by L A Cotton
Not this weekend though. This weekend, we would all be together to witness Felicity and Jason tie the knot, and it was set to be a big affair.
“I just… want everything to go smoothly.”
“It will,” I said, offering her a reassuring smile. “Cordelia has the day planned down to the second.” The hotel’s wedding coordinator made Monica Geller look disorganized.
“If in doubt,” Mya added. “Drink.” She thrust Fee’s glass of champagne at her, but she held up a hand.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. My stomach is so unsettled. The last thing I need is getting sick for my big day.”
“You need to breathe.” I sipped from my own glass, hoping neither of them would notice how I was barely drinking it. Cameron and I might have agreed to wait to tell anyone about the baby, but it was still hard keeping it from my best friends.
“I wonder what they’re doing?” Fee said, letting out a weary sigh.
“Probably drinking beer and reminiscing about the good old days.” I smiled.
“I swear to God, if Asher gets him drunk—”
“I already warned him.” Mya smirked. “I told him I won’t put out for a week, if he so much as thinks about getting Jase into any kind of trouble.”
“A week?” I balked. “God, I’ve forgotten what it’s like to have sex that regularly.”
“Babe, you have a tiny human running you ragged. Not to mention Xander’s mood swings. There’s a lot going on.”
“Avery’s almost four. I thought it was supposed to get easier. My mom and Kent took Xander last night, but Avery interrupted us right before we got to the good stuff.”
“That kid’s so cute but a total cockblocker.” Mya snorted, and I swatted her arm.
“I’m hoping we can enjoy the wedding reception.” Mom and Kent had offered to keep the kids with them so we could relax. Kent’s health wasn’t so good lately, so it was doubtful he would be able to stay out that late anyway.
“Well, I for one, intend on seducing my man,” Mya said. “It’s been almost a year and he still hasn’t managed to knock me up.”
It was her attempt at a joke, but I saw the pain in her eyes. Mya and Ash had spent the last two years fostering kids, but we all knew how much she yearned for a child of her own.
“A year is nothing,” I said around a reassuring smile.
“I know, but what if it becomes eighteen months or two years? I’m not getting any younger.”
“You’re twenty-six, babe. It’s hardly ancient.” Fee got up and headed for her kitchen. “Any requests while I’m up?”
“More champagne,” Mya replied. “I might as well drink it if you won’t. It’s too good to waste.”
I chuckled, taking another pretend sip of mine. “I’ll go see if she wants a hand.”
Mya waved me off, helping herself to another chocolate truffle, courtesy of Felicity’s mom. She’d handmade the favors for tomorrow and had a bunch leftover. But I’d tried to resist. If I had any hopes of fitting in my dress tomorrow, I needed to refrain from gorging myself.
Entering the kitchen, I paused at the sight of Felicity bracing the counter, tears pricking the corners of her eyes.
“Fee, what is it? What’s wrong?”
“Oh, babe, I’m a freaking mess.” She sniffled, and I hurried over to her, discarding my glass and pulling her into my arms.
“It’s okay to feel emotional; it’s a big day.”
“Yeah, I just didn’t think it would affect me like this.” She wiggled out of my hold and leaned over to grab some tissue paper, blotting her face. “I’m okay.”
“Do you want to call Jase? I can cover for you if you need to—”
“No, I’m okay, I promise.”
Taking her hand in mine, I squeezed gently. “You’ve got this, Felicity.”
She gave me a weak smile. “I’m lucky to have you, Hailee. You’re my best friend. I love you.”
Emotion balled in my throat, and I swallowed over the lump stuck there. “Jeez, now you’re making me cry. Come here.”
We hugged again, holding on tight.
We’d come a long way since we were just two young girls struggling to find our place in the world.
A lot had changed.
College.
Living in different towns.
Babies.
Weddings.
But some things had stayed exactly the same.
Like our friendship—the extended family we’d made for ourselves. And the future we’d all share.
Together.
Chapter 2
Jason
I was going to suffocate. My collar was too stiff, my tux jacket too tight, and I was pretty sure I was sweating to the point of dehydration.
“Relax, man,” Asher said, smirking. “It’s almost time.”
Fuck.
I was going to puke. Not because I had second thoughts, no way, but because I was standing at the end of the aisle, surrounded by one-hundred and fifty of our closest friends and family.
We’d both wanted a small, intimate wedding originally, but it was hard to pull off when you were the star quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles. I couldn’t not share this day with the team who meant so much to me. We were family. Brothers. I didn’t relish being the center of attention though—which was a weird fucking thing given my personal and professional life was often played out in the news.
Fee and I tried to live a relatively private life, but it wasn’t always easy, and I was so fucking grateful that she’d stuck by me all these years as my football career took off.
“I think I see them.” Cam nudged me, flicking his eyes to the double doors at the end of the room. Sure enough, I could just make out Hailee and Mya talking to Cordelia, the wedding planner. That woman scared me half to death, but she’d pulled off the wedding of Felicity’s dreams. And part of me still couldn’t believe that in less than an hour, we’d walk out of here as Mr. and Mrs. Ford.
Fuck, that sounded good.
Felicity was everything to me. When I’d entered the draft in senior year, she’d stood by my side and promised to follow me wherever I ended up. But I always knew I wanted to stay in Pennsylvania. It was home, and I couldn’t imagine being too far away from our friends and families.
“You’ve got the rings?” I asked Cameron for the third time, and he nodded.
“In the same pocket they were the last time you asked,” he chuckled.
“I could’ve watched them,” Asher said. I gave him a pointed look, and he added, “Your confidence in me is astounding.”
“Showtime,” Cam whispered, and sure enough, the pianist started playing the opening notes to Elvis Presley’s Can’t Help Falling in Love With You. It filled the orangery, echoing off the glass ceilings and reverberating through me.
My skin vibrated, my heart crashing wildly against my chest as I stood there, poised to see my wife-to-be for the first time in her wedding dress. My stepsister appeared first, walking Avery down the aisle. He looked so fucking cute in his little tux, and I realized I wanted that. I wanted a kid with Felicity. I wanted to see her stomach grow round with my child. Our child. I swallowed over the lump in my throat, glancing at Cam as he watched Hailee and his son walk toward us.
Mya came next, holding Xander’s hand. Asher sucked in a sharp breath at the sight of his fiancée, running a hand down his face.
“We’re lucky bastards,” he murmured under his breath, earning him a soft chuckle from the wedding officiant.
The bridal party reached us—Avery and Xander taking their places with Dad and Denise—and Hailee and Mya standing off to one side. The piano paused and the Master of Ceremonies said, “Please stand for the wedding march.”
Blood roared in my ears as our guests stood just as Felicity appeared in the doorway on the arm of her father. Her dress was perfection: a second skin of lace and silk that molded to her curves and fell over her hips like an ivory waterfall. But she could have been wearing a burlap sack for all I car
ed because when her eyes met mine, everything else melted away.
I loved this woman. Unequivocally, irrevocably loved her. And she was giving me the greatest gift of all by becoming my wife today.
Tears pricked the corners of my eyes as she made a slow but steady walk down the aisle. When they reached us, her father kissed her cheek and took his seat beside her mom. I offered her my hand, needing to touch her, to ground myself.
“Hi,” I said around a grin.
“Hi.” Tears clung to her lashes.
“You look… fuck.”
Laughter crinkled her eyes. “I feel… I don’t know what I feel.”
Unable to stop myself, I stepped closer. “Ready to become Mrs. Ford?”
An infectious smile spread across her face. “I was born ready.”
“Right,” the officiant said, “if we’re ready to begin?”
We both nodded.
“Dearly beloved and honored guests, we are gathered together here to join Jason and Felicity in the union of marriage…” The words became white noise as I stared at Felicity—my heart, my reason, my every-fucking-thing.
It was hard to believe there was a time I hadn’t wanted her. Hadn’t wanted anyone. I was content focusing on football and my future. But Felicity changed all that.
She gently squeezed my hand and I blinked at the officiant.
“The bride and groom have each prepared vows that they will read now. Jason, if you’d like to go first.” The officiant gave me a nod and I turned to Felicity, clearing my throat. This was it, my big moment. I’d played in front of ten of thousands of football fans, camera crews, and the nation… but nothing compared to this moment.
“If playing football has taught me anything, it’s that to be the best, you have to play hard and fight hard.” I inhaled a shaky breath. “But you, Felicity Charlotte Giles, you taught me to love hard.
“I can’t promise you that life with me will always be easy. I can’t promise that I won’t screw up or make mistakes. But I can promise you that I will spend my life loving you the way you deserve to be loved. Because we’re endgame, babe.”
“Jason,” her voice cracked as she looked up at me through her damp lashes.
“It’s you and me, Giles.” I leaned down, touching my head to hers, tradition be damned. “You and me and the rest of our lives together.”
Felicity
I was married.
Married.
Mrs. Felicity Ford.
God, I still couldn’t believe it.
“Congratulations,” one of Jason’s teammates pulled me into a bear hug, squeezing the life out of me.
“Get your hands off my wife, Tiny,” Jason’s gruff voice made my tummy clench.
“Relax, man. I’m just congratulating your beautiful bride.” Jonas ‘Tiny’ Melvin planted a big wet kiss on my cheek. “I put a little something special in your card.”
“Jonas,” I said. “You didn’t need to do that.”
“Yeah, I did. Jase is one of the best men I know, and you both deserve it.”
“Thank you.”
The men did that guy-hug thing and Jonas left us to it. Jason curled his arm around my waist and pulled me close. “If someone had warned me that I’d have to personally speak to every single wedding guest, I would have limited the list to twenty.”
“The hard part is over.” I smiled, running my hands up his chest, tugging his lapels. “We can relax now and enjoy the reception.”
“I want to enjoy you.” He kissed the corner of my mouth, and laughter spilled from my lips.
“Later. Everyone’s watching us right now.”
“And?” Jase pulled back to look me in the eye. “I think I’m allowed to kiss my wife on our wedding day.” He smirked, capturing my mouth in a slow, bruising kiss.
“I’m pregnant,” I blurted, my stomach sinking at how tense he went.
“P- pregnant?” The word formed on his tongue as if it was new and unfamiliar.
I nodded, tears glistening in my eyes. “I know we didn’t plan on it—”
“We’re having a baby?”
Another nod.
“Fuck, we’re having a—”
“Ssh,” I pulled him closer, wondering if I’d done the right thing telling him. But I needed him with me on this—I needed him to want it, the way I wanted it.
We’d talked about starting a family, in a few years when his career settled down a bit. But I’d been on medication the other month and I guess it had interfered with my birth control because my period never came and when I finally plucked up the courage to take the test, it was positive.
“Seriously? You did a test?”
“Three. All positive. I know the timing is—”
“You think I care about the timing?” he whispered, leaning in to envelop me away from the rest of the guests who were currently enjoying the free bar and entertainment.
“You’re happy?”
“Happy? I want to grab the mic and announce to the entire room that I’m going be a daddy.”
“Jason,” I chuckled. “We can’t tell anyone. It’s early, and I don’t want to jinx it.”
“Of course not.” He kissed me again. “I can tell Cam and Asher though, right?”
“Not yet. I haven’t even told Hailee and Mya.”
“You know, I thought this day was perfect. You, this dress,” he ran his hand down the intricate beadwork along the curve of my spine. “Finally getting to call you my wife. But you just made all my dreams come true. A baby.” His smile turned into a grin. “We’re having a baby.”
The awe in his voice stunned me. I hadn’t known what Jason would make of us getting pregnant so young. He had a successful career with the Eagles, and I was busy working at a rescue center in the city. We had rich, full lives. A baby would upend that. But one look at his expression, and I knew I had nothing to worry about.
He wanted this.
Jason wanted this baby almost as much as I did.
“Promise me you won’t tell anyone.”
“Fuck, yeah. Okay.” He hugged me tighter, peppering my face with tiny kisses.
To anyone watching, we probably looked like a newlywed couple unable to keep our hands off each other. I just hoped he could keep our secret past the groom’s speech.
“Is that why you’ve felt off all week?” he asked.
“That and I was nervous about today.”
“Having second thoughts, Mrs. Ford?”
“Even if I were,” I said. “There’s no escaping now.”
He brushed his nose along mine and grinned again. “Damn right, there isn’t.”
“I’m so freaking drunk,” Mya grabbed my hand and swung me around the dance floor for the third time. “Why aren’t you drunk? It’s your wedding. You should be ass-over-elbow drunk by now.”
“Nobody wants to see the bride make a fool of herself.”
“And you,” she glanced at Hailee. “You’re not drunk either.”
“I didn’t want to go crazy in case Avery plays up for my mom and Kent.”
Mya stopped dancing, her eyes flicking from Hailee to me and back again. “What is—” She gasped, clapping a hand over her mouth. “You’re both pregnant.”
“What?” I balked. “No, I’m not.”
“Me neither,” Hailee added quickly. Too quickly.
“Oh my god… are you?” I blurted.
“Nope. No. I don’t know—”
“You so are. You barely touched your wine at dinner. And last night you—”
Her expression dropped. “I wasn’t supposed to steal your thunder. It’s your special day.”
“Are you freaking kidding me?” I threw my arms around her and hugged her tight, laughing. “I’m going to be an aunt again. Best wedding present ever.”
She pulled back and smiled at me. “I’m so relieved you both know. It’s been killing me holding it in.”
“I guess I should fess up then,” I said.
“Wait a minute,” Hailee’s eyes
grew wide, “you mean…”
“Yup.”
“Oh my god, this is amazing. We’re going to be pregnant together.”
“Mya?” I peeked over at her, my heart sinking at the trace of pain in her eyes.
She blinked, giving a little shake of her head. “I’m so happy for you both.”
“It’ll happen, babe,” I said, squeezing her hand. “When the time is right, it’ll happen.”
“I know. And until then, I’ll have two more babies to love on.” She sounded sober all of a sudden and Hailee cast me a concerned look.
“Hey,” Mya said. “Don’t do that. Don’t feel like you can’t celebrate. This is good news, the best.” She wrapped her arms around us both and pulled us closer. “Besides, I’m having all the fun trying.”
“Lap it up,” Hailee murmured. “Because after the baby comes, everything in that department becomes hard freaking work.”
“Ahh, I can’t believe this,” I said, unable to fight the smile tugging at my lips. “Two more babies to add to our brood.”
Hailee glanced over at the guys. They were standing at the bar, drinking and chatting. “How did Jason take it?”
“He was so excited. It was weird because I was expecting him to say it wasn’t the right time.”
“He adores Xander and Avery,” Hailee mused.
“Yeah, I can’t wait to see him with our little guy.”
“Little guy?” Mya asked. “You already know the sex?”
“No, but I know he’ll want a boy. He wouldn’t know what to do with a daughter.”
“You’re right there.” Hailee chuckled. “She’d have him wrapped around her little finger in no time.”
Imagining him—my husband, my everything—with our baby… my heart was fit to burst.
I had everything I’d ever wanted.
The best friends a girl could want.
A husband who loved me.
And a future that I couldn’t wait to live.
Chapter 3
Mya
“Dance with me,” I grabbed Asher’s hand and pulled him toward the dance floor.
“Babe, you’re drunk, and it’s late. I want to go up to our room and—”
