That's the Way I Loved You
Page 18
“We should probably put this ring on you before I don’t have control left.” I break off, laughing.
Picking up her left hand, I slide the diamond onto her ring finger. It sparkles, and she sucks in a breath.
“Jason, it’s perfect.”
I wipe some fake sweat off my brow. “Good, because your sisters and Cecily went back and forth so many times, I thought I’d end up with a lump of coal from the jewelers.”
She throws her head back laughing. “Oh my God, I can’t believe we’re going to get married.”
“Wasn’t this the plan all along?” I kiss her forehead.
“Yes, there were just some obstacles and challenges along the way. I’m marrying the first man I ever kissed.”
“And I’ll be the last.”
I say that with happiness, with satisfaction.
Deep down, I always knew I’d marry Savannah Reese. It just took a lot longer than I anticipated. Which will only make me appreciate the years we have now, to make our life together.
Epilogue
Savannah
One Year Later
We make plans, and the universe laughs.
When Jason and I made a plan to live half our year in New York, and the other half in Hale, we didn’t anticipate trying to plan a wedding while doing so. Or at least, I didn’t, since he was the one who proposed and knew he was planning to.
It’s difficult enough to coordinate a wedding venue and all the things that come with that checklist while you’re hundreds of miles away. But what’s even harder?
Finding out you’re pregnant five months before your wedding and already having deposits down on everything.
“I feel enormous,” I whine as Jason puts his arms around me. “You can barely dance with me.”
My husband—oh my God, he’s my husband—rolls his eyes.
“You barely have a bump, and you look incredible.” Jason bends to me, whispering in my ear. “You smell amazing, your skin feels amazing. You’re sure we have to stay here for the entire reception. I have a lot of things to show you back in that bridal suite.”
I chuckle as he nuzzles my neck. “I can’t drink at my wedding, the cake hasn’t arrived yet, and I spent months planning this thing. You bet your ass we’re staying.”
“Fine. But I’d rather look at your ass.” He winks.
In reality, I’m just being a brat. I know I barely have a bump, and I still got to wear my dream dress. It’s an A-line lace dress with invisible lace long sleeves and a dramatic cut in the back, almost down to my tailbone. My favorite designer in New York helped me collaborate on it, and I’m more in love with this dress than about ninety-five percent of this wedding.
It’s been a wonderful day, but I kind of wish we did something smaller. Practically the entire town of Hale is here, and I’m already tired. It’s only an hour into the wedding, and I’d like a foot rub and some cookies in the tub in our suite.
I guess that’s what happens when you get knocked up accidentally before your wedding.
Not that I’m complaining. I think it’s just that Jason and I are so much more excited for the baby than we are about being married. We agreed that we could go down to city hall, but I think everyone else was so excited that we just went ahead with the wedding.
What we’re ecstatic about is the birth of our child in four months. The pregnancy didn’t happen on purpose, but when we found out, after I peed on a stick in our New York apartment, we both cried happy tears for hours. It feels like the thing we were meant for, and the thing that was meant for us.
Jason is so happy, he’s been reading baby books for months and going on and on about building a crib. He’s going to be the most incredible father to our daughter.
That’s right, we’re having a little baby girl. And for the name, we’re thinking June.
Adeline and Brad shuffle dance over to us, bumping their hips with ours.
“Hi, newlyweds,” my sister singsongs.
“Heyyy.” I wiggle my fingers at her. Okay, so being the bride and groom isn’t all bad. This is actually pretty fun, and you can feel all the love in the room.
My family is ecstatic that not only are we back in Hale for a few months, but that we’re finally man and wife. They’ve been really helpful with everything and helping me get ready for the baby.
“What’re you going to do, cart a baby from the coast to the middle of the US every six months? That’s not fair, I need baby snuggles,” Adeline whines.
I bop her on the nose, giving her an admonishing look. “Oh Addy, none of that today. This is my wedding, and that means no one has to think about anything regarding logistics or setting down roots. We’ll figure it out when the time comes, in the way that’s best for us.”
That’s the only thing I haven’t missed, the grief. They want us to stay put in Hale with the baby for good, but I still have to work. I have no intention of giving up work, though I’ll stay home for a few months. We’ll figure it out ourselves, now that we’ve mastered the first year of dual-city living.
The last year has been better than either of us expected, I think. The compromise works pretty much to perfection. Being in New York for shooting has been amazing, it’s much better to be in the environment, and I feel like my writing is on another level. At least by measurement of the ratings for last season killing it.
And Jason has been helping out two local women’s shelters, teaching the kids sports and serving meals. He’s there most days, and it’s become his passion project. He talks about the kids all the time, and we even set up a meet and greet for some of the mothers and the actors on Love General.
When he’s not there, he’s working on the winery, which had its best year ever last summer. Now we’re back for the beginning of the season, and it’s looking like it’ll be a banner year for Darling June Vineyards.
The song switches from a slow one to a fast one, and Jason whispers in my ear, “I just saw them wheel the cake in, want to go cut into it while no one is looking?”
I bite his ear in a spot that makes him shiver. “You still know how to make me wild.”
Hand in hand, the boy I’ve always loved leads me to our wedding cake.
And we dig in, not caring what the rest of the world is doing.
Do you want your FREE Carrie Aarons eBook?
All you have to do is sign up for my newsletter, and you’ll immediately receive your free book!
Also by Carrie Aarons
All of my books are currently enrolled in Kindle Unlimited.
Standalones:
Fool Me Twice
Hometown Heartless
The Tenth Girl
You’re the One I Don’t Want
Privileged
Elite
Red Card
Down We’ll Come, Baby
As Long As You Hate Me
All the Frogs in Manhattan
Save the Date
Melt
When Stars Burn Out
Ghost in His Eyes
On Thin Ice
Kissed by Reality
The Rogue Academy Series:
The Second Coming
The Lion Heart
The Mighty Anchor
The Nash Brothers Series:
Fleeting
Forgiven
Flutter
Falter
The Flipped Series:
Blind Landing
Grasping Air
The Captive Heart Duet:
Lost
Found
The Over the Fence Series:
Pitching to Win
Hitting to Win
Catching to Win
About the Author
Author of romance novels such as The Tenth Girl and Privileged, Carrie Aarons writes books that are just as swoon-worthy as they are sarcastic. A former journalist, she prefers the love stories of her imagination, and the athleisure dress code, much better.
When she isn't writing, Carrie is busy binging reality TV, having a love/hate relationship wit
h cardio, and trying not to burn dinner. She’s a Jersey girl living in Texas with her husband, daughter and furry son.
Please join her readers group, Carrie’s Charmers, to get the latest on new books, as well as talk about reality TV, wine and home decor.
You can also find Carrie at these places:
Website
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
Amazon
Goodreads