Page 73 of Accidentally in Love

I slid my eyes open. “Did my sister get to you?”

He shook his head and rubbed his beard. “No, unless she and my brother are co-conspirators…” he trailed off, and we groaned in unison. “Never mind, they are.”

“So nosy!” I exclaimed. “My dad has a cabin up in the Poconos.”

“Yeah? What would we do up there?”

“Nothing, and it would be glorious. You could go skiing if you want, and I’ll read.”

He chuckled, and I felt the vibration in my chest. His hand swept across my face, and he pushed my hair behind my ear. His thumb lingered on my cheek in a way that made me melt at his touch. “Is that what you want, baby?”

I nodded. “We’re so busy all the time, you’re always at the brewery, I have school, and… it would be nice to spend quality time together before the baby comes. It would be nice to get away and have a honeymoon.”

He gave me a quick kiss. “Okay, let’s get married on Christmas morning, and then we’ll head up to the cabin. I want to spend time with you too. I’m sorry if you felt like I was neglecting you.”

I shook my head. “It’s not that, it’s just… our lives will get busy once the baby’s here. And you need a vacation. When was the last time you took one?”

He grumbled.

I poked him in the stomach. “When, Nolan?”

“The day you moved in. Before that… I can’t remember.”

“Okay, then we’ll get married, and we’ll spend Christmas up in the mountains. It’ll be perfect.”

In the dark of the bedroom, I saw a smile spread across his face. “Avery?”

“Yeah?”

“I can’t wait to marry you.”

His words wrapped around me like a warm hug. “It’s gonna be the best Christmas,” I agreed.

He gave me one final kiss goodnight and wrapped his arm around me. I laid on my back and put my hand over his. The way he cradled me protectively in his arms made me feel safe and secure. It made me feel like maybe we could find love together. One day.

Chapter Eighteen

NOLAN

“You ready?” Declan asked as I stood in front of the mirror in my bedroom and adjusted my tie.

I knew Avery didn’t give a shit about what I wore to our wedding. I could’ve shown up in jeans and a button-down shirt, and she would’ve been happy. Or my Desjardins hockey jersey. She probably would have laughed about that because he was her favorite hockey player, too. I wouldn’t have done that because I wanted to look good for her on our wedding day. Hence the suit and tie. Gemma tried to convince me to get a tux, but I didn’t think that was necessary.

“Almost,” I muttered.

Declan peered at me. “Dude, you look fine. Did Gemma seriously make Avery sleep at her place last night?”

I laughed.

Yes, my sister-in-law insisted Avery sleep at her old apartment, so I didn’t see her in her wedding dress. Avery rolled her eyes about it but appeased her sister. Gem was eccentric, but she was ours. Truthfully, I think Gemma wanted to have Christmas Eve with her sister. I hadn’t realized until Avery moved in how close the sisters were. I saw Gemma way more than I was used to now.

Avery and I hadn’t exchanged Christmas gifts yet, because we wanted to do that when we got to the cabin. I was excited to go up to the cabin and get away from everything for a couple of days. I hadn’t been on a real vacation since before my parents died.

“Gem is seriously weird,” Declan laughed.

I smirked at him. “I know, but she’s family.”

“Are you nervous?”