braxton Hicks contractions ruin this moment. Taking in another deep breath, she looked over at Tate and smiled. His eyes were glazed over as he held Audrey’s hands against his chest, listening to Audrey speak the last of her vows.
“I promise that I will make you any cupcake you want as long as you rub my feet after a long day. As long as you play any song I want, I promise I will not sing out loud. I will flirt with you every chance I get, and expect me to steal kisses at any moment.”
“You won’t have to steal, baby,” Tate said with a big smile, causing the crowd to laugh and cheer. Piper smiled as Audrey’s cheeks reddened, her eyes filling with tears as she looked deep into Tate’s eyes.
“I promise to be there for you any time of the day. To love you even when you don’t want to be loved. I’ll make sure to hold you when you are sad, care for you when you are sick, and kiss all your aches and pains away after each game.” She paused as the guys in attendance shouted their approval. Piper giggled at the same time her eyes started to fill with tears of joy for her best friend.
“I will never love anyone the way I love you and I promise that my heart will be your home for the rest of our lives. I love you, Tate Ooooder, and there is no getting rid of me.”
Tate moved closer, running his hands down Audrey’s cheeks. Piper stole a quick peek out at the small crowd as her eyes met Erik’s, causing her to lose her breath. He sat in the last row, wearing a fitted blue tux. He still hadn’t shaved and his hair was longer, brushed to the side out of his eyes. He was intensely watching her every move and when he smiled at her she almost melted on the spot. She was aching for him and wanted to drop her bouquet and run into the crowd to be in his arms.
But first she needed to know if he wanted forever with her.
She lis
tened as Tate said his own vows.
“You were sent to complete me, Audrey. No words could ever express how much I love you, how much my life would be lost without you. I love your kooky style, your loud personality, and most of all, how you believe in us. I love that you love me more than anything in the world and that you are making me a father. I wouldn’t be the man I am now without you. Audrey, I love you. Always have, and always will. It’s me and you and chicken for the rest of our lives, babe, so get ready for one hell of a ride.”
Audrey wrapped her arms around Tate, kissing him lavishly on the lips. The minister laughed as he threw his arms up in the air. “I now pronounce you man and wife. You can kiss the bride.”
“I think they’re ahead of you on that,” Lucas said with a laugh as Tate bent Audrey back over his arm, kissing the stuffing out of her. Piper giggled through a sob, wiping her face as she took in a deep breath. When another tweak came to her side, she hissed in pain as she slowly followed Fallon down the aisle to the reception. They had decorated an old barn in a vintage style, which was right next door to where they had the ceremony. As soon as Piper walked in the door she found the nearest seat. Plopping down she let out another breath before pulling out her phone to time her contractions by its clock. She wasn’t sure if they were real, but it seemed like they were getting stronger.
Surely, she wasn’t in labor. That was insane. She still had almost a month to go and there was no way that the baby was ready, but still, these contractions hurt more than anything she had ever felt before. Leaning back in the chair, she took in deep breaths as she looked around the room. Lights hung from the rafters of the barn, and on each table were big teal and white arrangements. It was beautiful and Piper was glad that everything had come together for Audrey. The bride had been a nervous wreck about the wedding details but Piper couldn’t see a flaw anywhere.
As her pain subsided, Piper slowly stood up. She was going to have to leave early if this shit kept up. She probably hadn’t drunk enough water today, or maybe she stood for too long, because being in labor was just absurd. It just wasn’t happening yet.
Moving through the crowd, she made her way to the bar, getting a tall glass of water and downing it before taking another. By her third glass, Audrey and Tate were taking the floor for their first dance, and as she slowly drank her water, she looked around the room for Erik. He stood with Shea Adler, nodding his head as they appeared to be in deep conversation.
Piper wondered why he hadn’t approached her yet. It made her feel like she wasn’t the first thing on his mind. Did he only want to talk about the baby and the future of their child, and not the future of them? Knowing she couldn’t wait much longer, she started for him. She’d had enough and she was ready to find out once and for all if he loved her.
* * *
Piper looked beautiful in the long teal bridesmaid’s dress. Her hair was long and sleek, reaching down to the middle of her back. She looked soft, beautiful, and he couldn’t wait to hold her in his arms again. He couldn’t take his eyes off her and as he sat in the back row during the ceremony, listening to his two friends unite, he found himself wanting that moment for him and Piper. It was crazy but he could see himself holding her hands, with Dimitri sitting at their feet as they exchanged promises of love to each other in front of all their friends.
He knew he was ahead of himself; he hadn’t even told her he loved her yet. But he could now see them as a family. He was done living life without her and he was ready to show her that he had changed, that she had helped him become the man he wanted to be.
What he didn’t expect was his hands starting to shake as he watched her cross the floor toward him. He had been confident the whole day, but now he felt like a nervous schoolboy, afraid of her rejection.
When she stopped in front of him, he reached for her and brought her in close, lifting her off her feet to capture her mouth with his. She made a little noise before his mouth smothered hers; he squeezed his eyes tight as her held her in his arms, his mouth moving along hers. He must have stunned her because for a moment he was only kissing her, but then she started to kiss him back. He felt like his heart was going to explode in his chest and he promised himself that he would never go another moment without the option of kissing her naughty mouth whenever he wanted to.
Parting, he teasingly chased her mouth as she slid down his body back to her feet. She smiled shyly up at him, as his eyes stay locked on her swollen lips.
Looking around them, she whispered, “I thought we were going to talk.”
“Talking is overrated,” he said, recovering his breath. “I think my actions speak more than my words ever will. I want you, Piper, I’ve missed you, and I can’t do this anymore.”
“Do what?” she asked, her face troubled as she took a step back, running her hand down her side.
“What’s wrong?” Erik asked.
“My side hurts. I’m fine. What can’t you do?” she asked quickly, her face looking more like she was in pain.
“Are you sure?” he asked, not convinced. She was still holding her side, her face was a little red, and she looked miserable all of sudden.
“Yes,” she said, her eyes locked on his. “Now tell me what you can’t do any longer.”
He paused only for a moment before declaring, “I can’t be apart from you.”
“You can’t?” she asked, as her hand continued to move up and down her side.
“No, this week has been hell and I’ve missed you every second of every day.”
He paused and tried to remember every word he had imagine saying to her, but looking into her eyes, he found that nothing was coming. “You are the only woman to ever make it hard for me to think, sweetheart. I had this big speech on all the reasons why you should give me another chance, but all I can think is how beautiful you are, and how I can’t go on one more second without you by my side.”
She looked down, taking in a deep breath before looking up at him.
“So, what, you just want to go back to the way we were?”
Erik shook his head. “No, I want to move forward, I want to make a life for us, for the baby,” he said, resting his hands on her stomach. “I needed a wake-up call, and you screaming at me to leave was what I needed. I did some real soul-searching and even though you are flighty as shit, I trust that you won’t leave me.”
She watched him, her eyes filling with tears, but she wasn’t smiling. What was he missing here? Wasn’t he telling her everything she wanted to hear? “I’m glad that you trust me,” she said slowly, “but Erik, you should have known that from the beginning.”
“I know, and sweetheart, believe me, I’m kicking myself for what I’ve put us through. I am not my dad, and you know how I know that?”
“How?”
“Because of you. You have helped me become the man I want to be; you have been there to encourage me, to believe in me. Baby, I would still be fucking anything with legs if you hadn’t come into my life and rocked it to the core. You are the first thing I think of when I wake up and when I go to sleep at night. I miss not having you in my arms at night and I haven’t been sleeping right since I left your bed. You are the one for me, and Piper, I am going to fight for us until the day I die.”
“Erik—”
“No, wait,” he said, putting his finger along her plump lips. He smiled as he continued. “From this moment, I’m not scared, not as long as you are beside me. I can conquer all my demons as long as I have you. I can do anything and only you can give me that feeling.”
He looked down at her expectantly and she shook her head as she watched him, a pained look on her beautiful face.
“That is the most you’ve ever said to me, Erik, and what kills me is that you haven’t said the one thing that could make everything you’ve done wrong go away.”
“Huh?” he asked, confused. He was proud of his speech, thought it was a real winner. Was he wrong?
“I love you, so much, and I am so glad that I have helped you a
nd that you are finally realizing that you can trust me, but Erik, I want your love. I want you to love me. I don’t want all these other words. I want you to love me forever and to show me that you will always love me.”
Erik looked down at her confused. Hadn’t he said that?
“You have always been a creature of action. You always acted before you spoke and I adore that of you. But please, show me you love me, tell me you do, but if you don’t, then I’m sorry, I can’t do this. No matter how much I’ve helped you change and how it will probably kill me to walk away, I can’t be with you if you don’t love me.” Her eyes filled with tears. “I just can’t.”
“But Piper, I do—”
“Oh fuck,” she gasped, interrupting his proclamation of love. She bent over, holding her middle as she took in a deep, shuddering breath.
“Piper?” he asked, placing his hands on her shoulders. “Are you okay?”
She shook her head with tears rushing down her face, then looked up at him and said, “My water just broke.”
“What? What are you talking about? I’ll get you another cup after we are done talking,” he said, shaking his head. She interrupted him because she was out of water? Wait, she didn’t have any water. Looking into her wide eyes, he said, “You aren’t talking about your drink, are you?” She shook her head quickly, tears falling in heaps down her rosy cheeks. He looked down at her stomach and then back into her eyes and asked, “The baby is coming, isn’t he?”
“Yes.”
Oh fuck.
Chapter 26
“Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God, oh my God, oh my God, oh my God, oh my God,” Piper panted as Erik stood there staring at her.
His heart was beating at speeds unimaginable and he had no clue what to do. How was this happening? She still had a month until it was time for the baby to come.
Yeah, this was not happening.
“Wait, are you sure?”
She nodded. “Yes, I feel water rushing down my legs.”
“Are you sure you didn’t just piss yourself?” he asked frantically, moving closer to hold her hand.