This is it. Today is the day.
I take a deep breath and then release it, closing my eyes as I try to calm my racing heart.
Behind me, I hear the familiar thud of big, athletic feet and the snort of a dog who still runs the Neelson house like he’s the boss. I turn to find Dom standing there, immaculately handsome, in a suit that fits his biceps perfectly.
He looks like a man who just finished a morning shootaround for the Comets and somehow still found the energy to show up fully for this.
“Let me help you with your tie.” My heels clicking as I make my way to him.
“Thank goodness,” he breathes out, planting a kiss on my cheek. “I was hoping Mrs. Neelson would come to the rescue.”
“Always,” I say softly, adjusting his tie.
His hands settle on my waist, his thumb tracing tiny, soothing circles through the fabric as I finish fixing it. “You good?” Dom asks, soft and low.
“Of course I am,” I say, which is mostly true. “Just… If I pass out, please make sure it doesn’t happen on camera or something. No one needs to make that viral.”
“Noted.” His mouth quirks. It’s almost a smile, and for a second, I forget about everything except him. His hair is longer than when we met, a little unruly at the temples, but it works.
And I love him. So freaking much.
“Cocoa, come here, bud.” Dom squats down and the dog bounds over, tail wagging. He pulls aWelcome Committeebandana out of his pocket and then ties it around Cocoa’s neck, giving him a pat as he stands up straight.
“You ready to charm the pants off the new tenants?” I crouch and give Cocoa’s scruff a good ruffle. “Remember, no eating therefreshments, no barking at the catering staff, and absolutely zero harassing any partygoers.”
Cocoa’s tongue lolls, and I think it’s a promise to do none of those things I told him to. I trust him as much as I do my ability to make good skincare products—which, for the record, is not at all.
Dom grabs his keys. “You want to walk down together?”
Like I’d want anything else.
“Yeah. Let’s do it.”
We step into the elevator, which is so new that it still has the factory sticker residue on the back panel.
We ride in silence to the lobby, my heart pounding in my ears as we step into the decorated space. It’s literallyeverythingI wanted it to be, beautifully urban and modern with a touch of luxury.
Dom whistles. “You did it,” he says, nudging me. “It looks like a five-star hotel.”
“I know. Isn’t it ridiculous?” I almost choke on the words, but then he slides his hand into mine and everything steadies out.
Dom cracks a smile. “I think it’s no more ridiculous than anything else in LA.”
I nod, and together, hand in hand, we make our way to the official ribbon-cutting ceremony.
I love my life, but I love my husbandmost of all.
Dominic
My heart is thumping so loudly, I’m surprised no one else can hear it. I’m not even the one who has to give a speech, but after two years of marriage to Nicole, I’m certain that she’s just an extension of me.
And I like it like that.
But man, am I nervous and excited and proud of her all at once.
There’s that saying that a picture is worth a thousand words, but nobody warns you what it feels like to watch the love of your life accomplish the dream she’s been chasing so hard after for years.
The lobby is packed around the podium and small stage. I scan the crowd to see if there are any familiar faces, and most aren’t, but some are. Nicole stands next to me, a death grip on my bicep through my suit jacket. Cocoa sits at my feet, the star of the show, wearing his Welcome Committee uniform like he was born for it.
