Hailey wraps her arms around my middle then rests the side of her head against my chest.
“I love you,” she sighs, relaxed.
“I love you so much.”
We take a few breaths to just be in this moment because we know what awaits. Yes, Hailey has the menu that she picked out,and flowers she approved, the dress she went to Chicago for. But let’s make no mistake that the bride and groom will be busy speaking with guests for most of the evening.
Another five minutes of photographs that we intentionally pose for and then excitement bubbles inside of me and it’s written all over Hailey’s face. “Ready?”
She nods her head enthusiastically. “So much so that I skipped a few steps.” She proudly holds up her hand to show the ring on her finger. The one she has worn from the very beginning.
I hold up my own hand to show her. There is a smugness to my smile because of the satisfaction that I made her my wife when it was a crazy thing to do. “Oh, look at that, great minds think alike.”
Both grinning, I kiss her forehead, even though I hear my brother in the distance calling my name.
Hailey tips her head to the side. “You told him, right?” Lines form on her face.
I wince and scrub a hand across my face. “Not exactly… yet.”
Shock floods her face, and she swats my shoulder. “Are you insane?” Her loud whisper squeaks before she fakes a smile and faces my brother who arrives next to us in a suit.
“Hate to break up the priceless photos between you two well-dressed kids, but I need to steal the groom. Mom and Dad want to have a family moment, and I figured we could have a cigar.”
“No problem. Rosi— is here.” She realizes her fumble. “I mean, the florist was dropping off more roses, and I need to check on that. Yep, flower check. I’m just going to do that.” Hailey awkwardly tries to save her blip.
“Sure thing, and Hailey…” my brother says to her.
“Yeah, Sheriff?”
“Thanks for marrying my brother… again. You’re good for him and put up with his irrational thoughts.”
He gives her a quick hug and my brows knit together, debating if he is joking or insulting me.
“Irrational they are. Must be a family trait.” She gawks her eyes at me as a warning until she turns her back and scurries away.
Carter throws a thumb over his shoulder in the direction of Hailey heading to the house. “She isn’t nervous, is she? Your dog is actually wearing that bow tie you got him, so no need to stress.” He must be sensing her nerves, and it sure as hell isn’t for our vow renewal or our badass dog.
“No.” I scratch the back of my neck, preparing myself for this firework to explode. “I guess word hasn’t gotten to you yet…”
“About what?”
“There is an extra guest. I only found out this morning. Mom and Dad took the liberty of adding someone to the guest list.”
Carter’s face firms and his nose raises an inch. “Humor me. Who might that be?” His tone is sharp.
“Kind of funny maybe.” Nothing I can say will save this.
He gives me a stern look and grows impatient. I remember this version of him when we were kids. “Oliver, say it or I swear I will issue you a parking ticket next time I see your car.”
I bite my fist before puffing out a breath. “It’s Rosie.”
My brother stills and he soaks in the news.
“As in…”
Eeeks. Why am I tasked with delivering the news? “Yep.”
His eyes draw a line when we hear an enthusiastic welcome from our mother by the patio where a few guests have arrived. Actually, it’s my mother throwing her arms around one particular guest. I can hear the growl my brother is controlling.
Carter’s jaw tightens, and his eyes dagger me. “Why is my ex-wife here?
NEXT
My ex-husband, the sheriff, pulled me over for speeding. Throwing up on him instead of getting a ticket wasn’t my proudest moment. Nor when he realizes the itsy-bitsy tiny detail that I’m pregnant due to our one night together at his brother’s wedding. It was for old times’ sake, right? Except Carter is still insistent that we do things his way.
That we fall in love again.
I refuse to reunite due only to our child. But Carter moves me into his home and is persistent on proving that we shouldn’t have given up on one another the first time around. And as we grow closer again, preparing to become parents, I slowly begin to realize that we might be better this time around. After all, now we might have everything I needed…
