Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 78416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
And as I kiss him back, all I can think is how fitting this is.
Our relationship started with him pushing his way into my life, so it’s only right that our future would start the same way.
Epilogue
Maxim
Six months later
WITH DETERMINATION IN my step, I head down the long, tiled hallway and past the two receptionists who watch me as I go. When I reach the end of the hall, I push through a set of double doors, and all heads turn my way.
“Maxim,” July rushes toward me with her hands out, and I shake my head and take hold of her wrist before she can try to hold me back.
“I need to see her.”
“You can’t go in there,” she whispers, then I see April’s other sisters get close with matching worried looks on all their faces.
“It’s bad luck,” my sister tells me, stepping up to my side and resting her hand on my shoulder.
“I don’t care.” I hold her gaze for a moment, then watch her sigh.
“Come on, July. We’re not going to be able to stop him.”
“But—” July starts, and Melanie shakes her head, pulling her away as she sputters in disbelief.
Without a backward glance, I head through another set of closed doors, and as soon as I step into the room, my mom and November, who are both standing near April, turn my way.
“We’ll wait outside,” Mom tells her, and April nods, then gives her mom a hug, and a moment later, I hear the door close behind me.
My heart lodges in my throat as I stare at her across the distance between us.
“You’re not supposed to be here,” she whispers, the worry in her tone setting my teeth on edge. The idea that she doesn’t want to marry me, doesn’t want to spend the rest of her life with me, is enough to send me over the edge. My whole life, I’ve been waiting for this moment without even knowing it, and finally it’s here right within my grasp.
“You we’re supposed to meet me down on the beach twenty minutes ago.” I take a step toward her, and she takes a step back. “I’m not letting you out of this.” I take another step, lessening the distance between us. “You said you would marry me, and I’m holding you to that promise.”
“I’m pregnant.”
My entire world stops on those two words, and every cell in my body becomes hyperaware of her—every move, every breath she takes.
“I thought I might be, but I found out for sure just a little bit ago.” She glances down at her hands in front of her that seem to be shaking. “I know this isn’t want we wanted. I know that you wanted—”
“You,” I cut her off before she can say more. “All I want and ever wanted is you and the life we build together.” I take the last few steps, closing the final few feet keeping us apart.
“We had a plan.” I hear the tears in her voice as I pull her against me, and her arms wrap around my waist.
“Now we’ll make a new plan.” I lean back just enough to see her face and swipe the tears from under her eyes with my thumb, then let my hand drop to rest against her flat stomach. “I knew I loved you long before the words were ever spoken, knew you were my future before I put a ring on your finger, so it seems only right that a life we didn’t know we created took root before we planned for it.” I dip my head to press a kiss to her soft lips. “The most amazing things to happen in my life have been unplanned, so this is happening right when it’s meant to.”
“You’re going to make me ruin my mascara if it isn’t already.” Her bottom lip trembles, and I shake my head.
“You look perfect,” I assure her, then press my forehead against hers. “Now, will you come downstairs and fucking marry me already?”
“Yes.” She laughs, resting her palms against my chest. “And I was coming. I just got sick, so I had to have your mom and mine help me fix my hair and makeup.” She shakes her head. “Did you really think I left you standing at the altar?”
“When you didn’t show up, I wasn’t sure what to think, but I knew if you were getting cold feet, I wasn’t giving you the chance to run off. ” I palm her cheek and smooth my thumb over her bottom lip. “We’re having a baby?”
“Apparently.” She drags in a deep breath, then looks down at her stomach, covering it with her hand. “It doesn’t seem real.”
“I love you.”
“I know.”
“No more tears until after we say I do.” I touch my mouth to hers, then take a step back. “I’ll see you on the beach.”