Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 73884 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73884 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
“Let’s go home.”
“Are you hungry? We can stop and eat or hit a drive-thru.”
“Let’s just heat up the leftover spaghetti from last night.”
“Done.” He starts the truck and points it toward home. The one we share together.
For the first time, I allow myself to think about what happens beyond six months. Maddox loves me, and I know that I love him, but something kept me from saying it. I need a little time to process today.
Before I know it, we’re pulling into the driveway. “Looks like we got a package,” I tell Maddox, seeing the white box leaning against the front door. “Did you order something?”
“Nope. I assumed it was yours.”
Exiting the truck, we make our way onto the front porch. Maddox picks up the box and reads the label. “Little White Wedding Chapel.” He looks up at me. “Vegas address.”
Something an awful lot like fear washes over me. What if there was a mistake? What if we’re not really married? It’s at this moment, standing on my front porch, that the love I feel for my husband truly hits me.
CHAPTER
SIXTEEN
Maddox
I hold the small white box in my hand as I unlock the door and push it open. I motion for Brogan to go in ahead of me, before stepping in behind her and closing the door. The box, despite its light weight, feels heavy in my hand.
I don’t know what it could be, but the thought that we’re not really married crosses my mind, and I feel sick at the thought. We move into the living room and sit on the couch.
“I wonder what it is?” Brogan asks. I can tell from her tone of voice she’s worried too.
She might not have been able to say the words earlier, but that’s okay. I feel her love with every touch, every smile, and every moment of every day. I know she’s been through hell and back, and I can wait for her to come to terms with what I already know.
My wife loves me.
“Only one way to find out,” I tell her. I offer her the small box, but she shakes her head.
“You do it.”
I nod and move to the kitchen to get a knife to cut open the box. It’s small, and an odd shape. It doesn’t look like it holds paperwork. Maybe we left something at the chapel, and they’re sending it to us? I don’t remember Brogan mentioning anything that was missing from the trip.
“Here we go.” I hold up the knife as I take my seat next to her on the couch. Carefully, I cut at the tape and set the knife on the table in front of us. “Ready?”
“I don’t know, but we can’t avoid whatever is in there.”
Slowly, I open the box and pull out a thumb drive. There’s a note card, so I read that aloud. “Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Lanigan. Enclosed is your fully edited video of your special day. Thank you for choosing The Little White Wedding Chapel.” I drop the note back into the box and stare at the small device in my hands.
“That’s a video. Of our wedding,” Brogan adds, as if she’s trying to process what I just read to her.
“That’s what it says.” I glance over to see her smiling.
“Can we watch it?” If I’m not mistaken, there is a hint of a smile pulling at her lips.
I swallow hard and nod. I want to watch it, I really do, but something tells me that I was way more into our wedding than what she was. I don’t think I forced her or anything, but if she’s not smiling and happy, if she looks resigned, I don’t know that I’ll be able to handle that.
I love her so fucking much.
Standing, I move to the TV and place the thumb drive into the USB slot in the back. Grabbing the remote from the table, I take a seat back on the couch and pat my chest. “I’m gonna need you over here for this.” She doesn’t argue. She just moves closer and snuggles up to my chest.
My arm wraps around her. I press my lips to the top of her head and hit Play. The logo for the chapel appears, and then the camera is on me. I’m standing at the altar.
“Mr. Lanigan, wave to your bride,” the female voice that’s recording says.
I wave, with a dopey smile on my face. My eyes are glassy, showing the amount of alcohol we’d consumed that night. “Hey, wifey,” I say, my grin growing wider.
“Do you want to say anything for the film?” the lady asks me.
“I can’t wait to spend forever with you.” I blow the camera a kiss and stand a little taller.
“That was the groom. Let’s go check on our bride.” She walks down what looks like a hallway and knocks on a door. Brogan must have told her to come in, or someone did, because a few seconds later, she’s pushing open the door to step inside.