Love Connection (A Feel Good Romantic Comedy)

by Camilla Isley

  My corset’s too tight. I can’t breathe. Oh gosh, I’m going to pass out. I can’t breathe. I need to get out of this dress; I need out. Out, I need out.

  “If there is anyone in attendance who has cause to believe that this couple should not be joined in marriage, you may speak now or forever hold your peace…”

  “STOP,” I yell at the top of my lungs, surprising even myself. “I can’t do this,” I whisper. Aw, it feels good to say it aloud. “I’m sorry, I can’t.”

  The minister stares at me in shock and there’s a collective intake of breath from the guests. I look at Richard, petrified. I can already see the sad drop of his brows and read the resigned pain in those beautiful eyes. I can’t stand that I’m the one who’s doing this to him, so I look away. The door, I need to get to the main door. I want to run away and never stop running. I gather my skirts in my hands ready to make a run for it, turn toward the chapel’s front door, and my heart positively stops as I spot Jake standing in the middle of the aisle, looking at me as if seeing me for the first time.

  Just like that, the rest of the world disappears, and it’s just the two of us, staring at each other. I take in all the details of the face I know so well. I see the boy who stole my heart so many years ago standing before me. My first love, my first everything. The only man I ever truly loved. And I do know him, and he does know me. It doesn’t matter how much time has passed, I can read it in his eyes. In a moment, everything changes. My heart swells in my chest, suddenly too big, too full of love to be contained. I look Jake in the eyes and a million unspoken words fly between us, the whispers of our past and the promises of a future together.

  Jake’s lips curl up in an uncertain smile, hopeful maybe, before he says, “You sort of stole my opening line there.”

  Something half way between a sob and a chuckle escapes my lips. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Richard moving a step backward. I dare to look at him again and find his features set, resigned.

  “Is this the bloke you told me about the first night we met?” he asks.

  “Yes, Richard. I-I’m so, so truly very sorry…”

  “It’s not your fault. I knew you weren’t ready to marry me. I could tell from the moment I asked.” His shoulders sag. “I just hoped that if I made it perfect for you, you’d eventually want it as much I do. But you don’t. You never have.”

  “Oh, Richard.” I hug him tight. “One day you’ll make one girl really lucky,” I whisper in his ear. “I’m just not that girl.”

  “I know. I’ve known for a long time. Go, be happy,” he whispers back.

  I let him go, gather up my skirts again, and sprint down the aisle toward Jake. I take his outstretched hand and together we run out of the chapel into the sunset.

  ***

  Outside, Jake stops behind me and pulls me backward. “If I have to wait another second to do this…” He cups my face and leans his forehead against mine. “I’ve missed you so much, I love you so much.” He presses his lips to mine in a passionate kiss before I can say anything. My knees buckle underneath me and I grip his arms to stay upright. If one could die of happiness, I’d be heading to heaven.

  Jake pulls back. “When I found out you were getting married, I got so scared. I told myself I’d leave you alone, that I wouldn’t come here today, and before I knew it, I was in the car driving here.”

  “Jake, I know. I wanted to crash your wedding when I found out, but I couldn’t. I-I love you. I love you. I love you.” He kisses me again.

  “You really wanted to crash my wedding? How? What happened?”

  “Later,” I tell him, looking over his shoulders at the chapel door as the first stunned guests flood out. “Let’s get the car and get the hell out of here, now.”

  He takes my hand again and drags me forward to his car. We’re almost there when someone screams my name. I turn around and see Amelia running toward us holding her long skirt in one hand and dragging my honeymoon suitcase behind with the other. She catches up with us in the parking lot and throws her arms around my neck.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,” she whispers in my ear. “I was wrong.”

  “It doesn’t matter, it’s all good now.” I beam at her.

  “I can see that.” She smiles back at me then at Jake. “You stole the bride.”

  He gives her his best mischievous grin.

  “Make her happy,” Amelia says.

  “Will do.” Jake nods. “I’ll get the car,” he says. “Give you girls a minute.”

  Amelia seems about to cry. She hands me the suitcase and takes from her shoulder my purse with my phone, wallet, and passport inside. “After being a runaway bride myself, I thought you might need these.”

  “Thanks. Tell my parents I’ll call them soon. And please say sorry to everyone.”

  “You don’t worry about a thing, I’ll take care of everything here. Now go and be happy.”

  Jake backs the car next to us and I climb in the front seat, waving goodbye one last time as we screech out of the yard, sending gravel flying behind us.

  “Any idea where we’re going?” I ask.

  Jake looks at me then back at the road. “There’s a flight leaving for Hawaii in two hours. If we hurry, we can catch it.”

  “Are you sure you didn’t plan this?”

  He gives me that wicked, lopsided grin I love so much and winks at me.

  I take Jake’s hand and look at the road ahead, unable to wipe a huge smile off my face. “Woo-hoo. Hawaii, here we come.”

  Thirty-three

  Two Become One

  ♥♥♥

  Sunday, September 2—Honolulu

  After the beach ceremony, we party all of Saturday night and leave for our honeymoon in Hawaii early on Sunday Morning. We arrive in Honolulu in the evening, the day after the wedding. At the arrivals gate, a guy’s waiting for us with a piece of paper saying, Mr. and Mrs. Wilder. The writing sends a thrill down my spine.

  Our hotel is in Kapalua Bay and the drive there takes a little less than an hour. Most of the road runs along the coast; we pass several beautiful beaches, and in more than one, wedding ceremonies are taking place in the sunset.

  “Do many people come to Hawaii to get married?” I ask the driver.

  “Yes, many. One of the easiest places to tie the knot, as easy as in Vegas. You just need to take your license and find a minister.”

  Cool.

  At the hotel, Jake takes care of the check in while I stare at the ocean from the hotel’s lobby. Its waves seem to pull at me, the wind to whisper in my ears as if this moment is somehow a significant one.

  We follow a clerk who shows us to our room, the honeymoon suite. While the clerk shows Jake the perks of the room to earn his tip, I feel the pull of the ocean again. I spring the French doors open and walk outside onto the patio. A gentle ocean breeze caresses my skin. I look up at the stars and they seem to wink back at me as if they know something I don’t; as if my destiny is written in their constellations. My husband comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist.

  “Beautiful, aren’t they?” he asks, looking up with me.

  “You think we were destined to be together?”

  “I don’t know if it was destiny, fate, sheer luck or whatever. I’m just glad we found each other once and then again.”

  “It was destiny. I believe that if things had gone any other way, we’d still be here, under these same stars, married, happy.”

  Feeling as one with the universe, I kiss Jake. He lifts me up, never breaking the kiss, and walks me back inside the room, wedding night style. I rest my head on the nook between Jake’s shoulders and neck, breathing in his scent. My heart’s pulsing with life—a new life I’m going to live with Jake by my side.

  ♦♦♦

  Sunday, September 2—Honolulu

  A thirty-hour flight, a visit to the Honolulu Marriage License Office, and a $95 Beach Wedding booking later, Jake and I are sta
nding on a beautiful beach in Maui at sundown, holding hands before a minister. Jake proposed to me in the middle of Heathrow Airport, and on the journey to Hawaii, we talked and talked and talked about everything that has happened to us over the years. We had so many things to say, but it still felt as if we’d only said bye to each other the day before.

  “Gemma and Jake,” the minister says, bringing me back to present.

  I stare into Jake’s eyes.

  “Congratulations to both of you today,” the minister continues. “You should enjoy this special moment in your lives. Today’s an exceptional day. Today your memories and hopes merge together. Today they become one. Today the word marriage has a special meaning. It means the end of the search for that special love. Today it brings fulfillment, it brings completion into your lives… Now to the proceedings. Jake, do you today, sir, take Gemma to become your lawfully wedded wife?”

  Jake squeezes my hands. “I do.”

  “And do you today, Gemma, take Jake to become your lawfully wedded husband?”

  I squeeze back. “I do.”

  “Would you please repeat these words after me: to love and to cherish…”

  “To love and to cherish…” we echo.

  “To have and to hold…”

  “To have and to hold…”

  “To honor and respect…”

  “To honor and respect…”

  “From this day forward.”

  “From this day forward.”

  “Now the rings exchange.”

  Jake takes out of his jacket pocket two wedding bands we bought at a cheap jewelry shop at the airport.

  “You are about to present rings to one another,” the minister goes on. “As you can see, rings are round. This circle will remind you that your love shall always be with no end. As you walk together through life, protect your love, always speak from your heart, and listen closely to one another. Cherish every moment you’re given together. And you’ll strive together with your love for each other. Now, on to the final words. Please repeat after me: with this ring I marry you…”

  “With this ring, I marry you…”

  We both put a band on the other’s finger.

  “I join my life to yours…”

  “I join my life to yours…”

  “All that I am, all that I have…”

  “All that I am, all that I have…”

  “All of my love, I gift to you.”

  “All of my love, I gift to you.”

  “And now, for the power invested in me by the state of Hawaii, it’s my privilege to pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

  ***

  We end up staying in a hotel in Kapalua Bay. The minister suggested this part of the island, and we were lucky enough to find a hotel without an advance booking. Jake takes care of the check in while I stare at the ocean from the hotel’s lobby. Its waves seem to pull at me, the wind to whisper in my ears as if this moment was somehow a significant one.

  We follow a clerk who shows us to our room, they gave us the honeymoon suite. While the clerk shows Jake the perks of the room to earn his tip, I feel the pull of the ocean again. I spring the French doors open and walk outside on the patio. A gentle ocean breeze caresses my skin. I look up at the stars and they seem to wink back at me as if they know something I don’t; as if my destiny is written in their constellations. My husband comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist.

  “Beautiful aren’t they?” he asks looking up with me.

  “You think we were destined to be together?”

  “I don’t know if it was destiny, fate, sheer luck or whatever. I’m just glad we found each other once and then again.”

  “It was destiny. I believe that if things had gone any other way, we’d still be here, under these same stars, married, happy.”

  Feeling as one with the universe, I kiss Jake. He lifts me up, never breaking the kiss, and walks me back inside the room, wedding night style. I rest my head on the nook between Jake’s shoulders and neck, breathing in his scent. My heart’s pulsing with life—a new life I’m going to live with Jake by my side.

  ♥♦♥♦♥♦♥

  Two weeks later, the last day of our honeymoon, Jake wakes me by nuzzling my neck.

  “How’s my beautiful bride?”

  I want to say, “Wonderful,” or “Crazily happy,” but the truth is I’m feeling groggy at best.

  “I’m sleepy. Do we have to start packing already?”

  “What’s wrong?” Jake’s immediately up and alert. He turns on the lights and checks my temperature, placing the back of his hand on my forehead. “You’re pale.”

  “Nothing’s wrong. I’m just a bit queasy. Maybe the Lao-Lao from last night was a bit heavy.”

  “Are you sure?”

  I’m about to say yes when I gag. And before I know it, I’m running for the toilet.

  Jake’s at my side in a matter of seconds and he holds my hair back as I puke. Not the most romantic ending to our blissful honeymoon, but a good insight into that ‘in sickness and health’ promise.

  When there’s nothing left in my stomach, I wash my mouth in the sink and sit on the closed toilet to recover.

  Jake hands me a damp towel to place on my forehead. “Better?” he asks.

  “I just wish I didn’t have to fly thirty hours with food poisoning. But I’m fine.”

  From under my towel, I can see Jake’s gone doctor on me. He grabs my wrist and stares at his watch.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Taking your pulse.”

  “Why?”

  “It’s a good indication of body temperature.”

  “I don’t have a fever.”

  “You feel lightheaded?”

  “Slightly.”

  “Does your back ache?”

  “A little.”

  “Are your nipples more sensitive than usual?”

  “Are you being dirty with me right now?” I attempt to make a joke, but he gives me a serious scold. “They are, a little. I should get my period soon. It’s normal.”

  “When was your last period?”

  “I have the date on my phone.”

  He retrieves it from my bedside table and I check the notes. “August 17.”

  Jake gives me a dreamy smile.

  “What?”

  “Are you still regular?”

  “Yeah, like a clock. Why?”

  “You’re two days late.” His smile widens.

  Both anxiety and excitement grip me. “You think I’m… you mean…” My dizziness worsens. “Are you sure?” A honeymoon baby, it’d be too good to be true—nausea aside.

  “You’ll have to take a test. I’ll run to the resort’s pharmacy and see if they have one.”

  He literally runs out of the room. When he comes back, he’s sweaty and a little out of breath. “Here.” He hands me the test and gives me some privacy.

  We wait for the result on the bed. I’m nestling in between his legs and lying back against his chest, the little plastic stick in my hands. Almost immediately, a vertical line makes its appearance across the horizontal one.

  “It’s positive!” The strongest, weirdest feeling of joy wraps around me as I lean back to look at my husband. “We’re going home as a trio.”

  Jake’s whole face lights up now. “You know what they say? First comes love, then comes marriage and then…”

  I don’t let him finish as I pull his face down in a kiss. Our first as parents…

  Note from the Author

  Dear Reader,

  Hello! If this is the first of my books you’ve read, welcome as well. And if you’ve read my books before, thank you from the bottom of my heart for coming back. It’s so good to see you again. I hope you enjoyed Love Connection and I’m excited to announce the second book in the series, I Have Never, is ready. The new story will follow Richard’s adventures after Gemma leaves him at t
he altar. He was too gorgeous a character to abandon like that. Also another favorite character will make a guest appearance. Keep turning the pages for an excerpt.

  Now I’ve to ask you a huge favor. Whether you loved or hated Love Connection please consider leaving a review on the retailer website where you purchased the ebook and/or Goodreads. Reviews are the biggest gift you can give to an author, and word of mouth is the most powerful means of book discovery.

  If you’re craving some more romance, you can join my Readers’ Group and grab a free novel by tapping here.

  Thank you for your support!

  Love,

  Camilla

  Excerpt from I Have Never

  One

  Never Make a Scene

  The day it all goes wrong starts as a more or less ordinary one. My fit watch startles me awake at dawn and, forty minutes later, notifies me I’ve run five miles through Central Park. A perfect six-minute-per-mile time.

  Back at Gerard’s apartment, he’s still asleep. I peel off my sweaty clothes, take a quick shower, and wake Sleeping Boyfriend with a kiss and the aroma of French-pressed mocha.

  “Morning, sleepy head,” I say affectionately.

  “What time is it?” he asks, still groggy.

  “Six-thirty, time to go.”

  Gerard groans and shuffles out of bed. We eat breakfast in the kitchen listening to the morning news. Me wearing a towel, him in boxer shorts.

  Fifteen minutes later, I brush crumbs off my lips and get up. “I’d better get going, big day ahead!”

  “Oh, right. The announcement for the new junior editor is today.”

  “Yes, this morning.”

  “Nervous?”

  “Positive,” I say, showing more confidence than I feel.

  “Listen, babe,” Gerard says, jaw twitching. A sign he’s worried. “Why don’t we go out tonight to… mmm… celebrate?” He’s being awkward. Why is he so tense? “I want to talk to you about something important.”

  Something important? Is Gerard finally going to propose? After three years together, it’s about time.