I laugh.
“I don’t even know,” I tell her. “But isn’t it beautiful?”
“It sure is. Where did you get it?”
“I think the better question is where did you get it from?” Dad asks. “Or rather, who gave it to you? Why have we never even heard of him before?”
His voice is stern so I look at my mom for reassurance. She’s just giving me a blank look, as if I have a lot of explaining to do. And I guess I do.
“I met a guy named Isaac when I was out with Stacy,” I tell them, which is the truth. “And, we got involved in a little whirlwind romance.”
“Well I’d say,” my dad says. “This explains why we never see you around here anymore.”
“I know you probably think I’m crazy,” I tell them, “but we’re in love. For real. And we’re getting married.”
“Well, that much is obvious,” my mom says, fanning herself at the sight of my ring all over again. “So why haven’t you told us?”
“He’s… older than me, for one,” I say. “And he’s… filthy stinking rich.”
“You don’t say,” my mom says, pointing to the diamond as if she still can’t get over it.
“I didn’t want you to think I was just…”
“Using him for his money?” my mom asks.
“Yeah, like I wanted to be sure this was real love. And I didn’t want you to talk me out of it. So we went ahead and planned a wedding date.”
“Veronica…” My dad starts, in a warning voice.
But my mom cuts him off.
“I think it’s rather romantic,” she says. “Your dad and I only dated for six months before we got married. But that’s because I was…”
She trails off.
“Did he knock you up?” my dad demands, raising his voice. “I’ll kill him if he…”
“No,” I tell them, quickly, “it’s nothing like that. We just don’t see the point in waiting. And also…”
“Woo hoo,” says my mom, interrupting me and hugging me as if she’d just won the lottery. “Because you don’t know how hard it is to start off a marriage with a baby on the way. No offense.”
I smile at her. If she knew how my fake-turned-real engagement had started off, she’d realize she has nothing on me.
“I’m just glad you’re not pregnant,” my dad says. “Do what you want, I suppose. You’re a grown adult. We did our part and now it’s up to you from here on out, kid.”
I laugh. I suppose I should have started out by making them think I was pregnant, so that they’d be this relieved and happy a lot earlier on in the conversation.
“Sorry,” Mom says. “The news of your non-pregnancy overshadowed something you were trying to say to me.”
“Oh yeah,” I tell her. “One reason we’re getting married so soon is that Isaac’s father is… not well.”
“I’m sorry,” Mom says, grabbing my hand in condolence. “I know too well how hard that can be.”
“Yeah, I guess we kind of bonded through that… common experience,” I tell her, but then I hurry to differentiate it. “But Isaac’s dad’s situation is… not good, whereas yours is good now. You’re going to be just fine, Mom. I know it.”
She smiles at me and I can tell she wants to believe it, that she’s close to believing it. She just doesn’t want to get her hopes up, only to have them dashed like last time. So I’d better tell her the rest of it.
“Mom, the good news is, that he’s offered…” I gulp, because this part isn’t exactly true, but close enough, “…to pay for your cancer treatments. Anything you want, we can take care of it.”
“Oh honey,” my mom says, throwing her arms around me. “That’s so nice of you. But you don’t have to. I don’t want to be a burden on you.”
“You’re not at all,” I tell her. “I want this for you.”
It’s the whole reason I did this, I want to tell her. But I ended up so glad I did it for me, rather than just for you.
“Okay,” Mom says, “Well, if he has the money, I guess why not.”
“Why not indeed?” I ask, so happy that things seem to be working out.
The first treatment has gone much better than the specialists could have even hoped, and they’re only supposed to get better from here on out, so long as there’s money to keep doing them. And now, there is.
“So, when do we get to meet him?” Mom asks.
“Well,” I say, grinning that the most surprising news of all is yet to be revealed. “Our wedding is this weekend.”
Epilogue
Veronica
Canon in D plays as my mom and dad walk me down the aisle in the elaborately decorated courtyard of the Ritz-Carlton. I’m glad that my actual parents get to do the honors, rather than whatever fake couple Isaac was planning on hiring to play my mom and dad at our pretend wedding.
I never thought this would be my life, but I’m loving every minute of it. I especially love seeing Isaac’s face as I sashay down the aisle towards him. He looks as if he’s absolutely in awe of my wedding dress, and completely in love with me.
I can’t help but catch Stacy’s grin out of the corner of my eye. As my real maid of honor, she’s standing up there waiting for me, just like she would be if she was my fake maid of honor, but it’s even better now that it’s actually happening.
She and I had joked that Madame needed to come teach me the right way to walk down the aisle. But now that I’m staring at Isaac, I realize any way is right, as long as I make it up to the alter to marry my groom.
I can’t believe I’m actually marrying a multi-billionaire. And not just any multi-billionaire at that. But one who is handsome, strong and absolutely in love with me.
His dad is in the audience, with Cora at his side. His mom is sitting at the other end of the row. They were actually cordial to each other at the rehearsal dinner, which Isaac says is a small miracle.
Dan and Ed are standing beside Isaac as his best men, and they never let him forget that they’re the reason he and I are together. If they hadn’t encouraged him to go The Exchange that night— where money can buy you anything, even a fake fiancée— he’d never be having this very real wedding.
The sun begins to set on the ocean behind us as the very real officiant starts the ceremony. When it comes time to say our vows, I look Isaac in the eyes and say the ones I wrote myself.
“I never thought I would get married so soon, and I know you never thought you’d get married at all,” I tell him, while our guests laugh. “But I’m very thankful for each and every circumstance that brought us here today.”
He nods at me, and I can tell he’s trying to choke back tears.
“I promise to be your wife and your faithful companion until my dying day,” I tell him. “I’ll help you with your business.”
At this, we both look at his father, who gives us the thumbs up sign. He’s had a good week and I think that now that things are settled with Charles and with Isaac, however long he has left will be well spent.
I look back at Isaac.
“I’ll help you in life, with whatever you need. And I’ll always be the most caring, compassionate, most down to earth, totally real bride that you married today.”
“And with that,” the officiant says, as everyone starts to clap. “I pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your down to earth, totally real bride.”
And he does. Now and for the rest of our lives.
Isaac
I’m not the type to get nervous, but right now, I’m fucking nervous. I bought a fake fiancé, but it’s my real wedding day.
As soon as I see Veronica walking down the aisle, though, I know I’ve made the right choice. Everything is going to be okay because she and I are together.
She looks beautiful in a white lace gown with a long veil over her head. She went for the traditional look, as a reminder that this thing is for real. As if I needed any more reminders.
Dan elbows me and whispers to me for what has to be thousandth time, “I told you The Exchange
had everything you needed.”
I grin and hiss at him through my teeth, “Dude, shut up. I’m getting married over here.”
As soon as Veronica’s in front of me, I want to take her in my arms and kiss her. But I remember I can’t do that until we’re officially married. As the officiant speaks, I realize it’s almost time to say my vows.
Shit.
I hope I can remember them.
When the time comes, I stare at her, momentarily frozen. But then she smiles at me, and I open my mouth to let the words flow out.
“I know we had a fast and unorthodox beginning,” I tell her, and she smiles as if to say, you’re telling me. “But I don’t regret a second of it. I love our past— as short as it might be—”
At this, we both pause to laugh.
“I love our present, and I’m looking forward to a long future together. I’ll protect you, love you, cherish you. I’ll be everything you ever wanted a husband to be, and everything I never even knew I could be—and that everyone else probably doubted I’d ever even want to be.”
Here, I look at my dad, and everyone laughs.
When we’re pronounced husband and wife, I can’t believe I have a real bride. A real marriage. A real life unlike any I’ve ever known before.
***
We party late into the night, and our reception is epic. Dan and Stacy appear to be getting it on, and they’re not even two of the most sloshed wedding guests.
I’m tipsy, but not too drunk to be turned on by my new wife. As soon as we get to our hotel room, I carry her over the threshold of the door and she laughs.
“I love you, husband,” she says, as I take off her beautiful wedding dress, being careful not to tear it.
“I love you, too.”
I’ve waited for this night ever since I first took her virginity— even if I didn’t consciously know it. Every time I reached for a condom, I would wish I could fuck her for real – raw, bare, without protection. And now I can.
I take her to the bed and use my tie to bind her wrists to the bed.
“We’re going to reenact the time I took your virginity,” I tell her. “But this time, I’m going to take all of you. Nothing is going to stand between us. Because we’re husband and wife now.”
“What if I get pregnant?” she asks, turning around to look at me.
“What if?” I ask her, spreading her legs apart.
I take her ass cheeks in my hand and spread her ass and pussy open wide.
“Here’s my pussy that I took for the very first time,” I tell her, slapping her ass with one hand while I stick my finger inside her with the other.
“Oh, my God. Isaac.”
I reach up and play with one of her nipples while kissing her shoulders and her back. I take off my pants and feel my cock hard and strong up against her ass.
This is it. I can take her without protection. She’s my wife. It’s real.
I slip my cock inside her and she whimpers.
“That’s a good girl,” I whisper up close to her ear. “Let your husband fuck you without a condom on.”
“Yes sir,” she says, as I watch my cock slide deep into her eager, wet pussy.
I push it in and pull it out, staring at it as her juices gather on it, making it slippery. I hold one hand on her ass and the other on her nipple as I thrust it in and out of her.
“That’s a good little slutty wife,” I tell her. “Let your husband do what he wants.”
“I’m coming,” she moans, as I reach around and slap her pussy with one of my hands while I twist her nipple with my other hand.
“That’s it,” I tell her. “Come for your husband.”
I grab hold of her ass and bear down into her, pushing and thrusting, being rough with her because I can. I can do anything I want to her, now and always.
As my cock begins to throb, she leans her head back against my chest and looks up into my eyes.
“I’m going to come in your pussy,” I tell her, as I feel the orgasm starting. “I’m going to shoot my load into you.”
“Oh, my God,” she says, “I’m going to come again too.”
I feel myself pulse inside her as my cum shoots into her.
“Yes, yes, yes,” I call out, feeling better than I ever felt before, when the condom blocked the full sensation. “I’m coming, I’m coming, I’m coming.”
We moan together and then fall onto the bed, both of us exhausted after a full wedding day and the best sex of our lives.
“That was amazing,” she says, as I curl my arm around the back of her neck. “I want to do that every night.”
“Me too,” I tell her, looking deep into her green eyes. “And now we can. Because you’re my very real wife.”
“And what if you put a very real baby inside me?” she asks, smiling that devilish, flirtatious grin I love so much.
“Then that would just be the icing on top of our very real wedding cake.”
THE END.
Extended Epilogue
ONE YEAR LATER
Veronica
I’d been wary about taking this trip. It’s not that I didn’t want to go, but with my mother’s illness and my pregnancy, it is a recipe for disaster. But the doctor gave us the both the go-ahead. So, mother, one year cancer free, and I, seven months pregnant, are in Ireland. And by God is it beautiful.
Mother had been wanting to go on a genealogy trip for years and it would be my last chance to go for a while. My doctor felt this would be the last week in the pregnancy where travelling overseas would be safe, and exploring our roots sounded fun. Obviously, our husbands joined us on this little excursion. Isaac and Dad are both being a little overly protective, though. Treating us like we’ll break at any second. I call it helicopter husbanding.
“Now, Honey! I don’t need you holding my hand everywhere we go.”
Mom gives Dad a fierce scowl, but he only counters with a big, bright smile.
“Oh, but dearest, holding your hand is one of my few joys in life.”
She gives him a look, but doesn’t let go. I turn my head to Isaac, who’s embracing me from behind, his hand protectively around my belly. He’s also watching my parents, but looks down at me when I shift towards him.
“You, know,” I tell him. “You’re hovering a bit as well…”
“Well, one of my few joys in my life is being close to my dear wife.”
He nuzzles into my neck and moves the sleeve of my dress to the side a little, so he can place a few soft kisses along my shoulder. The scruff of his beard tickles and I let out a small laugh.
“Do you find my affection funny?”
His face is still buried in my neck, so it comes out muffled.
“No, but I find your beard hairs ticklish.”
Before he can respond, my parents call us over and we go to join them. We’ve decided to spend the day being tourists, going to all the popular spots and gawking at the Irish landscape. Since we’re in Dublin, we start our day off by heading for Trinity College. I’m most excited to check out The Long Room.
But anything we do today will be fun, since I’m in a gorgeous country with my loving husband, healthy mother and happy— if not over-protective— father. And in a couple short months I’ll be having Isaac’s baby. I feel like the luckiest woman in the world.
Isaac
We leave for Trinity College, hell bent on navigating the streets of Dublin with a map we picked up at the airport. I’m worried that Veronica is exerting herself too much, but she seems to be in top form and I don’t want to annoy her with all my doting. Helicopter husbanding, she calls it.
We head into a café to take a small break and grab a bite to eat. Once we’ve sat ourselves down and ordered, I ask Veronica if she’s doing okay.
“Of course I am. I’m not some delicate flower that needs constant attention.”
She crosses her arms to show that she’s done with this conversation. I know she’s not mad at me, but that she just wants to keep hold of her independent
spirit. Her fierceness is what drew me to her. But her sexy curves sure didn’t hurt.
Everything about her is so bright and welcoming. When we first met, I’d been worried about my darker nature. I didn’t want to dampen any part of her spirit by entering her life.
But the opposite occurred. My life was much brighter with her in it. And now, a year after our wedding, I’m sitting with my wife and her parents and there’s a little one on the way. I’m excited, but admittedly a little nervous. For the longest time, it was just me, and then just Veronica and me, which I thought was a huge change since I’d never thought I’d be in a committed relationship, although I loved it.
Soon, though, I’ll have another person to love and I know I can get this right. But even with my attempts at constantly reassuring myself, I still have my doubts.
“You seem distracted, Isaac.”
Veronica’s father is keenly observing me. His face is open, letting me know I can tell him anything. Veronica and her mother are chatting away, paying us no mind.
“Yeah, I guess I am.”
I offer him a small smile, hoping he’ll drop this topic. But Veronica’s family isn’t known for giving up so easily.
“Do you care to tell me about it, my boy?”
A part of me really wants to tell him all about the thoughts that are racing through my head, but I don’t want Veronica to overhear all these anxieties I’m having. So, I shake my head.
Thankfully, our food arrives and it’s the distraction I need. As we dig in, the conversation quickly shifts. We talk about Trinity College and all the other things we’d like to see while in Dublin.
Last night, we met with one of Veronica’s family’s relatives that we’d managed to track down. Her name is Lily. We speak of her for a bit, hoping that we’ll get to meet the others and they’ll be just as friendly. We finish our meal and finally find our way to the college.
Veronica pipes up, full of interesting facts.
“This room, The Long Room, is what they modeled the library in Harry Potter after. Pretty neat, huh?”
Veronica seems particularly proud of her fun fact and after dropping it on us, goes off to explore the library. She looks so happy, perusing the shelves of books, marveling at the architecture. I let her revel in The Long Room and turn in the other direction to check the space out for myself.
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