Not About Love (This Love Book 2)

by Hilaria Alexander

  “Sorry. We got sidetracked,” Ella replied.

  “Honey, come on, it’s time. Do you need help with anything?” Leanne stopped when she noticed me drying my tears. “Is everything okay? What’s wrong?” When I didn’t respond, she turned to Ella for answers.

  “Everything’s great. Wonderful. You should tell her, Ally.”

  “Tell me what?” Leanne asked, worry clouding her lovely face.

  “I’m pregnant,” I hesitated, hanging my head in shame. I didn’t have the nerve to look her in the eye, and her arms squeezed me before I could even look up.

  “Oh, my goodness! Bless you, darling girl! You’re making us so, so happy!” She took a step back and looked at me. The expression on her face was the epitome of glee.

  “Does Boyd know?”

  “I haven’t told him yet. I just found out yesterday.”

  She clapped her hands together and then hugged me again, kissing me on both cheeks.

  “Oh, thank you! Thank you!” She then turned to Jax, took him from Ella, and lifted him up, cheering, “You’re going to be a big brother, little man! Your nana is so excited!” We all laughed, including Jax. I crossed my fingers all the giggling and laughing wasn’t going to backfire. No one liked regurgitated milk.

  “I’ll take him and give him to your mom. I’m supposed to dance with the groom after you! Say bye-bye to your mama, handsome boy.” She made him wave and then said, “Come on, you two. Everyone is waiting. The groom is getting nervous.” She winked, and I laughed at her words.

  “We’ll be out in a second,” Ella told her, and Leanne left.

  Ella turned to me. “Come on, Bertie, dry your tears. Your man is waiting.”

  We stepped out into the ballroom a moment later. Ella joined Lou and the band on stage, and I found my groom. He was talking to my father. I stepped up next to him, and he turned my way.

  “About time, Bertie. How much longer were you going to make me wait?” he asked with a smile. Then, without missing a beat, he gave a signal to his brother.

  He led me to the dance floor as Lou announced us as Mr. and Mrs. Rivers. Boyd had said he wanted to choose the song, and he’d wanted it to be a surprise, so I had no idea what he’d picked. As the first notes began to play, I recognized it immediately.

  “Once again,” I smiled. “You’ve done good.”

  He grinned and said, “I’ve done good with you.”

  He had chosen Chris Stapleton’s cover of “Tennessee Whiskey.” He lifted his arm, and I placed my hand in his as his other went to my waist. I smiled, almost forgetting for a moment what had been on my mind all day.

  “What was taking you so long, Red?”

  “Why does it matter? Are you that impatient to show off your dancing skills in front of everyone?”

  “I’m impatient to hold you in my arms as man and wife.”

  “Oh, Boyd,” I said, my voice choking with emotion. His words were sweet and smooth, but paired with the events of the day and my new set of pregnancy hormones, they wrecked me. His arms circled my waist, and I looked into his eyes, pursing my lips. I looked down, attempting to gain some composure. For a moment, I almost forgot people were looking at us.

  “What is it? Are you already regretting saying I do?”

  “No,” I replied, avoiding his eyes.

  “Then what is it? There shouldn’t be a frown on that pretty face of yours, not now of all times.” He was right. I had hoped I could keep the news to myself a little while longer, but he had the right to know.

  “I’m pregnant, Boyd. Again.”

  I looked up at him through my lashes. I was still wrapping my head around the news myself, and I hated to unleash the bomb right then, with everyone watching us. He frowned, his eyes fixated on me in confusion. My heart sank. I opened my mouth to say something, but I was distracted by the lazy grin that stretched across his face.

  “You’re pregnant?” His eyes were glowing with excitement, and he bit his lip, trying to hold back a laugh. “Is that why you’re such a mess?”

  I nodded, avoiding his gaze.

  “Seriously? Bertie, look at me.”

  I did as he asked, and when I looked at his face again, I sighed, relieved. Maybe this wasn’t such bad news after all. He looked pretty fucking happy.

  “What? Did you think I’d be mad about it?”

  “The timing isn’t right…” I shook my head, thinking about what this would mean for us. Jax was only eight months old.

  “Timing is never right. You can’t live your life by a timeline. You can’t wait for the perfect time in your life to do things. Life happens, and thank God for that, cause let’s be honest—if little Jax hadn’t pushed his way through, maybe you and I would have never figured out we belong together.”

  He was so good with words when he wanted to be. I let out a sigh of relief and relaxed in his arms.

  “I love you, Boyd.”

  “I love you, too, Bertie. It’s you and me and our children from now on. We’re a family, and there’s no more sacred bond than that.” A tear fell from my eyes, but from then on, I’d just be smiling. I glanced at our baby, who was in my mom’s arms. Little Jax was going to have a brother or a sister. He wasn’t going to be an only child like me. He was not going to grow up alone. The realization made me feel ten thousand times better. I was being ridiculous, fretting over nothing.

  As the bluesy notes of “Tennessee Whiskey” filled the room, I glanced at my best friend up on stage with the band and my brother-in-law.

  I smiled at her, and she gave me a not-so-subtle thumbs up. The ring on her finger shone even more brightly under the stage lights.

  “By the way, I don’t think you could have picked a more perfect song.” He grinned upon hearing the words, and he looked so unabashedly happy that it was impossible not to vow to myself to make him happy for the rest of his life. Sure, I knew there would be times we would fight, but I knew we would always kiss and make up.

  “It makes me think of you, wife,” he replied proudly. He lifted me up with his strong arms and spun me around, making me lightheaded. Everyone in the ballroom cheered. When he stopped, he held me so my face was level with his. I kissed him gently, but he responded with hungry kisses of his own. We both ignored the echoes of “woohoo” erupting around us and didn’t stop until the notes of our first dance began to fade.

  The End

  First off, thanks to the readers! I know you have many, many options to choose from, so I feel honored you decided to read my book. Thank you.

  Thanks to my family for their unwavering support, even when this dream of mine takes up so much time. I love y’all.

  Samantha Leigh, once again, thank you for designing a gorgeous cover! It’s everything I wanted.

  My fabulous editor, Caitlin at Editing by C. Marie: I loved working with you and I hope I can do it again and again!

  Marieke: THANK YOU for correcting my Dutch!

  Thanks to my BETAS! Mae Wood, Beverly, Lucie, Roanne, Dina, Mari, Faye, Mandi, Crystal from Book Loving Fairy. A special thank you to Emily and Michelle for going the extra mile.

  My proofreader, Julie Deaton: I loved all your notes and laughed-out-loud at your comments. Thank you so much for your help! I’m so glad you loved Not About Love!

  Tracy, thank you for always being there for a friend. My love for you is endless.

  Lauren, I miss you. When are we going to the movies?

  Cassie Graham, you’re the sweetest and I feel so lucky I get to call you my friend. Hamilfreaks for life!

  Zeia Jameson, Mae Wood and ES Carter, thank you for always being just a message away. You’re the first peeps I found and you will always have a special place in my heart.

  All the ladies of the HAPPY HOUR group on Facebook and especially the tireless Kandi Steiner: I’m in awe of you guys and I feel so lucky to share a place with you.

  My Friday Night Dinner Ladies (when plans don’t fall through): I love y’all, but we have to be more CONSISTENT. Do you hear me, Er
in? LOL.

  ALL THE LADIES of The Manuscript Minxes: WHERE would I be without you? I would be alone and desperate. You’re THE BEST Facebook group I ever stumbled on. I love how we keep growing and encouraging each other.

  Thanks to the bloggers who rock my socks off and work tirelessly to promote the work of indie authors. A special thank you to Give Me Books, Southern Belle Book Blog, Abeautifulbookblog, Schmexy Girl Book Blog, Typical Distractions, Aaly and The Books, Obsessed with Romance, Reviews by Reds, Reading in Sarah’s Corner, MustReadBooksorDie and Book Junky Girls. Thank you for supporting me!

  I hope I’m not forgetting anyone, but if I am, please forgive me: I’m nothing but a scatterbrained author, after all.

  This is just a small selection of the music I listened to while writing Not About Love.

  You can play the entire playlist on Spotify!

  Gold – Arum Rae

  True Affection – Father John Misty

  Acquainted – The Weeknd

  Let Me Down Easy – Paolo Nutini

  Absolute Beginners – David Bowie

  Don’t Make Me Hold Your Hand – Lake Street Dive

  Bad Reputation – Kelly Clarkson

  Kicks – FKA Twigs

  Hollow – Tori Kelly, Big Sean

  The Feeling – Justin Bieber, Halsey

  Knife Edge – Matt Corby

  Yeah, I Said It – Rihanna

  Same Old Love – Selena Gomez

  What Do You Mean? – Karmin (Justin Bieber cover)

  Hot In Herre – Jenny Owen Youngs (Nelly cover)

  Tightrope – Kelly Clarkson

  Love On The Brain – Rihanna

  Only You – Anderson East

  Why III Love The Moon – Phony Ppl

  Untitled 07 – Kendrick Lamar

  Best of Me – Yuna

  Empires Attraction – Matt Corby

  Shine – Leon Bridges

  Every time We Say Goodbye – Chet Baker

  Gesture – VÉRITÉ

  This Must Be The Place – Talking Heads

  Tennessee Whiskey – Chris Stapleton (George Jones cover)

  Hilaria Alexander was born and raised in the south of Italy, where her family still lives. She attended college at the Istituto Universitario Orientale in Naples, Italy, and lived one year in Tokyo, Japan, as part of an exchange student program. She now lives in Oklahoma City with her husband and kids. When she isn’t at work, she is reading, catching up on her favorite TV shows and coming up with new stories. She loves traveling and is a self-proclaimed concert addict.

  Not About Love is her fourth romance novel.

  If you have questions for her, including how an Italian ends up moving to Oklahoma, ask her on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

  Prude

  Prudence Clearwater is a young adult writer facing the many changes of the industry and of the literary genre she’s known for years. As she parts ways with her publishing company she tries to rebuild her career with the help of Ben, a charming literary agent who might be looking for more than just a commission. As their friendship blooms, will Prudence accept to work with Ben, and will she be able to resist his charm?

  * * *

  This Love

  Music brought them together,

  But it just might tear them apart.

  Leaving New York.

  It was the best decision I ever made.

  Packing up and moving to the other side of the world changed me.

  I turned a new page, leaving the past behind.

  Amsterdam felt like home–for a while.

  But I was still stuck.

  Unable to move forward.

  Then, Lou Rivers showed up,

  Instantly, I felt my life shift again.

  A constant reminder of the life I once had,

  The mistakes I left behind.

  He’s the musician I dreamed of being…

  If I were stronger, bolder, braver.

  But I wasn’t.

  He taught me how to love music again,

  And for the first time, I feel like I know what to do.

  But how can I?

  How can I become myself without giving up on us?

  * * *

  FU Cancer

  Lucy has always been a good girl. The most hardcore thing she’s done in her life was falling for a divorced man ten years her senior.

  But he was the love of her life, and she married him. When her Peter Pan of a husband decided to divorce her, she thought it was her chance to start anew. That was until she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Besides looking like Britney circa 2007, she is taking it well, real well. You might see her walk around the hospital during chemo sessions with bright colored wigs and outrageous t-shirts that seem to shock the most conservative employees. One of them reads FU CANCER.