Hooked
Page 21
“You didn’t realize Maggie was short for something else?” Justin’s grin gave me a reason to smile. He really was perfect for me.
“Of course, I did, but for like Margaret or something. Magdalen sounds like you’re from the 1800s.”
“And that would be why I don’t like it when people use my full name. Well that and the fact that it makes me think of my mother.”
“That’s too bad because I think I kind of like it.” Justin tilted his head to the ceiling, licked his lips, and then proceeded to say “Magdalen” several times in different tones. “Yep, I like the way it sounds. Doesn’t really suit you, but that just makes it that much more fun.”
“Oh god. Please no.” I covered my face with my hands, knowing Justin was just given ammunition he could use for life.
“Oh yes, my Magdalen. My, my Magdalen.”
***
“Magdalen!” I groaned, rolling over in bed. “Wakey, wakey. Rise and shine.”
“Five more minutes.” I pleaded, covering my face with the pillow.
“No can do. The car’s waiting for me outside and if I don’t leave now, I’ll miss my flight.” With my eyes still covered, I could hear him set a glass of chocolate milk down on the side table. Cool air shocked my body as Justin ripped the covers off.
“How long this time?” I shivered, wishing he’d just kiss me goodbye and leave me to sleep in his warm, comfortable bed that I’d come to love.
“Not quite a week. I’ll be back in time to meet you outside the airport when you land next Friday.” His hands covered mine, prying my fingers away from the pillow still pulled tightly around my head.
We’d fallen into a normal routine during the past six months. I’d kept my job in Texas, wanting to hold on to my independence and until I figured out a way to do my own thing when living with him. From time to time, he’d fly to me, but most times we opted for me traveling to him. It was easier for me to travel without being noticed, and with his crazy schedule as is, I didn’t mind giving him a break.
“I’m going to miss you Mags.” I released my grip, allowing him to remove the pillow. My eyes squinted, adjusting to the bright light. “God, I’m going to miss you so fucking much.”
“We would have been apart anyway.” I pointed out. We usually were for the weekdays.
“I wish we weren’t.” He pressed a soft kiss to my lips.
“Someday.” My lips moved under his, before asking for a deeper kiss.
“Soon! You’ll move in soon, right?” He questioned gazing into my eyes for a few seconds before pulling away. “Ugh, I really have to go. Love you.”
“Love you too!” I watched him go while nursing my glass of milk. I took my time showering, then threw on sweats and a tank top and made the phone call I’d been dying to make from the moment he kissed me good-bye.
“You ready for us?” Ian answered his phone on the first ring.
“I am.”
“I’ll let them know.” He hung up the phone.
Thirty minutes later a knock on the door signaled that the time had come. I shook off any last-minute nerves and swung open the door to Ian, Sarah with baby Eric strapped to her chest and two men carrying moving boxes.
“Where do you want these?” The gruffer of the two strangers asked huffing as he carried a box marked ‘clothing’.
“Just stack everything in the living room. I’m unpacking it today, so I’ll make sure it’s in the right spot.” I pointed to the empty area of the living room, the space I’d cleared by pushing the coffee table to the side of the room, specifically for this purpose.
“Does he have any idea?” Sarah asked, as she wrapped me in the tightest hug she could manage with the baby between us.
“Not even the slightest. He left this morning moping when I didn’t respond about moving in. He’s going to be floored.” How I’d managed to keep the move a secret was a miracle. Between closing-up things with my apartment in Texas, packing boxes upon boxes for weeks and selling off my furniture, I was sure he would figure it out.
“And you’re sure he won’t mind that you did this without telling him?”
“He never really gave me a choice when he forced his way into my life. It’s finally time I return the favor and force my way into his.”
Epilogue
“I think it’s too tight.” Ally exclaimed, tugging at the zipper along the side of my rose gold, lace, wedding dress. “Can you suck in anymore?” I took in a deeper breath as she pulled, grunting and groaning as she managed to make it the rest of the way up the track. “Why did you order a dress that was too small?” She huffed.
“I didn’t. This was the right size when I ordered it, three months ago.” I checked out the dress in the mirror. It was skin-tight but would do the job for the quick and dirty ceremony Justin and I had planned. “It just arrived on Wednesday. I didn’t have a chance to have it altered.” And I had hoped and prayed it would fit when I put it on today. But if it didn’t, then I had an off the rack dress I’d bought as a backup. I didn’t care what I was wearing. The only thing that mattered was that by the end of the day, I would be Magdalen Rose Thompson.
“Are you comfortable?” Sarah questioned, circling me while taking in the dress. “It looks a little…” She froze mid-step, raising her eyebrows at me.
“It can’t be called a shotgun wedding if we were already planning the wedding, can it?” I raised my shoulders and lifted my arms.
“You’re pregnant?” Ally squealed.
“Is this why you picked Vegas?” Olivia asked from the doorway. She was keeping an eye out for the signal from the guys when they were ready to start.
“No. We decided on a Vegas wedding because we didn’t want anything big.” After attending so many of my mother’s weddings, I didn’t want the big production. I just wanted Justin, his closest family members, and our friends. There were less than twenty guests, including Tim and Ally’s three daughters and Ian and Sarah’s son, and that was exactly how we wanted it.
“How far along are you?” Ally questioned, her focus now lasered in on the baby bump that was visible in the tight dress.
“Seventeen weeks.” Justin was in love with the bump, so I knew despite the dress being a little too snug, he would love that the pregnancy wasn’t hidden.
“Oh, this is so awesome!” Ally squealed again, jumping up and down.
“Yes, it is.” I replied, a bit skeptical of her over-the-top reaction.
“Our babies will only be six weeks apart, give or take.” She grinned.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Olivia’s face was one of shock as she looked back into the room again.
“Four?” My mouth dropped open.
“We’re kind of hoping for a boy this time around.” Ally laughed. “But I feel like it’s another girl.”
“Okay, pregos. Suck it in because it’s time to marry Maggie off.”
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Thank you for reading Hooked. Writing Maggie and Justin’s story was challenging but worth every second. If you enjoyed it, please take a moment to leave a review.
Thank you!
Nicole Howard