Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 95173 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95173 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
He looked at me. “I never thought it would happen,” he said, taking a long pull of his beer. “Who would be crazy enough to deal with her?” he asked the question that everyone has been asking for over a year. We came out to our friends and family and then finally had our picture taken at a red carpet event for his company, and that was online everywhere.
“Are you really staying in Greece for a month?” Karrie asks me and hands me a glass of wine. I look down at it and then look back at her again.
“We haven’t really decided,” I tell her and put the glass of wine down. “We are going to wing it. It might give me hives since I need a plan, but for now, we are going to Greece for the month. His mother and father are also coming, and eventually, his brother will pop up.”
“Look at you,” Karrie says. “The family girl.”
I shrug. “What can I say?” I don’t add in that I wouldn’t change it for anything. I don’t add that my life is so much more complete with him in it. Instead, I look around and spot Zara and Zoe huddled together in their chairs while Zoe bounces baby Zoey on her lap.
“Can you remember how small they were when Matthew and I met?” Karrie says of the twins, and I shake my head.
“What are you two chatting about?” Allison comes over with her glass of wine.
“How the twins have grown,” Karrie says, and I look back over at them.
“It really is crazy how they’ve settled down,” Allison says. “Except now they are teaching my kids all the shit they did.”
“How is that going?” I ask Allison who glares at me.
“I put salt in my coffee this morning.” She takes another sip of her wine. “Let me go and yell at them for that.” She walks over to the twins, and we just laugh.
“I brought you some water,” Mark says, coming to me and leaning down to kiss my neck.
“Thank you,” I tell him, and Karrie looks at me.
“But I got you wine,” she says, and then I look at Mark and then at Karrie, who is now looking at me with huge eyes. “Vivienne,” she says my name.
Mark hugs my shoulder, his hand rubbing my arm, and brings me close to him. “Well, that lasted what, an hour.”
“I didn’t even say anything,” I tell him and then turn to look at Karrie. “I didn’t say anything.”
“Oh my God,” Karrie says with tears in her eyes. She just looks at me, and I look at my best friend who would hold my hand through everything … well, almost anything. “Vivienne,” she says softly, coming over to me. “Are you …?”
“What is going on over here?” Matthew says, coming to us and seeing Karrie with tears in her eyes. “Oh my God, please don’t tell me that you’re pregnant again, Karrie. I swear, I don’t think …” he says, taking the baseball hat off his head and scratching his head. “I mean, if you are, I’m super happy.”
“Dude, shut up,” Karrie says to him. “I’m not pregnant.”
“Oh, thank fuck,” he says, putting the hat back on, and going to hug her, and she pushes him away. “So why are you crying then?” he asks.
I turn to Mark and then back to them, and I finally say, “I’m pregnant.” Two words I never thought I would ever say. “We’re pregnant. I keep forgetting I have half of you living inside my uterus.”
“Oh, dear God,” Matthew says at the same time Karrie takes me in her arms.
“I’m so, so happy for you,” she tells me and then looks at me. “You are glowing.”
“Oh, that’s because we had sex before we came here,” I tell her. “Not because of the baby.” Matthew now groans out. “Matthew, how do you think we got the baby in there?”
“There are things I don’t want to think of in my life, and this is one of those things,” Matthew says and then smacks Mark on the shoulder. “Never thought I would see this happen.”
“I helped,” I say, putting up my hand. “I probably did all the work, too.”
“Honey,” Mark says softly, shaking his head. “I love you. Let’s go get you something to eat.”
I nod at him and look around and see eyes on us, and I have no idea what is going on. But then I spot Mark’s family, and I look over at him and then everything finally clicks into place. The tent, the balloons, all the flowers—this isn’t just a family barbecue. I turn and see Mark, but now he isn’t beside me, he’s on his knee.
“Vivienne Paradis, you came into my world, and you made it complete. I want to hold your hand for the rest of my life. Until we are old and gray and can’t remember anything except that we love each other,” he says, and the tears just pour down my face. “I want to wipe your tears. I want to hold you up when you can’t do it yourself. I want to be the man you deserve now and forever.” My hand goes to my mouth to stop the sob coming and my hands shake, my knees get weak. “Would you make me the happiest man in the world and spend the rest of your life with me?” he says and then laughs. “I mean, you make me happy every day, but if you say yes, it will be extra special.”