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I spotted the beautiful outfit she’d worn on the night of her birthday and quickly removed it from the hanger. “Put this on, gorgeous.” Then I grabbed a suit I knew she loved and marched out of the closet. “I’m going to change and make a call.”
She didn’t argue, so I stayed my course and hurriedly changed my clothes, then went into our small sitting area of our suite and called my dad.
“Hey, kid,” he greeted me when he picked up. “How’s it going?”
“I need a favor,” I said, cutting right to the chase.
His response was immediate, no questions asked. “Anything.”
Damn, I loved my family.
“Gracie and I need a judicial waiver for a marriage license.”
“Of course.” There was a pause, then, “But…”
“No, we aren’t telling Jonah until it’s done,” I answered his unspoken question. “I’m sure Penny will forgive us. Gracie’s pregnant.”
I could practically feel his smile through the line, and it widened my own. “You’re making me a Papa again?”
“Yeah. Not sure when yet. She just took the test a few minutes ago.”
He laughed. “Congratulations, son. Give Grace a hug for me and tell her how thrilled I am with the news.”
“Thanks, I will.”
“I’ll call Judge Nevins. He owes me.”
“Oh and Dad, you can’t tell Mom yet. Because she’ll tell Penny, and if we’re not already married when Jonah finds out—”
“I won’t get any more grandkids,” my dad finished for me with a laugh. “Just make sure you call as soon as the ceremony is over with.”
Not happening. I didn’t want anything standing between our wedding and our wedding night. We’d share the news with our families tomorrow.
“We’ll come by in the morning to talk to Mom in person.”
“Sure you will. See you next week, Hudson.”
He was still laughing when he hung up. And, he had a point. It was unlikely that I’d be ready to share my wife so soon.
Hmmmm….on that note.
I hit the button to reserve a hotel room just as Gracie came walking in. She looked breathtaking, and I couldn’t help feeling a little smug over the way her body strained just a little against the outfit now even though no one else would notice the change.
“How the fuck did I get so damn lucky?”
Gracie smiled and cocked her head to the side, her eyes sweeping over me from head to toe. “I ask myself the same question every day.”
I snorted. “I wouldn’t call being stuck with me lucky, but regardless, that’s the situation you’re in, so I appreciate you making the best of it.” She giggled, and the sound sent warmth to my heart and tingles to my dick.
“You look incredible, baby. Let’s go get married.”
“Okay.”
“You’re not going to argue with me?”
“Nope. We’ll figure this all out. But the truth is, I’ve been fighting against something I want, and this unexpected present just gave me the perfect excuse to tell myself to shove it.”
I threw my head back and laughed heartily before dragging her against me and giving her a deep kiss. I’d never been sure why Gracie felt we needed to put off marriage until we were older, but I wanted her to be happy, and as long as we were together, I was mostly content. But I was more than glad to hear that she had no more qualms about it.
When we finally broke the kiss, I caught her hand in mine and headed for the door because if we stood there any longer, we wouldn’t make it to the courthouse first.
One floor down, I rapped on London’s door. She threw it open almost immediately and was jumping up and down excitedly. “You’re pregnant?”
Gracie blushed and nodded, her hand giving mine a firm squeeze.
“Took you long enough to tell me! Geeze—” London broke off as she took in our attire and sighed in exasperation. “You kept me in suspense while you changed for a date?”
“Wedding,” I stated. “Want to be a witness?”
“Yes!” she screamed, running to give Gracie a hug before they both clapped and danced excitedly for a minute. Then London spun around and marched back into her room. “I’ll change, and we can go. You need a second witness, right? You should call Audrey and have her meet us there.”
“I already sent her a text,” I announced with a wink at Gracie.
She beamed and stood on her tiptoes to give me a quick peck on the lips. “I love you.”
“Okay! Let’s go!” London chirped as she barreled out of her bedroom and ran down the stairs.
“Love you too, Gracie,” I murmured with a chuckle before we followed after our crazy cousin.
* * *
“Um, Hudson?”
I glanced up to see Audrey, Gracie’s other best friend, standing from her chair in the corner of the judge’s chambers and holding out my phone. Gracie had slipped it in her purse right before she handed it to Audrey when we arrived.
