Games We Play

by Isabelle Arocho

  She got out of her car and went up to Justin’s apartment door. He was surprised to see her on the other side, he was antisocial and kept to himself most of the time, not giving out his address. “Sasha, what the—”

  “I had Gage hack your file and pull your address for me. The wedding is tomorrow and you still haven’t told me if you’re coming.”

  He ran a hand through his long hair to kill some time in order to prepare something to say. “Weddings and me…eh I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

  “Why? You saved my life and I didn’t know it at the time but you saved my baby’s life too. I want you there.”

  “I don’t have anything to wear, you wouldn’t want me to be a sour thumb in the group.”

  “First of all it’s not possible for you to look sour and second I don’t care if you come in a paper bag. You know by now I’m not very uppity. You can come in jeans or hell come in nothing because I know a lot of my guests will appreciate that.”

  Over the last five months Justin was getting used to her mentioning his looks one way or another. “I don’t know.”

  “Do you want me to cry? I will cry right now in the middle of this hall and you will look like the biggest jerk in the world for making the pregnant woman cry.”

  Justin wasn’t comfortable around crying people, especially crying females. He looked like she just threatened to pull his tooth in cold blood. “You wouldn’t.”

  “I would. You can see there’s only one answer I’m willing to accept here.”

  They stared each other down and in the end it was Justin sighing. “Fine, I’ll be there.”

  “Thank you.” Sasha gave him a hug before leaving. She already had a male best friend in Gage but Justin was steadily becoming her second one. She loved his sense of humor, the way he kicked ass, and forever she’d be indebted to him for his help taking out Jim. It helped he got along great with Nick too.

  From Justin’s apartment she drove to the church where Billie was meeting her. Billie’s brother Joey just happened to be a priest and he flew in from Boston to perform tomorrow’s ceremony.

  “Did you convince him?” Billie asked about Justin.

  “Yes, I threatened to cry on his doorstep if he didn’t agree. We have to get him out of his shell.”

  “It’s not like he’s shy. He probably just doesn’t like people or there’s someone at home keeping his attention.”

  “I don’t think so. I’ve caught him staring at my ass a few times and your chest when you’re talking. If was seeing someone Nick would’ve mentioned it by now. They spent a week working that double homicide in California. Has Joey arrived yet?”

  “Yeah, he’s around here somewhere talking to Father Thomas. There they are.”

  Sasha quickly saw she could’ve picked Joey Savich out of a crowded room because he looked like he could be Billie’s twin. Both siblings had dark blonde hair and misty grey blue eyes. Joey also happened to be one of the most pleasant people she had ever met, his smiles were warm and his outlook wasn’t jaded. He wished Sasha a long fulfilling marriage and said he’d be honored to marry her and Nick— who was still at the office working until later tonight.

  After meeting Joey and laying out the last details, Sasha left the siblings to catch up while she went home to finish unpacking. It was the same unpacking it’s taken her five months to complete. After learning about the baby Nick formally asked her to move in before the wedding and she agreed. It wasn’t much of a hardship to walk away from her tiny apartment. The biggest plus about Nicholas’ house was the tress in the backyard prevented the morning sunlight to shine into the bedroom.

  She was home maybe three minutes before she was no longer alone. Belinda McBain was standing on the other side of the door wearing one of her biggest smiles.

  “Momma McBain, you really don’t have to knock. I don’t mind if you use your key.”

  “I don’t like any surprises, dear.”

  Sasha fought to ignore the heat burning her face. “Nick’s at work until around seven. Pete needed his help assisting an in-house case. What brings you by?”

  “It must be fate because I wanted to talk to you alone.” They moved over to the couch and sat. “I want you to know how happy it makes me that Nick has found someone to love all of him and give me another one of these.” She laid her hand over Sasha’s growing stomach. “I know your family isn’t able to see this wonderful day but I hope you let me help you like a momma would.”

  “You already have.”

  “I brought you something.” Belinda opened her bag and pulled out a blue handkerchief. “I have the something blue and something borrowed. My great grandmother a million years ago made this lace for her own wedding day to give her a splash of color because even her earrings were white—these pearls here.”

  “They’re beautiful.”

  “None of my girls have gotten married yet and I hope you let me give these to you to be the first of my girls to carry them down the aisle.” Belinda gave birth to five boys before the girls started to come twelve years later.

  Sasha’s fragile grasp on her emotions ripped open and the flood gates poured down her cheeks. “Of course. I’d be an idiot to say no.”

  That night when Nick returned she was no closer to emptying out the three large boxes in the corner of the living room. He smiled at the sight of her asleep on the couch with the TV on low. Most guys would be spending the night before their wedding out partying but for Nick this right here felt right. Tomorrow was only to make it legal, in his mind he and Sasha have been married the whole time. It was like they never stopped even when the pretending was over in Maple Oaks.

  He knelt in front of the couch, brushing her hair out of her eyes. “Sasha?”

  She turned on her side and mumbled, “It wasn’t me; I swear the dog did it.”

  “We don’t have a dog and what did you do?”

  Her eyes finally started to open. “Huh? Nothing.”

  “What is it? You finally decided to run away with Justin?” their new co-worker was a big source of amusement where Nick was concerned. Sasha saw Justin as a celebrity crush that just happened to be in the flesh with them everyday. It was innocent fun.

  “No, he’s got nothing on you babe. Ok, I confess I did propose the idea but he said he doesn’t dig pregnant girls.”

  “His loss.”

  “What about you? Has Angelina finally dumped Brad and returned your calls?”

  “Soon. Are you hungry?”

  “Are you breathing?”

  It was a foolish question, Sasha liked to eat and with the baby on board she had the perfect excuse to throw all reserve to the wind. “I’ll start on dinner.”

  Sasha followed him to the kitchen. “I got some results today.”

  Nick stopped halfway to the refrigerator and faced her. “Boy or girl?”

  “I thought you said you didn’t want to know.” Sasha didn’t share his same outlook, she liked to be prepared and knowing the sex of their baby gave her time to get the nursery ready with the right colors and toys.

  “That was before you got the results.” He hadn’t been able to go to the doctor’s appointment thanks to work. Sasha swore she didn’t mind but he did, he wanted to be there for every step of the way.

  “Ok,” she took his hands and made him fall in love with her all over again with her smile. “you are going to be the father of a very kick ass girl.”

  Gripped by excitement he lifted her off the floor in one big hug. “Oh, my god. There’s so much we have to get done.” There was an empty bedroom wanting to be transformed into the nursery. Rested from her nap, Sasha stuck around the kitchen and helped Nicholas cook and while the food was on the stove they tossed around different ideas for the room. They were both smiling ear to ear at all the possibilities waiting for them and their family.

  Sasha was curious and asked, “How many babies do you see us having?”

  “A few, at least three. You?”

  “Three sounds good and
I’m glad you didn’t say nine. Your mom is a saint for putting up with so many children. She stopped by earlier.” She told him about the visit as they sat down and ate.

  The following morning was hectic.

  Sasha was picked up by Billie and taken away to the church to get ready while Nick and the rest of the men piled at the house. As far as bridesmaids went Billie needed to be cloned, she was handling every detail with compulsive like behavior and leaving no stone unturned.

  Sasha barely blinked by the time she was ushered into a chair and her hair and makeup was being worked on by a woman named Kelly Patrick. The woman looked as Irish as her named hinted at, her hair was a deep auburn red and her eyes were the grassy rolling hills of Ireland green.

  Billie was standing to her right holding a clipboard going over a handmade checklist. “I let Pete know to come back here when he arrives. As you saw the decorations are all in place along the aisle and everyone knows to head over to the McBain family home for the reception. I talked to Nick’s mom and she wasn’t thrilled about it but she’s letting the catering company supply the food.”

  Sasha would’ve chuckled but at the risk of screwing something up she kept her face still. “Knowing Belinda she’ll have a few pies snuck in and I’m looking forward to it more than the cake.” No one topped Belinda in the kitchen but cooking for a wedding party wasn’t fair to ask of the woman. There weren’t many guests, just their coworkers and Nick’s family, but that total was well into the thirties.

  “It sounds like baby girl McBain likes her sweeties.” The voice was deep and male.

  Sasha turned to find Justin at the doorway. “You came.”

  “You threatened me if I didn’t.”

  “That’s just minor details you don’t have to keep mentioning you know.” Sasha didn’t know if it was her pregnancy hormones or hanging around Pete’s matchmaking tendencies too much but as she looked at Justin and Billie she thought they made a beautiful couple.

  Billie took his arm. “This is a women only area. You can keep a look out for Pete and let him know we’ll find him when she’s all ready.” Pete was going to walk Sasha down the aisle. She had asked him last week and he said there wasn’t a bigger honor and of course he’d do it. Pete was a big part of her and Nick’s life and he was the only father figure she knew in her adulthood.

  Justin went willingly out the door. “I like when you get forceful. Got any cuffs under that dress?”

  Billie laughed and closed the door in his face.

  Nicholas wasn’t nervous as he stood at the end of the aisle waiting for his bride. There were no cold feet but there was something flipping around his stomach. He wanted Sasha to be happy and he wanted their baby to be healthy, he didn’t dare ask for more than that.

  “Relax.” Lucas, Nick’s older brother by three years, whispered from his left.

  “I am relaxed. I want to be married.”

  “She’ll be coming through those doors any second and she’ll still be crazy enough to marry you.” Lucas thought his jokes would be helpful, maybe on a different day but not today. There was nothing going to sway his focus.

  Nick almost jumped from his shoes when the wedding march began. This was it.

  His breath was taken away as he laid eyes on her in her wedding dress for the first time. She had told him she didn’t want anything fancy but that he still couldn’t see it until the moment of the ceremony. She was six months pregnant and still managing to take his breath away, more so now as their child brought a glow of raw happiness to her face.

  The dress was strapless with beading detailing the top and a long pleated skirt flowing effortlessly around her legs. Besides being beyond beautiful she looked adorable pregnant and the baby bump took nothing away from the dress or the innocence in her steps. Her excitement was leaving her on the same hyper edge Nick was on.

  Pete laid Sasha’s hand in her soon to be husband’s. “I know you’ll take good care of her.”

  Nick swore it on his life. “Of course.”

  Billie brother, Father Joseph Savich, spoke with beautiful words about love and the happiness creating with such a union as marriage. He wished them all the happiness in the world before starting the vows. He asked Nicholas the big question first.

  Nick smiled and stared only into her eyes, all of the people around them disappearing. “I do.”

  “Sasha, do you take Nicholas—”

  “I do, all of it I do.” Sasha blurted the words and tried to control her runaway tears. “I never thought I could love anyone the way I love you. You’re everything I’ve always wanted and yet I didn’t know that until you showed it to me. You’ve stood by me no matter what during the most horrible times of my life and I would’ve been the biggest idiot to let you go. I love you so much.” She rambled each sentence.

  Nick smiled at her anxious behavior while drying her tears with his thumbs. “I love you too.”

  Father Savich continued with the ceremony, rings were exchanged, Nick sliding the same ring he picked out all those months ago back onto Sasha’s finger. Then the words everyone was waiting to hear were finally uttered. “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.” Everyone stood from their seats, some awed and some cheered.

  With his hands still along her cheeks Nick leaned down and planted a kiss across her mouth that was maybe too steamy for a church.

  ###

  Thank you so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Any questions or comments feel free to visit isabellearocho.com to contact me. I can’t wait to hear from you.To purchase this tile or other titles in paperback also visit my website.

  I have many more books in the works to hit your shelves soon. The team will be returning in another FBI mystery focusing on the lovable giant Noah Lindley.

  -Isabelle Arocho