Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 38483 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 192(@200wpm)___ 154(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38483 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 192(@200wpm)___ 154(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
“I know, baby, and I’m so fucking lucky.” He kisses me swiftly and then spins me toward the bathroom. I hurry to get ready, but even so, by the time I’m done, Cora is waiting for me.
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I love you, Justin mouths, and I hold back tears as he takes Jenna from my arms and rests her on his chest.
Justin once again proved he’s capable of making miracles happen. In the twenty-four hours since he asked me to marry him, he’s somehow given me a little bit of normal. Under an arch of flowers, holding a bouquet of cream roses in his parents’ backyard, I’m marrying the man of my dreams with his parents and mine as our witnesses.
I was shocked last night when Justin told me we were going to dinner and I walked into the restaurant to find my parents waiting for us. Not surprisingly, Justin won over both my mom and dad without trying, but I have to admit I was a little astonished with the way they fawned over Jenna. It feels right to have them here today, but even with them, the judge marrying us, Jasper, and Cora here, I still feel like it’s just me, my soon-to-be husband, and our girl.
He looks gorgeous in his black suit, white dress shirt, and baby-pink tie that matches Jenna’s frilly dress, the silk ribbon around my waist and stem of my flowers, and I feel prettier than I have in a long time. Cora and my mom helped me get ready. His mom curled my hair and mine did my makeup, and each of them gave me my something borrowed and something blue. Luckily, even with short notice, I found the perfect dress—a simple white lace gown with an empire waist and small pearls sewn into the material around the neckline.
I can’t tear my gaze off his when the judge starts to speak, and tears I can’t hold back stream down my cheeks as we exchange our vows. When it’s time for us to exchange rings, he hands Jenna over to his dad and pulls two platinum bands from his jacket pocket. A perfect match for each other, his is a wider version of the one that goes with the engagement ring already on my finger.
“These rings are a symbol of your commitment to your marriage, a reminder of who you are, where you’ve been, and where you’re going,” the judge says as we take each other’s hand. “In giving and receiving these rings, you acknowledge that wherever you go, you will always return to your shared life together.” Tears fill my eyes once more as we slide them onto each other’s finger. “May your rings remind you that marriage is a journey, with no beginning and no end, just a moment-to-moment opportunity to love and be loved to the best of your ability.”
He speaks some more; I know he does, but until he says “you may kiss the bride” and Justin takes my mouth, my mind is so overwhelmed with everything that’s happened and I don’t hear anything. When he finally pulls his lips from mine, we’re married, but we still have drama to face before we start our life together.
“I don’t like this,” I tell Justin, watching him pull my suitcase out the back of his Rover and set it on the ground after hugging his parents and Jenna goodbye. It’s only been a few days since we got married, and time that should have been spent with us enjoying being man and wife has been spent with my parents who left yesterday and Justin getting ready to go back to Vegas—something I wish he wasn’t doing.
“I know, baby.” He looks at his dad, who takes my bag while Cora carries Jenna into their house, where we will be staying while he’s gone. He hasn’t shared why he wants me with his mom and dad except to say this will be his longest trip and he wants me to have the help with Jenna. I don’t believe him; I know there is more going on, but I don’t want to stress him out by asking too many questions. Especially when I know us being with his parents has something to do with them protecting me and my girl. “This is my last trip. After I get back from Vegas, I’m never going back.”
“I hate that you’re leaving, especially now. This should be our honeymoon.”
“Baby.” He steps into my space, cupping my cheek with his palm. “When I get home, we’ll go away, just you, me, and Jenna. I’ll get us a place on a beach somewhere and we’ll stay as long as you want.” I shiver a little at the sensual promise in his gaze, and he smiles before touching his lips to mine. “I love you.”