by Lisa Suzanne
“It was a little longer than two months for Courtney and Carter, but it’s so clear that they belong together. I’ve known them both separately and I’ve known them both together, and I can honestly say they’re each better together. Carter, Carson, and I grew up as the Three Musketeers. They spent most of their time in New York, but I was lucky enough to get to stay with them over the summers. Carter always had this way of wanting to help others, even if they weren’t human. I remember one time Carson found a badly injured bird, and Carter nursed it back to health. Another time, Carson was smearing fireflies on the sidewalk and Carter wrestled him until he stopped.”
“Hey!” Carson yells out from the crowd, eliciting a big laugh.
“Sorry, dude,” Axel says with a grin. “And it’s not just birds and fireflies. His work with King Contributions has been nothing short of inspiring. When he told me he wanted to move out here, I immediately thought of Courtney, and now I know why. She’s been like a sister to me since I first met her. She’s kind and giving, successful and independent. She’s funny as hell, a little firecracker, and she’s the most genuinely honest and caring woman I know. These two bring out the best in one another in moving ways. They work together to give back to this wonderful community where we live. They’re both good people, the best, really, and I’m proud to call Carter both my cousin and my best friend.”
I feel tears prick my eyes, because everything he’s saying is both beautiful and accurate. “It’s good fortune to find someone who loves you, but it’s pure luck to find your other half, and these two have done it.” He turns toward Courtney and Carter and holds up his champagne flute. “Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. King. May your hearts always be as full as your glasses. Cheers.”
I take a pretend sip from my own flute, knowing all eyes are on the loving couple beside me as they kiss and then drink from their glasses. Carter stands to hug Axel, as does Courtney, and then the microphone is passed down to me.
I wish I could chug that glass of champagne before this speech because I’m nervous as hell.
My hands shake as I grip the microphone.
I turn toward Courtney and Carter. “Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. King,” I say, my voice shaky. I take a deep breath. “Courtney is the sister I never had. We’re both only children, and our friendship goes back to our freshman year at SDSU. We were roommates who became fast friends, and we watched each other go through our share of the dating pool. She started her blog and it became immediately successful, and we all wondered deep down what would happen to it once she met the man of her dreams. People read to follow her dating mishaps, so what happens when she finds the one?” I pause and let that idea simmer for a second.
“Well, her one happened to be so supportive that he writes a male’s perspective for her blog. She volunteers for his charities. They’ve become this unstoppable team together. I loved watching her fall in love with him, though she fought it hard. She didn’t even like him the first time she met him—he basically ruined her favorite dress—but he saw something in her that he knew he’d love forever. Once she saw that same thing in him, there was no turning back. And now, as we sit here today, I’ve never seen such a shining example of true love. I’m so happy for you two, and I wish you nothing but the best as you begin your married life together. To the bride and groom!”
I hold up my champagne flute, and everyone else does, too. We all take a sip—except me, of course—and then Courtney and Carter both hug me before the staff comes by to deliver our first course.
I thought my nerves would dissipate after my speech, but I can’t stop thinking about the fact that James will be here soon; I don’t know what’s going to happen when my past and my future collide.
Axel surely won’t make a scene on Carter and Courtney’s wedding day, but that’s not to say he won’t have words with my ex.
As dinner starts to wrap up and Courtney and Carter are whisked away to cut the cake, Axel and I sit alone at the head table. He scoots down into Courtney’s chair so we’re beside one another.
“Great speech,” he says.
“Back atcha.”
“Thanks.” He lowers his voice even though we’re sitting alone and completely separated from the rest of the people gathered. “You looked so hot standing there all nervous that I almost started to jerk it under the table.”
“Shut up,” I mutter, blushing from the top of my head to the tips of my toes.
He chuckles. “I’m not kidding. I might have to go let off a quick one in the bathroom.”
I giggle. “Stop it.”
“Is it turning you on that I’m saying naughty things while all these people are sitting just a few feet away from us?”
“Axel, it turns me on that you’re breathing.”
“Really?” He raises an eyebrow. “That’s all I have to do?”
“When you’re wearing a tux, yeah, that’s pretty much all you have to do.”
He laughs, and then he leans over and kisses my cheek as he runs his hand up my thigh. He whispers in my ear, “Meet me in the bathroom in ten minutes.”
I shake my head. “Find me somewhere sexier than a bathroom.”
“Mm, a mission. I like it.”
I giggle, and then Courtney and Carter are back from cutting the cake, so we’re forced apart.
“What were you two talking about?” she asks.
Now that we’re in party mode, I feel like maybe she isn’t so focused on every little detail. The ceremony is over. Dinner is done. The flowers were perfect, the last-minute substitute photographer is still snapping away, and the instrumental music still plays. Digital Shade will be arriving at any moment to begin their setup.
If anything goes wrong at this point, it’s sort of out of her control. So, I nab my chance to tell my best friend the secrets I’ve been holding all day.
“I told him last night.”
“You did?” Her face lights up.
I nod.
“How did you tell him? How did he react?”
I look past her at Axel. My fiancé. My future husband. It’s still surreal. “He found my prenatal vitamins and pieced it together himself. He’s so happy. We are so happy.”
She throws an arm around my shoulders in side hug. “I’m so happy for you too.”
“There’s more,” I whisper.
She pulls back. “What more could there be?”
“He proposed again this morning, and this time I said yes.”
“WHAT!?!?” She’s screeching, I’m laughing, and all eyes turn toward us.
I catch Axel’s eye, and he winks. I grin at him, and after all we’ve been through, I just feel light and happy.
The feeling doesn’t last too long, though, because just as I turn my head away from Courtney, I spot Braden from Digital Shade walking into the room.
“Fuck,” I mutter.
Courtney’s head turns toward the band. “What?” she asks.
“Well, the guy who randomly kissed me—the one I wrote about in that blog post that almost broke up Axel and me—he’s in the band Carter hired.”
Her head swings back to me. “What?”
“Do you know any other words?”
“Yes, I just mean…wait, what?”
“James, the guy who kissed me, the one I met for coffee—he’s the bassist from Digital Shade.”
“He is?”
“God, could you be more wrapped up in your own little bubble?” I say it with affection, though it’s kind of true.
“I’m sorry. I’ve missed a lot these past couple of weeks, haven’t I?”
“You only get one wedding, babe. I’ll let it slide.”
“So what are you going to do?”
“Sit here and pray Axel doesn’t start anything.”
“Do you think he will?”
“Not if you tell Carter what I just told you.”
She blows out a breath and then turns to her husband. Carter looks at me with worried eyes, and I mouth, “Sorry.”
He
nods once and then he turns to Axel. It’s like a damn game of telephone up here. Axel’s attention turns toward the door, and then he stands. I stand, too, because I’m not sure what’s going to happen. He walks toward the door nonchalantly, as if he’s just heading over that way to greet the band, but I know better; I know that’s not what this is.
My eyes lock with James’s. He’s familiar in that way old friends are, but I still feel nothing more for him.
Axel puffs out his chest, and I almost roll my eyes at his intimidating act. “Which one of you is James?”
I grab his arm. “Axel, don’t do anything stupid.” I think about what I’d do if the situation were reversed. How will I react when I see Kasey again? It probably won’t be very pretty, so I decide to let him do what he needs to do.
James steps forward. “I’m James.”
Axel takes a menacing step toward him. “My girl told me you kissed her. Keep your mouth and your hands off Emme, or you’ll regret it.”
James holds up both hands. “Sorry man. I don’t want any trouble.”
“You should be sorry.”
“Look, we have a history. It was just two old friends catching up.”
“Then why did you kiss her?”
James’s eyes edge over to me, and then he leans in close to Axel and says something I don’t quite catch. Axel shakes his head. “I know, but she’s mine, so don’t ever think of it again.”
James nods, and then Axel guides me with his hand on my elbow back to the head table while the band starts setting up.
“What did he say to you?” I ask.
“Nothing,” he mutters.
“Axel, what was it?”
“He said to look at you. He said you’re gorgeous and he had to give it a shot.”
I nod, and we leave it at that.
Even those words don’t move me like they should. The words that moved me were the ones Axel said to James: “She’s mine.”
CHAPTER 34
EMME
“I’m nervous.” I pick at my fingernails and then twist my engagement ring around my finger, and Axel grabs my hands in his.
“Don’t be, babe. We’re okay.”
I nod. “I know. I just don’t know what to expect.”
“No first-time parent ever does.”
“You’re probably right about that.”
“I’m definitely right, about everything.”
I giggle. “And so modest, too.”
“Emme?” A woman with a stethoscope wearing scrubs and carrying a clipboard calls my name.
Axel and I stand, and he grabs my hand in his. He’s nervous, too, but he’s trying to be the strong man since he knows I’m completely freaking out.
As with any doctor’s visit, the medical assistant takes my weight, temperature, and blood pressure, and I’m asked to pee into a cup. Eventually the doctor comes in.
“Congratulations, Emme. It looks as though you’re nine weeks along.”
“Nine weeks?” Axel and I both say.
She nods and starts to say some things while I go through my mental catalogue of nine weeks earlier. Axel and I have a lot of sex, and I’m not sure I can pinpoint what exactly we were doing nine weeks ago. It looks as though this child may have to deal with a normal middle name rather than a geographical one.
“I didn’t know there was a possibility I was pregnant,” I say to the doctor. “I’ve had some alcohol. Is that bad?”
“I hear that a lot. It’s not ideal, but it’s pretty common. Now that you know you’re pregnant, don’t drink any more.”
“But will the drinking I’ve done affect the baby?”
“It shouldn’t. Lots of women don’t find out they’re pregnant for several weeks and live life as normal, and they still have perfectly healthy babies.”
“When will I start to show?” I ask.
“Typically around twelve to sixteen weeks, but, as you’ll learn quickly, it’s different for everyone.”
She gives me some reading material and a bag full of free samples, and then we make our next appointment on our way out.
“I might be showing in three weeks?” I say.
Axel smiles proudly. “It could be even sooner than that, too.”
We arrive at his Jeep. “Axel, I don’t want to be all big and fat in our wedding photos.”
His forehead wrinkles as his brows come together. “You’ll be beautiful no matter when we choose to get married. We can wait until after she’s here.”
“He.”
He chuckles.
“I don’t want to wait.”
“You don’t want to wait?”
I shake my head. “I want to be married to you when our baby is born.”
“And you don’t want to look pregnant in our wedding photos.”
I nod. “Correct.”
“And you’re going to start showing any time in the next couple of weeks.”
“That’s what the doctor said.”
“Emme, what are you saying?”
I shrug. “I’m saying I want to marry you. Today. Tomorrow. The next day. Sometime in the next couple weeks.”
His face goes white and he steadies himself by leaning one arm on the Jeep.
I can’t help my giggle. “Are you okay?”
He nods. “Yeah. I knew this was coming, I just didn’t think it was coming quite so soon.”
“Let’s just do it. Let’s do an easy surprise wedding. We can call it a party and have it at The Port but it’ll really be our wedding day.”
“Yeah?”
I nod. “Yeah. This is what I want.”
“You’re sure?”
“I’m as positive as my pregnancy test.”
He barks out a laugh.
“Is this what you want, too?” I ask nervously.
He straightens and wraps his arms around me. “You’re all I want, babe. Today, tomorrow, the next day, and forever.”
He helps me into the passenger seat of the Jeep and then walks around to the driver’s side.
“Fuck,” I mutter when he gets in.
“What?”
I take a deep breath. “Courtney and Carter are leaving for Italy on Friday.”
“So?”
“They’ll be gone for two weeks!” Tears heat behind my eyes, and I cover my face with my hands.
“Babe, it’s okay. We’ll wait and do it when they get back.” He tugs on my arms. “Babe?”
“I can’t get married without Courtney,” I wail.
He chuckles.
“Don’t you laugh at me!” I point my finger at him.
“I’m not, Ems. I promise.”
“Yes you are!” I sob. “You’re laughing and I’m crying and I just want to get married and I want my best friend to be there but if we wait until they get back, I’m going to be a big, huge whale and I’ll be all bloated in all our pictures.”
“Babe, stop.” He leans across the center console and grabs both of my wrists in his hands. “The doctor said you might get emotional, and that’s okay. Just take a breath. Don’t get all stressed. It’s not good for the baby.”
“Don’t you tell me what to do!” I draw in a shuddering breath, and that one dose of fresh air is all I need to calm down. He’s right. This is just an emotional meltdown. It’ll pass.
I hope.
I look into his warm, caring eyes. He’s gazing at me with all this concern and love, and it melts my heart. I wipe away the tears. No matter what sort of breakdown I have for whatever reason, I know I’ll be able to count on Axel to get me through the mess.
“When does your family go back to New York?” I ask.
“Carson leaves Thursday, but my aunt and uncle are staying through the weekend to spend time with my mom.”
“Then we need to do it tomorrow or Wednesday.”
“Tomorrow or Wednesday?” The color drains from his cheeks again, and I can’t help my giggle.
“You know, this was your big idea in the first place.”
“I didn
’t even think you were going to accept.”
“Well I did, and now it’s happening—tomorrow or Wednesday.”
“How do we decide when?”
“Court was telling me they had to make an appointment to get a marriage license. So I guess it kind of depends on when we can get that.”
Axel draws in a deep breath. “Call the county office.”
I pull up the information and dial. It turns out they don’t normally offer same-day appointments, but they have an opening today at four. I nab the time slot even though that’s my regularly scheduled “morning” sickness time, and then Axel looks at the clock. “We have an hour to kill. Want to get something to eat?”
I nod.
“Oh God, in an hour we’re getting a fucking marriage license,” he says. “Are you ready for this?”
I giggle and place a hand over my stomach. “Watch your language in front of the baby.”
*
Monday night becomes a scramble of inviting people to The Port, and Axel tells me Ben can officiate weddings—apparently his sister asked him to officiate hers last year.
He calls Ben, who is thrilled for us, and he’s the only person who knows the truth about our party tomorrow.
I text Courtney next.
Me: We’re throwing an impromptu party to celebrate our engagement tomorrow at The Port at five while the Kings are all still in town. Can you make it?
Courtney: Of course. We’ll be there ready to celebrate with you.
Thank God I don’t have to worry about my best friend being there. Next I need a dress.
The place Courtney bought her dress sells off the rack, so I check their hours and drive over. I try on exactly one dress before I know it’s the one. It’s a simple white sheath dress with a sweetheart neckline and a lace overlay that cinches with a decorative silver belt at the waist. The lace extends up into a round neckline and halfway down my arms. It’s gorgeous, it’s simple, and it’s so incredibly feminine and just…me.
I skip the veil and gloves the saleslady tries to push on me and then I head home with my wedding dress in my back seat.