Total pages in book: 186
Estimated words: 178688 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 893(@200wpm)___ 715(@250wpm)___ 596(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 178688 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 893(@200wpm)___ 715(@250wpm)___ 596(@300wpm)
“With lots of pumpkin spice,” Gemma adds.
“Of course.” I smirk, then kiss the top of her nose. “Anything for you.”
We end the night tangled in the sheets, proving my quickie skills have been moved up to the expert level—three orgasms in five minutes.
The next morning, I wake up before Gemma and sneak into the kitchen to start the coffee. I’m surprised when I see Liam sitting there with a cup already.
“Hey, morning,” I say quietly. “Up early?”
“Yeah, thought I’d hit the gym before the kids get up.”
“Wow. Good for you, man.” I open the cabinet, grab a mug, then fill it full.
“You still thinking you’d like to buy the gym in your town?”
“We’ve talked about it, but not right now. Gemma wants to wait until Jerry retires so we can focus on it together. It’d need a complete remodel and new equipment. She wants to add tanning beds.” I snort. “So perhaps in a year or two.”
“That’s great, Tyler. I couldn’t be happier for you.” He grins. “But I do miss you.”
“I miss you guys too.”
“I still can’t believe Mickey found Victoria in Lawton Ridge, and they’re all dead. Blows my goddamn mind, but then again, it doesn’t. He was crazy as fuck and overly jealous. He nearly killed me, and I wasn’t even into her like that.” Liam sips his coffee and shudders. “Glad it’s all in the past.”
“Me too,” I admit. It still feels surreal. “So glad.”
After an incredible week at Liam and Maddie’s, Gemma and I have to return to Lawton Ridge. Maddie cries as we hug goodbye, and she exchanges phone numbers with Gemma. I love that they became friends and grew close this week, but I have a feeling Maddie will be in my business even more now. I’ll get texts full of wedding ideas for the next eleven months.
“I love your friends,” Gemma says as we’re on the plane. “I wish we were closer.”
“You say that now,” I tease. “No, they’re great. I’m glad you and Mads hit it off.”
“So I have to ask something, but you can’t get mad.”
I arch a brow. This can’t be good. “Okay?”
“Did you and Maddie ever…” She lets the word linger, and I wait. “Hook up?”
I nearly choke on air as I look at her in shock. “You think I’d still be alive if I touched Liam’s woman?”
That causes her to smile, and she shrugs. “Well, didn’t you say you two were in a cabin in the woods or something? That sounds kinda romantic.”
“Trust me, it wasn’t. Victoria was watching our every move. I had to cut the power just to get us out of there, and since she had backup generators, it gave us only a few minutes before they came on. We barely escaped. Maddie and I have only always been friends,” I reassure her.
“Okay. Just had to ask.”
“She’s really friendly, that’s all. Maddie’s easy to love and knows how to get you to spill your guts even when you don’t want to,” I recall, remembering all the times she got me to admit shit.
“I believe you, babe. Liam seems very protective of her, so I’m sure if you two had done anything, he would’ve broken your neck.”
“Well, he would’ve tried at least.” I chuckle, then grab her hand and press a kiss to her knuckles. “I’d do the same if another man tried to touch you, just so you know.”
“You have nothing to worry about. You’re all I want.”
I lean down until our lips crash. “And you’re all I’ll ever need.”
EPILOGUE
GEMMA
FOURTEEN MONTHS LATER
Dear Gemma,
You’re too young to be worrying about your wedding day, but I will say the way you described it sounds perfectly you. Something simple, but elegant. To answer your question, I’ve never thought about getting married. Considering my mom and dad divorced and didn’t even want to be parents, I never had that desire, but never say never. Maybe if I meet the right woman, I’ll get down on one knee and propose, confessing my love…
* * *
Tyler wrote me that letter after I told him about how Everleigh, Katie, and I binge-watched Say Yes to the Dress all weekend long. The girls and I started talking about what dresses we’d wear and what theme we wanted. The next day, I wrote Tyler a detailed letter explaining my dream wedding.
As I look at our vow renewal photos from three months ago, I notice all the similarities that I told him when I was only sixteen years old. A part of me wonders if he remembers what I told him. Next to the one of Tyler and me kissing at the altar is a framed picture of our eight-week ultrasound from two weeks ago.
Sharing the news with Tyler over Christmas that I was pregnant was one of the most exciting and emotional days of my life. We’d only had our one-year wedding anniversary a month before that. We talked about starting a family soon, and it happened quicker than either of us anticipated, but we’re both over the moon about it. I have no doubt he’s going to be the best father because he’s already the most amazing husband.