Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 130673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 653(@200wpm)___ 523(@250wpm)___ 436(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 653(@200wpm)___ 523(@250wpm)___ 436(@300wpm)
“It’s probably Row.” Cal whirled and made her way to the door. She flung it open and then immediately slammed it in the person’s face. “Blasphemy!” she cried out.
“What’s happening?” My heart gave a dangerous leap.
Was it Tucker? Was he back? I knew logically he couldn’t be. Unless he escaped from prison, which would result in even more prison time. I knew my ex was a dumbass, but I suspected even he had his limits.
“It’s Rhyland.” Cal clutched her necklace.
“I want to speak to my bride,” I heard my fiancé say from the other side of the door and couldn’t contain my grin. I knew why he was here—he was worried I’d get cold feet.
I also knew it was one hundred percent not going to fly with my mother.
As expected, a string of unholy Italian curses left Mama’s mouth, punctuated by a clutch of her chest and her galloping toward the door. “You’re not getting inside, Rhyland! How dare you think you can see the bride before the wedding? It’s bad luck.”
“Don’t need luck. Got love.”
Mama flashed her daughter-in-law a “can you believe this prick?” glare. I doubled over laughing.
“Whatever you have, it is not common sense. You are not seeing my daughter before she walks down the aisle, and that is that.” My mother stomped.
“Rhy,” I called out. “I’m okay—really. You don’t have to check on me.”
“I still need to speak to you.” He sounded serious.
I looked between Cal, Mom, and Grav. “Give us a second.”
“You cannot be serious!” my mother cried out. “Dylan, it’s tradition that he doesn’t see you.”
“I know what she looks like,” Rhyland pointed out from behind the door.
“Not in her wedding dress,” my mother countered.
“To be honest, that’s not a bad thing, considering the dress.” I laughed.
“I actually have seen the wedding dress,” Rhyland confessed. “Dyl showed me an article about it. It won an award for ugliest wedding dress of the century. Impressive.”
Rhyland stepped inside, filling the small space with his presence. He looked like the best gift I could have been given.
He wore a flawless black tux and a bow tie. His hair had grown back almost fully and was now slicked back in a small bun. My heart swelled at the sight of him.
Mama sighed with exasperation. Cal hoisted Grav into her arms.
“Wait—no.” Rhyland stopped Cal. He had one hand behind his back and an unholy cocky smirk on his face. “Little stinker?”
“Yes, Daddy?” she squeaked.
My heart melted. Daddy. Gravity finally had one. And it was the best one she could ever have hoped for.
“I got you a little wedding gift.” He kissed her forehead. “Close your eyes.”
“Okay!”
“No peeking,” he warned.
She squeezed her eyes hard, and Rhyland moved his hand from his back, unveiling an identical replica of Mr. Mushroom.
He’d brought back the dick. I couldn’t help it. I fell over myself laughing.
“Oh no, not again,” my mother moaned.
“Again,” Rhyland confirmed. “Open your eyes, sweetie.”
When Gravity saw her new stuffie, she completely lost it. Grabbed it and pressed it to her chest, running in circles in her cowboy boots. Like Mama, I wasn’t exactly thrilled that my daughter would resume her attachment to a fluffy pink penis, but I wasn’t exactly in a position to judge. Rhyland’s penis had saved my life.
Mama, Cal, and Grav filed out of the room afterward, giving us a chance to talk—not before my mother cautioned she’d be outside listening in case there were any shenanigans.
Rhyland grinned, capturing my hands and bringing them to his lips.
“Hi,” he said.
“Hello.”
“I hope I didn’t interrupt.”
I shook my head, still smiling like a fool. “No, but I have to leave in about twenty minutes. I’m getting married.”
“Lucky guy.”
“What did you want?”
“To ensure I still have a bride, mostly.” He gave me a sheepish smirk.
I loved how careful he was with me, how considerate. He hadn’t let my bravado fool him into thinking I was braver than I was. We’d both sworn we’d never love, never marry. This was huge for both of us.
“You still have a bride,” I confirmed, reaching up on my toes to kiss his lips. “Do I still have a groom?”
“That was never in question.” He shook his head, his expression turning serious. “I have a confession to make.”
“If you cheated on me, I am going to murder you,” I said in a frighteningly even tone.
“I said I have a confession, not a death wish.”
“Carry on.” I nodded.
“I call you Cosmos, but not because of the sky.” Rhy brushed his knuckles along my cheekbones, tucking a stray lock back in place. “I call you that because of the flower. It is beautiful and resilient, a fighter for its species. It braves all weather and often reseeds itself without help. I call you Cosmos because you’re everything this seemingly gentle flower is—adaptable and tough while being graceful and mesmerizing at the same time. You are living proof anyone can blossom if they choose to, shitty circumstances be damned.”