Then Comes Marriage (32 page)

“Time to get dressed,” Lauren announces as soon as we’re in the hotel room. She’s my unofficial wedding planner and keeps us all on a tight schedule. My mom starts to cry happy tears, and even digs out baby pictures of me playing dress-up weddings with my friends and siblings.
 

Finding it hard to curb my own emotions, I sneak into the bathroom and pull out my phone to call Derek but end up putting the phone down, knowing I can’t hold my resolve.
 

Because I have a secret.

Though since we’re on the same wavelength, Derek calls me instead.
 

“Hey,” I whisper. Derek and I slept apart last night, in separate rooms and even on separate floors. Yeah, I know that living together kinda voids the whole wedding night union thing, but it’s fun so we’re doing it.
 

And you better believe my family is enforcing it hardcore.
 

“I miss you,” Derek whispers back. “The next time I see you, you’ll become my wife. Holy fuck I’m feeling very inferior right now thinking that you’re going to be stuck with me for the rest of you life. Are you sure you want to go through with this?” he jokes.

I laugh, covering my mouth with my hand. “More than anything.” I let out a deep breath. “I want to kiss you so bad right now.”
 

“I want to do more than that to you,” he groans. “Is it rude if we leave our own reception early?”

“For sex? Yeah, I think so. But we can sneak away and come back.”
 

“Do we have time before the ceremony?”
 

I laugh again. “I wish. So much. Derek I…I’m..I love you,” I say. “I gotta go before someone hears me and takes my phone away.”
 

“I love you too,” he says and we hang up. I pee, carefully wash my hands so I don’t mess up my nails or have water splash my face in a freak accident or something, then go back into the room to put on my wedding dress.
 

Standing in front of the full length mirror, looking at myself in the ivory gown. I look like a princess, and I feel like one too. And that matters more.
 

I’m about to marry my prince, the one person on this crazy planet who without a doubt is perfect for me. Tears fill my eyes and I look up, blinking like crazy so I don’t mess up my makeup.
 

There’s a good chance I’m going to cry when I see Derek as I walk down the isle. And an even bigger chance when I get to tell him my secret, one that I just found out about this morning.

He’s going to be a father again soon. Very soon.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Emily Goodwin is the bestselling author all things romance. Emily lives in Indiana with her husband, children, and many pets, including a German Shepherd named Vader. When she isn't writing, Emily can be found riding her horses, designing and making costumes, and sitting outside with a good book.

STALK ME

www.emilygoodwinbooks.com

www.facebook.com/emilygoodwinbooks

Instagram: authoremilygoodwin

Email:
[email protected]

Sign up for my mailing list
here
.