"Well, what do you think?" Adeline asks me shyly, twirling around in the beautiful gown.
"Oh, my god, Addy, you look freaking gorgeous!" I blurt out.
Her green eyes meet mine as she raises a brow. "You really think so?"
I give her a vigorous nod. It amazes me how a beautiful girl like her can have self-esteem problems, but I guess we all have faults and flaws.
Over the past couple of years, I've lived on the island with Jax, Lucien, Adeline and little Alexander. Adeline and I have become close, like sisters. I never thought I would be able to feel that bond again, but she filled the void that Senga left, overflowing it with love and understanding.
Adeline stands in front of a full-length mirror, smoothing her hands down over the delicate lace covering her waist. "What do you think Lucien will say?"
"Oh, he probably won't be able to say a damn word. His jaw will be lying on the floor, and Jax will probably have to help him pick it up."
She chuckles and blushes at my compliment. Then, she sinks her teeth into her bottom lip and asks me, "You can't tell, can you?" as she turns to the side, revealing a slight baby bump accentuated by the tight dress.
Adeline confessed to me early this morning that she just took a test and found out she's newly pregnant. She's waiting to surprise Lucien during the ceremony, and I can't wait to see the look on his face. Alexander is a normal toddler — a blessing and a handful.
Given Lucien's quirks, he's had a hard time adjusting to parenthood, but he's gone above and beyond what anyone expected. A new baby means more work, more poopy diapers, more vomit and less sleep…for all of us.
But if Lucien could handle one baby, then he can handle two.
"I don't think anyone will be able to tell," I say. Then I tell her confidently, "And Lucien is going to be so happy."
"You really think so?" she asks worriedly.
She worries too damn much. I tell her that all the time, but of course that only makes her worry about worrying. "I know so," I tell her with a smile. "Now, let's get you ready. If you're even a minute late walking out there, you'll give Lucien a heart attack."
She smiles the biggest and most beautiful damn smile I've ever seen in my life, and I can already feel the tears building up behind my eyes. It's going to be a great day full of love…and lots of tears.
* * * * * * *
JACKSON
I'M STANDING NEXT to Lucien on the beach, waiting. And even though he's the one getting married, I can feel the nervousness building up inside of me. I have something special planned for today, and to say I'm freaking out would be the understatement of the year.
"Relax," Lucien says from beside me.
My head whips around to look at him with wide eyes. Lucien is telling me to relax? Fuck, that's rich. Over the past few years, Adeline has made him into a changed man. He's not the neurotic bastard I once knew. Now he's kind and…I can't believe I'm saying this…sweet.
His impulses are always there, but mostly at the bare minimum instead of raging out of control…even though he can still drive me crazy with his facts about how much bacteria is on any given surface in a room or how far little germ-filled water droplets can travel when someone coughs…
"I am relaxed. You're the one getting married," I remind Lucien. "Or did you forget?"
He chuckles and flashes me a smirk. "There's no way I could forget a day like today." He straightens the cuff of his black suit jacket. We're both dressed similar in three-piece suits, except I'm wearing a navy blue tie compared to his ivory one, looking like a million bucks.
Lucien hired a string quartet and a minister to perform the ceremony today on the island. The music is playing softly in the background, and the whole setting is like in one of those rom-com movies that the girls watch together way too often.
I smile when I think of how Adeline and Katya's relationship has grown and flourished. They are the best of friends, and so it was no surprise when Adeline asked Katya to be her maid of honor for her special day.
They've been wedding planning for months, picking out flowers and colors and all that girly shit. Lucien and I just basically sat back and watched as they planned it all, throwing in our own input when needed, which was very seldom.
There are several white chairs decorated with ribbon and flowers sitting on either side of a white, satin aisle runner. Maria is seated in one of the chairs, already bawling her eyes out into a lace handkerchief as she whispers words of encouragement in Spanish.
She's been like a mother to both Lucien and me ever since he bought this island, and so it's only fitting that she's sitting in the exact place where our mothers should be.
It makes me sad that my dad couldn't be here today, but I know he's looking down on this day with a big smile on his face. He would love the fact that both Lucien and I worked through our issues and are finally settling down in life with women that we love.
I clasp my hand over Lucien's shoulder, and he beams at me. He's so damn happy, and I couldn't be happier for him.
Then, the music changes up from the string quartet, and I stand stock-still, my nerves racketing up a notch. I watch in complete awe as Katya and little Alexander walk hand-in-hand down the aisle together. He's wearing an identical three-piece suit to his dad's — in a much, much smaller size, of course — and holding the ring bearer's pillow with two fake rings tied to a ribbon. And when he whips the pillow in front of him and it bounces down the aisle runner, I realize why the girls insisted I hold onto the real rings in my pocket.
Alexander giggles at what he did, and Katya smiles down at him, chuckling softly.
She's dressed in a navy blue color that accentuates her blue eyes and draws me instantly to her. Fuck, she's beautiful.
And her walking down the aisle towards me only solidifies my need to make her mine someday.
Alexander runs up to his daddy, and Lucien gathers him in his arms. "Good job, buddy," he tells him, holding him tight.
Katya continues her way down the aisle, her eyes locking onto mine. She gets a crooked, mischievous grin on her face that makes me want to take her right there in the middle of the aisle in front of everybody. I give her a wink, and her smile widens. She blushes innocently, even though she's anything but, and looks away as she goes to stand on the other side of the minister.
The song once again changes, and everyone in attendance stands.
"Look, here comes Mommy," Lucien whispers to Alexander.
Everyone's eyes are locked on Adeline as she practically floats towards us. She's a vision in ivory, and she's one of the most beautiful creatures I have ever laid eyes on. She literally takes everyone's breath away.
But I know now that the love I feel for Adeline is not the same kind of love I feel for Katya. I love Adeline and Lucien like my own flesh and blood. I would die for them. Even kill for them.
But my feelings towards Katya are on a whole other level.
"Mommy's pretty," Alexander says in awe as Adeline continues down the aisle.
Maria's mopping up her tears as she watches the girl, who has become like a daughter to her, walk past her.
Adeline stops to give Maria a big hug, and it seems to calm the older woman's waterworks.
"Eres bella," Maria tells her before Adeline pulls away to walk the small distance to her future husband.
Lucien stands there staring at her with an indecipherable look on his face. I think he's fucking speechless…or maybe having a stroke. I can't even tell at this point.
I clear my throat loudly, and that seems to snap him out of his trance.
"You look gorgeous," he tells Adeline, and she blushes at his comment.
"You look pretty handsome yourself," she replies with a big grin.
Alexander squirms in Lucien's arms, and he sets him down. The kid runs over to me, and I bend down to pick him up. "Let's watch your Mommy and Daddy get married," I tell the little guy, and he gives me an emphatic nod.
The minister begins the ceremony, and my gaze keeps lin
gering over to Katya. She seems entranced by the whole thing, but I'm completely beguiled by her. I can imagine the two of us standing up here someday. Maybe someday real soon actually.
I love that girl with all of my being.
And when she glances my way and a big smile forms on her perfect lips, I know today will mark more than just the day my cousin and his wife got hitched. I'm going to propose to Katya sometime later and hope and pray that she says yes.
"And now the bride and groom have prepared their own vows," the minister announces.
I hand over the rings to Lucien. Then, I give Alexander a light squeeze, and he rests his head on my shoulder. It's been a busy and hectic morning, so the kid's probably ready to crash soon.
Lucien places a ring over Adeline's finger as he gazes into her eyes and tells her, "We met under completely abnormal circumstances. You were never mine to keep. But I knew, without a doubt, that I could never let you go. And you've made me so incredibly happy over the past few years — happier than I could have ever imagined. You gave me our son, a gift that just keeps on giving." Adeline smiles at him through tears forming in her eyes, and Lucien reassuringly squeezes her hands in his. "Waking up next to you each day is a blessing when I thought for sure that I was cursed for eternity. You brought me back to life, taught me how to appreciate the little things and that sometimes it's okay to not always be in control of everything." He brings her hand up to his mouth and plants a kiss on her skin. "Adeline, I just can't imagine my world without you in it. I'm so glad you let me love you, because it's my favorite thing to do. You make me a better man every day just by being you, Adeline. I love you with all of my heart, my soul, everything I have inside of me. You own me completely."
"Oh, Luc," Adeline cries. "How am I supposed to top those amazing vows?" she jokes, and everyone laughs.
"Just try," Lucien encourages.
"Okay," she responds, sliding the thick titanium band over his left ring finger. "Before I met you, I was walking aimlessly towards nowhere. You plucked me out of that life and gave me a new one. Yes, it wasn't easy as first," she says with a chuckle, "but we figured things out. And now I can't imagine not being by your side." She takes Lucien's hands in hers and squeezes them lightly. "I love you more than anything. And I'm glad you mentioned about Xander being a gift that keeps on giving, because…" Her voice trails off as she places Lucien's hand over her belly, which I didn't take notice to before that moment. "We have another gift on its way."
"You're pregnant?" Lucien asks with wide eyes.
Adeline nods before blurting out, "Yes!"
Lucien gathers her into his arms. "Oh, that definitely topped my vows," he says with a chuckle.
"I'm never one to be outdone," she quips before giving him a kiss.
When he sets her down, the minister continues on with his spiel before announcing them husband and wife. "You may kiss the bride…again," he announces.
Lucien grabs Adeline and bends her over to plant a big kiss on her lips while everyone whoops and hollers around them. Alexander claps his tiny hands and flashes a big, shy smile.
"Mommy, Daddy, married," he says.
"That's right, buddy," I tell him with a smile.
I glance over to see Katya wiping tears from her eyes, and I give her a wink. She smiles the most beautiful smile and winks back.
Yep, I'm gonna marry that girl someday.
We follow Lucien and Adeline down the aisle, and Wraith comes out of nowhere and follows us back to the house where we have a whole setup in the backyard complete with a DJ and dance floor.
Alexander runs to play with some toys with Maria closely supervising while Adeline and Lucien dance to their first dance. I sit down beside Katya at one of the small, round tables. "Aren't weddings grand?" I ask with a grin.
She's still trying to fix her eye makeup as the tears keep flowing. Concerned, I lean over and grasp her hand in mine. "Katya, what's wrong?"
"N-nothing," she stammers before pulling away and running away from me like I have the plague.
I cock a brow as I watch her disappear around the corner of the house. Something has been up with her lately, but I thought maybe it was a bit of jealously over Adeline getting married. Girls are like that sometimes.
Determined to find out what's going on, I follow her. She's leaning against the side of the house, sobbing into her hands.
"Hey," I tell her, grabbing her hands and pulling them away. I put my fingers under her chin and raise her gaze to meet mine. "What is going on with you today? I've never seen you cry so much." Katya's never really one to show her emotions. She has a very cold exterior until you get to know her. It took me a long time to break down those icy walls. "Oh," I say as realization dawns on me. "Are you on your period?" I whisper.
"No, I'm not on my period!" she practically yells, and I put my hands up in a placating gesture.
Jeez, she almost bit my head off with one question. Maybe I'm pressing my luck, but I don't want to drop this just yet. "So, then tell me what's wrong."
"Adeline took a pregnancy test this morning," she starts. "And, well, I haven't been feeling like myself lately…and she had some extra tests lying around…so…"
"So?" I prompt.
"So I took one…and…"
"And?" I ask impatiently.
"And I'm pregnant!" she blurts out in a sob.
At first, I'm completely speechless, unable to react or even talk, for that matter. Katya and I have been careful for the most part…but there was that one drunken night that we didn't use a condom…or maybe two drunken nights… I can't really remember.
"See? This is what I was scared of!" she cries, breaking me out of my thoughts.
"What? You don't think I'm happy that you're pregnant?"
She shakes her head.
"Oh, Katya, you have no idea how happy you just made me." I pull her into my arms and hug her tightly. "Fuck, I'm just…I'm speechless!" I pull back to look into her eyes. "But I am so, so fucking happy."
"You are?" she asks with furrowed brows.
"Yes! Why wouldn’t I be?"
"I don't know. My hormones are all out of whack, and I can't stop crying, and —."
"Yeah, I noticed," I say with a chuckle.
She slaps me playfully on the chest before finally smiling at me. "I was so scared to tell you, because I didn't…I didn't know…" She trails off as the smile falls right off her pretty face.
"Didn't know what?"
"How you would feel about all of this…about us…about our future."
I shake my head at her. She's constantly worrying about the future. She's so afraid I'm going to just up and dump her one day out of the blue. But I'm planning on rectifying that doubt right freaking now.
I get down on one knee and wrap my hands around her tiny waist. I nuzzle my face against the fabric of her dress over her belly, which I can't wait to see grow with my child. Then, I pull her hand into mine as I reach into my jacket pocket with the other. "Katya, I was planning on doing this later when we were walking on the beach under the moonlight, but I think actually now is the perfect time." I pull out the ring box and flick it open.
She gasps at the sight of the large solitaire diamond. I had it specially designed for her by the same jeweler Lucien used for Adeline's ring. "Oh, Jax!" she gasps as more tears leak out of her eyes.
"I want forever with you, Katya. Will you marry me?"
"Yes, of course!" she cries.
I stand up and pull her into my arms as she cries against my suit jacket. "I'm so happy you're pregnant. You have no idea," I whisper into my ear. "Should we go tell everyone the good news?"
She gives me a nod.
After giving her a few moments to collect herself, we go back to the reception.
Lucien, Adeline and Alexander are dancing in a circle on the dance floor, and I have never seen a more beautiful sight. And knowing that I'll soon have that same feeling of having my own family makes my heart swell with pride and happiness.
Lucien looks up as we approach. "Everything all right?" he asks me with concern.
"Yep, couldn't be better," I admit honestly. "I just hope your phobias can handle double the dirty diapers in one house in eight months."
He quirks his brow at me and glances at Adeline, probably thinking she's having twins and didn't tell him. But when Adeline gasps and runs over to hug Katya, everything clicks into place.
Lucien grins and pulls me in for a hug, clasping my shoulder. "Congratulations, Jax."
"Thanks, Luc. You too." I chuckle as we part. "So much to celebrate today."
"Yeah, so we better get started." He grabs two champagne glasses from the nearby bar and hands one to me. "To our beautiful women and children."
I grin from ear to ear at his words. "May we always be as happy as we are now."
"I agree."
We both take a healthy swig, set our glasses down and then reach for our women. With Katya in my arms and Adeline in Lucien's, we dance to a slow song.
It's hard to believe how we all got to this point; but looking back now, I know everything we went through happened for a reason.
And I wouldn't change a damn thing.
THE END
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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Watching Her: A Dark Romance (Keep Me Series Book 3) Page 17
