by Magan Vernon
Rachel didn’t want anything big or fancy, but we at least needed a cake, I argued.
So of course, Pam complied with the three-tiered vegan chocolate bomb that sat near a white tent, set up with a large, covered table.
“It really looks great, Ames. Thank you.” I put my arm around her bare shoulder, for the first time I saw sweat glistening off her spray-tanned skin and dripping onto her floral dress.
“You mean it? I just want it to be perfect for the two of you.” She looked up at me, blinking.
I smiled a genuine smile. “You didn’t have to do all of this, but it looks amazing. Even with some action figures in the flowers.”
“Neveah!” Amy turned and then stomped through the grass toward the three little girls who quickly ran as fast as their cowboy boots could handle them, red capes dragging behind them.
One of the things I always loved about Rachel was that she let the girls be themselves. That included letting them wear superhero dresses, complete with capes sewn by her mom.
And now, after all we’d been through, not just fighting with little girls about the appropriateness of when to wear a cape, we were finally going to tie the knot.
“Okay, places everyone!” Amy clapped her hands as much as she could with two action figures sandwiched between her fingers.
My mom and dad took a seat across from Rachel’s parents, and her sister Roo, with Amy’s husband and Neveah behind them.
My lawyer couldn’t come in for the occasion, and I didn’t want to get all of the PTA moms up in arms, so we kept it small.
But one guest was missing, that when I stood at the archway, next to the priest, I couldn’t help but let my smile falter.
Until the back gate swung open.
Everyone’s eyes turned to the commotion as Trish and Cheyenne tried to tiptoe over the cobblestone to the seats behind Rachel’s parents.
“Teresita de la Peña?” Rachel’s mom mouthed.
But no one had too much time to think over these strange guests because Amy started up the music to Canon in D.
When the back-patio doors opened, all eyes went to the stunning woman in a flowy white dress walking down the path.
I swallowed hard, my heart beating wildly in my chest as I focused on the woman walking toward me.
The woman who knew all of my secrets, my past, and my present. Yet she still loved me.
Not the former child star, but the real me.
And none of that was more evident than when she looked out into the crowd before pointing a finger at the priest to hold on.
Juniper stood on my side as my best man/woman/flower girl and Ariana on Rachel’s side as her maid of honor/flower girl. Which is what we’d planned.
But the look of mischief in Rachel’s eyes said something was missing.
No.
Someone.
She quickly breezed down the aisle then took Cheyenne’s hand, edging her out of her seat.
Cheyenne stared at me wide-eyed, and I could already feel the heat of everyone else’s stares on us.
It didn’t take long for the news of my illegitimate daughter to spread.
My parents weren’t as pissed as I thought they’d be, and Juniper just wanted to know when she could have a slumber party with big sister.
But when Rachel took her hand and led her to the spot beside Juniper, all emotion I had seemed to come bubbling to the surface.
“She should be up here with our family,” Rachel whispered into my ear before placing a light kiss on my cheek.
“Now I can have my four favorite girls with me up here, thank you.”
The smile broadened on her face as she took the spot across from me, her hand still in mine. “Well, technically it may be five. But you might finally get your boy.”
All of the color and feeling drained from my face.
She couldn’t be…
She nodded as if she heard my silent question, looking down at her stomach then back to me.
“What are they saying?” Mom hiss-whispered over the crowd.
I laughed, pulling Rachel into my arms and holding her tight to my chest. In that moment, I never wanted to let go.
I had everything right there I ever wanted.
I didn’t need L.A. I didn’t need the secrets.
I just needed her.
She turned her head toward the small crowd. “Looks like the Reign family will be growing by three instead of just two.”
Everyone’s eyes turned toward Cheyenne then back to us.
Cheyenne looked at her mom with a frown. “Are they talking about being pregnant, or do I tell them I’m changing my last name as a wedding gift?”
I looked over at Cheyenne, the smile finally placed on her face. I put my arm out. “Come here you.”
Then I motioned for Juniper and Ariana to join us in a big group hug that had my heart swelling in my chest.
“Daddy, are we almost done with this so we can eat cake?” Juniper whined.
I laughed. “Yeah.”
Then I looked at Rachel, her eyes damp with what I hoped was happy tears. “Whattya say, Rach? Still wanna marry this heartbreaker?”
She leaned in and kissed me. “More than ever.”
The End.
For Real This Time.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Magan Vernon believes that no matter what your story is, everyone deserves a happily ever after and tries to include that in all of her stories. She's had top 100 stories in everything from YA aliens to angsty New Adult tales.
When not writing, you can find her on her Texas ranch, trying to wrangle two kids, two dogs, and a colony of whatever other kids or animals ends up in her yard.
You can find her online at http://www.maganvernon.com
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Acknowledgments
First off, thank you to the reader who picked up this book. Sorry not sorry about that cliffhanger, but hopefully this happily ever after makes up for it!
My editor, Tera, for believing in this story and now fully understanding the term #Zaddy and how to make him great.
My cover designer, Kassi, for loving these photos and going along with my need for a Teen Beat themed cover.
HUGE thanks to Kate Roth for helping me come up with the big WOW moment of this book and to always being an ear to bend.
To every single 1990s teen party movie that helped to inspire these books.
The Bunny Ears podcast, specifically the interview with Devon Sawa that helped to really catapult this story.