Page 36 of Everlasting Vows

She pulls away and wraps her arms around Luke, looking up at him adoringly. None of us were surprised when they started dating. Everyone could see the way he watched her and how he would find any excuse to include her in whatever he and Murphy were doing, much to Murph’s annoyance. Murphy didn’t want his baby sister hanging around, but Luke couldn’t seem to get enough time with our Prue.

Poking the steak, I announce, “Well, this is ready.” I pile the meat onto a serving plate and place it on the crappy outdoor setting we have. I’m looking forward to having some of Theo’s furniture here, along with the additional space he’ll be adding. I’d like to say that I picture Abbi and me sitting in Theo’s rocking chairs, watching our grandchildren play in the garden, but the image is beginning to fade. I’m not as certain as I once was about our future. I have no idea whether we’ll stay together after the wedding. At the rate things are going between us, the silence and avoidance don’t give me much hope. But I’ve been in dire situations before and made it through. I’m hoping we’ll make it through this. Together.

We sit around the table, and if you weren’t paying close attention, you would be none the wiser that Abbi and I are so disconnected because she puts on a great show of being united in front of our daughter. It twists my gut that her smiles and touches aren’t genuine, but I soak them up just the same.

I cut into my steak and chew; the meat practically melting on my tongue. It’s perfect.

Conversation is steady around the table, and once I swallow my food, I join in. “So …”—I look between Abbi and Prue—“did you find the perfect wedding dress today?”

They look at each other as though they’re sharing a secret, but Prue’s lips widening to take up all the real estate on her face tells me her answer. “Not yet, but Mom found her dress today.” She fans her face. “So hot!”

Abbi chuckles, a beautiful flush making its way to her cheeks. “Oh, stop it, Prue.” She looks at me. “She embarrassed me in the store.”

“I wanted everyone to see how gorgeous you are,” Prue defends.

“Your mom’s always beautiful. Doesn’t matter what she wears,” I say, looking straight at Abbi.

“Awww, you guys are so cute. But wait ’til you see her. You’re gonna swallow your tongue.”

My mind reels back in time to one of the happiest days of my life.

I shuffle on my feet, adjusting my cufflinks. Despite the cool temperature, sweat beads at my temples and my stomach twists on itself. I check the time again and turn to my best man. “Is she gonna show?”

He chuckles and pats me on the shoulder. “You can’t be serious. That woman is so far gone for you, there’s no way she’ll stand you up.”

I blow out a long breath and roll my shoulders. “She’s late.”

“All brides are, man. It’s their way of testing our patience,” he tells me sagely. Almost six months ago, our positions were reversed when he married his college sweetheart after they discovered she was pregnant.

I just want her to be mine already. I feel as if I’ve been waiting my entire life to make her my wife.

The music changes, and I snap my head toward the entrance, waiting to lay eyes on my Abbi. It’s been too long. I don’t know why she insisted I stay away last night. All I wanted to do was hold her close, like I always do. She grounds me and keeps me steady like nothing and no one else can, and I’ll only relax when she finally has my last name and she’s tied to me forever.

Callie steps through the door, carrying a basket. She smiles brightly, walking toward me as she tosses petals left and right. “Hi, Nix. Sissy looks like a princess!”

I pick her up and kiss her cheek, making her giggle. “You look like a princess too,” I tell her, placing her back on her feet, smoothing her dress for her.

I catch movement in my periphery, and Abbi’s very pregnant maid of honor is halfway down the aisle. She smiles broadly and winks at me. When she gets close enough, she leans in and kisses my cheek. “Oh my god, Nix. Abbi looks so beautiful.”

“She always looks beautiful to me,” I tell her.

“Yeah, but she’s beyond stunning today,” she tells me as she takes her place, turning toward the entrance.

I adjust my tie. “I just want to see her for myself,” I grumble.

Joanna chuckles, as if it hasn’t been torture waiting to lay eyes on my almost wife.

The music changes again, and I turn toward the entrance, my heart climbing up my throat, my palms sweaty, my feet itching to move toward the love of my life. When she finally comes into view, every cell in my body draws tight with the desperate ache to touch her. She looks like an angel wrapped in lace, as if she’s a gift from heaven. I trace every beautiful curve of her body, and my pants grow tight at the thought of tracing them with my tongue later. Suddenly, I want it to be just the two of us.

Alone and naked.

My cock buried in her warm mouth. My tongue delving into her hot pussy.

I adjust my feet as my eyes move higher. Her long hair is in loose waves, and a long veil drapes down the length of her body to drag on the floor behind her. The small diamond heart I gave her to wear today glints at the base of her throat, and pride almost swallows me whole that I could buy her something so precious. She’s done something different with her makeup because her eyes look dark and mysterious, and I get lost in them as she closes the distance between us. She’s so fucking beautiful, and soon she’ll be all mine.

I’m going to worship her until the end of my days.

I’m going to show her how much I fucking love her every single day of our lives together.