by Swann, Rylee
Frowning, I shake my head. “I’m about to board. I—”
“Five minutes. That’s all I’m asking. Please,” he begs, his face twisted in an agony I haven’t seen on him. At the same time, his eyes are alight with hope.
“I…” I want to say yes and I want to say no at the same time. What a terrible place limbo is.
He takes advantage of my hesitation to usher me to a slightly more private spot where we can’t be overheard. We still have lots of prying eyes on us though. Heat rushes to my cheeks. This is the last thing I wanted to happen. Isn’t it?
His face is so fraught with worry as he prepares to speak. This is the face that haunts my dreams. I still love him. You can’t turn that off automatically when things go wrong. I take a deep breath and motion for him to carry on.
He lets out a whoosh of air. “Thank you, Jae. Look, the easy thing to say is that I was an asshole and that I love you and hope you’ll give me another chance.” I open my mouth to respond with a retort but he holds up a hand. “I said that was the easy part. The hard part is convincing you that I’m telling the truth. I was a fool to accuse you of trying to manipulate me. I was stupid and angry about things that didn’t have anything to do with you. Breaking up with you was the biggest mistake of my life. I’d do anything, say anything, give anything to have you back. You know this isn’t me, Jae. I’m the court jester. I don’t beg. I don’t open myself to heartbreak, but I am now. You mean too much to me to let you go without a fight. I need you, Jae. I’m so in love with you.”
“Then why—” I only manage to get the two words out before he’s talking over me.
“Because I’m an ass. I can’t say that enough. An ass who never grew up. And then blamed everyone else for it.” This is new, I realize as I listen. It sounds like he’s done some soul-searching. But I can’t let my hopes rise. I’m going to Nashville. “There’s more, of course. Some stuff about my parents that messed me up for a while. I should have told you right away but I promise to never keep secrets from you again, if you’ll have me.”
“I…” I’m torn, confused, and this time he doesn’t interrupt me. He’s waiting—anxiety plain on his face—for my answer. I glance to the boarding line. It’s gotten smaller. They’re going to call my section any second. “I’m going to Nashville.”
He nods. “I know. Let me come with you. I’d like to meet your parents,” he says with a small smile.
My mouth drops open, I’m completely taken aback. “What? Meet my parents? Are you serious?”
“Totally. Meeting the parents is something a couple does when they’re serious. The thing is, Jae, I’m serious about you. I plan on spending my life with you… as your stalker, if necessary.”
His smile turns into a teasing grin and my heart flutters. This man. This impossible man. Hope rises for the first time since that fiasco of a dinner.
“What exactly are you saying, Johnny? Are you… umm, asking me to—” Again, he doesn’t let me finish. He’s so infuriating.
“No, absolutely not!” He laughs. “Not here in an airport. This isn’t some chick-flick romantic comedy.” His face grows serious, his voice going to a lower octave. “But I am going to ask you to marry me. Maybe after we join the mile-high club on the way to Nashville? Or maybe I’ll ask you to marry me in your childhood bedroom? Or in front of your parents? I’ll let you choose, if you want. Or I could try the sappy surprise-down-on-one-knee thing. What do you think?”
I look up into his pleading eyes, searching for an answer. He seems so earnest. Then a voice of reason collides with my hope. Would he be saying any of this if he knew about the baby?
“I think you’re crazy,” I say to stall, and take a second more to think.
“Crazy in love.” He reaches for my hand but hesitates when I don’t meet him halfway. “Maybe the bigger question is whether you’re still in love with me?”
Yes, oh yes, of course I am.
“I’ve already made my plans. I’m going to Nashville for good. This isn’t a vacation, Johnny.” I put my foot down figuratively. “After what happened, I realized I needed a change. A big change. And you can’t come with me. The plane is already almost boarded. How would you even get a seat?”
A big smile spreads across his face. I stare at it in shock. To me, after what I just said, it’s the entirely wrong reaction. He holds up a finger while reaching around to the back pocket of his jeans. He pulls something out and presents it to me.
My mouth again drops open.
He’s holding a boarding pass.
“I was hoping you’d ask about that. As soon as I found out you were going to Nashville, I bought a ticket on the same flight. I guess I’m going to Nashville whether you want me to or not. By the way, it’s a one-way ticket, just like yours.” He leans closer and hesitantly raises his hand to my face, pushes a stray lock of hair from my eyes. “I’m in love with you, Jae. I don’t want to lose another second with you. The only question left is, do you want me to come?”
Tears blur my vision. My heart swells and contracts painfully. “Yes, I do, but—”
With the same hand he used to touch my hair, he puts a finger to my lips. “I know about the baby. I’ve never been happier about news in my entire life.” He steps closer still and I can feel his breath against my cheek. “Do you still love me?” Tears roll down my cheeks as I nod. A mile-long smile splits open his face. “Do you want me to go to Nashville with you?”
“Yes!”
The word has barely left my mouth, and his lips are crashing down on mine, my arms wrapping around his shoulders. I thought I was never going to feel this again. This man. These wonderful, happy emotions.
This love.
He deepens the kiss, pushing in with his tongue and we hold on to each other as if we’ll never let go again.
“Attention! This is the final boarding call for Delta Airlines flight 3892. Please have your boarding pass ready. This is the final boarding call.”
We break apart at the announcement.
“It’s time to go, sweetheart,” he says and takes my hand.
I look up into his beautiful masculine face, so boyish still but with a good dose of manly, as if he’s changing before my eyes. I’m still stunned to my very core. “You’re really going to move to Nashville with me? You’re going to leave your job, your brother… everything?”
“All I need is you,” he says and gives me another quick kiss. “And baby makes three. C’mon, or they’ll close the door on us.” He pulls me along and I quicken my steps to match his. “I love you, Jae.”
“I love you, too, Johnny.”
If this was a chick-flick romantic comedy as Johnny said, this would be the perfect ending.
EPILOGUE
Jaelin
Six months later…
“I don’t care what it takes, I have to fit into this wedding dress!”
I take a deep breath and hold it, as Cris struggles to click the zipper up a couple more teeth.
She and Dom flew to Nashville a few days ago along with the twins and their nanny. Cris wanted to make sure I had her undivided attention as my matron of honor, bless her heart. And now here we are, in the bridal suite of the church I’m about to be married in.
I was both horrified and a little relieved to discover that wedding dresses come in maternity sizes. I guess the good girl in me always thought this only happened on the rarest occasions. That notion was quickly destroyed as I surveyed website after website until I found the gown that spoke to me. It’s glorious—an ivory Grecian style with a Mediterranean feel. I immediately fell in love with the lace scoop neckline and sultry—yes, that’s what the webpage called it—V back. Its cascading full-length skirt makes me feel sexy and the darling touch of a long silk sash tied in the back sealed the deal for me.
“Umm… I think you’ve gained some weight since your last fitting.”
“I know,” I snap in a harsh tone and exhale. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to—”
“It’s okay,
Jae, I understand. I’ll make it work.” She grunts and the zipper clicks up several more teeth.
“Is that it? Did you do it?” I look into the full-length mirror but I can’t tell if the back zipper is all the way up.
“That did it,” Cris says triumphantly. “Can you breathe?”
I start to laugh but stop for fear of the zipper scooting all the way back down. “Uh, how necessary is this breathing thing?”
Cris laughs and spins her finger in a circle. “Turn around. Let me get a good look at you.” I spin slowly, loving how the dress swishes around my ankles. I opted for a gown with no train because I could just imagine my big-bellied pregnant self tripping on it and rolling down the aisle. “Perfect. You’re a beautiful bride. Gian won’t be able to take his eyes off you.”
“Yeah, because I’m a fat cow! Ugh! Look at me.” I frown and turn to the side for the full effect.
“For goodness sake, Jae. You’re nine months pregnant. What did you expect?” Cris shakes her head at my foolishness. “But seriously, you’re glowing. Radiant.”
“I’m going to waddle down the aisle,” I continue to complain. “I swear, if he laughs at me I’ll kill him.”
“If he laughs, it’s only because he’s so in love with you.” Cris nods sagely and hands me my veil. “Here, put this on. It’s almost time.”
As I turn back to the mirror to adjust the veil on my head, my three bridesmaids open the door and pile in, giggling like schoolgirls. With all my hair piled atop my head, the veil slides to the right several times and I curse.
“Rita, you put too many pins in my hair,” I grumble.
“Here, let me take a look,” She tsks at me like I’m a five-year-old as her fingers perform miracles on my head. “There you go, gorgeous.” Rita steps back, nodding her approval. “Perfect.”
The veil in place, I do another slow spin and everyone oohs and ahhs at me.
They all tell me how beautiful I look but a sharp pain in my stomach nearly sends me reeling. I suck in my breath and grimace, hoping no one will notice. Dear god, no. I cannot be having contractions. I will not have this baby out of wedlock. I just won’t. I refuse.
Please, I need just a little more time.
“Great, thank you,” I gasp. “How much longer? Could you tell them to start? I mean uhh… let’s get this show on the road.”
Cris cocks her head at me appraisingly. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, sure. I just want to be married already.” I force a big smile onto my face. “I’ve been waiting for this moment my whole life. You know.”
She smooths a pleat in my dress. “Okay, I’ll go check.” A moment later she’s out the door. I silently pray she’ll be back fast with good news.
“A little eager, are we?” Kelli says with a big grin on her face.
“Of course she is. You’ve seen Johnny, haven’t you?” Heather winks. “Hubba hubba.”
There’s more playful banter and giggling while I try to contain my growing panic as another knife slices through my stomach. Please, baby, wait a little while longer. I keep a smile plastered on my face even as Rita insists on touching up my lipstick. I chose an understated pink for the occasion. I wanted red lipstick but thought it would make me look too much like a harlot in my very-with-baby condition.
Oh god, please don’t let my water break as I’m waddling down the aisle.
Finally, Cris returns after the longest ten minutes I’ve ever experienced. She enters with a smile and beckons to me. “They’re ready for you, sweetie. Give us a few minutes to make it down the aisle and then you’re on your way.” She ushers the others out and turns back to me. “Your dad will be waiting to escort you.” She waves as the four depart the room.
I’m alone.
It’s probably the last time I’ll be alone for a very long time.
I take in a deep breath and let it out slowly. I need to calm down. This is my day, the day I’ve dreamed of forever. I’m about to be married to the man of my dreams. We’re about to come together. I chuckle at my little play on words with the title of my favorite song but the baby kicks, followed by another painful tightening of my stomach to remind me that I’m not quite alone. I’m with my unborn baby, who’s trying to break down the door.
Still, I laugh—this was so not how I pictured this day playing out—take one last look at myself in the mirror, pat my belly for good measure, and walk from the room.
Dad takes my arm as we stand just out of sight of the small number of assembled guests. “You’re beautiful, sweetheart.”
“Thank you, Daddy.” I place my hand over his, my heart beating a trillion miles a minute.
The wedding march starts.
This is it.
I suck in a deep breath and take my first step toward the future I want more than anything.
As all eyes turn to us, I realize right away that I can’t do the step pause, step pause walk to the altar. My baby has other plans. I pick up the pace, much to Dad’s surprise.
“Honey, this ain’t no race,” he whispers.
My bridal party is standing in their appointed places, joyfully smiling at me. And, there’s my mom in the front row looking proud as can be. There are tears in her eyes and I have to turn away or I’ll start bawling like a baby right along with her. Shifting my gaze, I spot Dom and Johnny. Dom couldn’t look prouder, but Johnny looks a little green around the gills. He’s nervous, but he showed up, and I couldn’t ask for anything more. I love him so much.
He smiles at me and his wide eyes take in my appearance. He mouths the word wow and elbows his brother as if to say, damn, look what I’m getting, and I can’t help chuckling even as another contraction almost makes my knees buckle.
“Daddy, I need you to get me to the altar,” I whisper urgently. “Then, I need you to call 911. Can you do that, Daddy? Please, without causing a scene?”
His step falters, his face turning ashen. “What’s wrong? You tell your Daddy.”
“I’m okay, Daddy. It’s the baby. It’s coming but don’t you dare stop this wedding. You hear?” I take another step, almost pulling him along.
We make it to the altar without further incident and I let my breath out in a whoosh.
Dad takes my hand and places it in Johnny’s. “You take care of this stubborn mule of a woman, you hear?”
Johnny nods but he only has eyes for me.
Dad kisses me on the cheek. “I’m callin’ now. You hang in there, darlin’.”
“Thank you, Daddy.” I offer an encouraging smile then turn to face the minister, as does Johnny.
Two more contractions and a lot of promises later, Johnny finally says the two most amazing words in the world.
“I do.”
A few minutes later, I say the same.
Johnny and I gaze at each other as the priest declares, “You may now kiss the bride.”
We come together in a kiss more beautiful, more loving, with more depth of feeling than I’ve ever experienced that when my water breaks, it takes me a second to notice.
Dad comes to the rescue, whispering to Johnny, “Get your wife to the ambulance, son. She’s having your baby.”
Johnny looks at me, stunned by the words, color draining from his face. “Y-you are?” Dom must realize what’s going on and steps up to help but Johnny puts an arm out. “I got this, Dom.”
I didn’t think it was possible but, in this moment, I feel more love for Johnny… my husband, than ever before. Despite his fears and worries, he takes control of the situation and carries me back down the aisle as fast as possible, despite pandemonium breaking out among the bridal party and guests. Johnny shelters me from it all and pops me into the ambulance, neat as can be. He quickly tells my parents and Dom and Cris, who were following, to meet us at the hospital as he jumps in with me.
Once the ambulance doors shut on us, Johnny throws his head back and laughs.
I poke him and frown. “This situation is not funny!”
He only laughs harder when he sees
my annoyed expression. “Baby, I love you. I know this is your day but the way this wedding ceremony just ended… best thing ever. I can’t wait to tell the kid once he or she is old enough to understand.”
I try not to laugh as he pulls me in for another amazing husband-and-wife kiss, just before baby Longo takes all of my attention.
We did it, we came together, and oh how I love this man.
Gian
One year later…
“And your mommy held you in her belly until we finished getting married so you wouldn’t be our little bastard baby.”
From behind me I hear my brother’s laughter and turn from the portable crib we set up in his hotel suite. He and his family flew in a couple of days ago.
“What?” I ask in my most innocent bad boy voice. A grin fights its way onto my face.
“Penny’s only a year old. She has no idea what you’re saying.” Dom steps up to the crib to peer down into my precious sleeping child’s face.
“Hey, you don’t know that for sure. She’s a genius. She’ll be doing calculus by the time she’s six. At sixteen, accepting her Nobel Peace Prize. You can picture it, right? Miss Penny Jole Longo, please accept this on behalf of a grateful nation…” I move my hand to her tiny one and she grabs my thumb in her sleep. Each time she does that… damn, I’m blown away.
“Jole,” Dom repeats our mother’s first name. “I’m still surprised you did that.”
“Anything would be better than what Jae wanted. It was a bit of a battle to keep her from naming our baby Penny Lane Longo.” I snort with laughter. “When I told her I wanted Penny’s middle name to be Jole, she couldn’t argue with me.” That’s the story I tell, yet, I’m secretly pleased that we gave our daughter a little piece of my history.
Dom chuckles and moves a stray lock of blonde hair from Penny’s sweet little head. “I doubt Jae will be pleased when your little genius is going around telling everyone she was almost a bastard.”
“You’re just jealous. Where’d you tie up your two hellions? Or have they already joined a motorcycle club? Or run away to join the circus?”
