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The ceremony passes in a blur. Dean smiles at me with a wide grin as he stops near the altar, and I manage a weak smile back, my knees uncharacteristically weak as I turn my gaze to the vision of beauty I’m about to marry.
Before I even know what’s going on, we’re stating our wedding vows. I reel off my vows like an automaton, throat dry and hoarse as I struggle to get the words out.
“You may now kiss the bride,” rings out the pastor’s voice.
I lean forward to take the veil in my two hands, Nina’s obscured face smiling up at me as I lift the white linen from her.
I lean in to wrap my arms around her and kiss her gently. My wife.
The sight is met with a few muffled cheers from the onlookers. The hard part over, I take Nina’s hand confidently into mine as we walk toward the exit, showered with confetti and cheers of support.
It’s later in the evening, and Nina and I are mingling with guests as we flit about, trying to make sure we speak to everyone present.
Nina is constantly adjusting her dress, casting furtive glances down at her stomach as she does so, looking up at me sheepishly every time.
“Don’t be silly,” I whisper in a rare moment we manage to get alone. “You aren’t even showing yet. No one can see anything. Trust me.”
She smiles up at me, beaming broadly. I’m staggered again by her beauty and the way her pregnancy seems to make her glow with femininity.
Her womanly figure has filled out even more. More than once, I’ve had to avert my gaze from her, desires rising unbound within me.
There’ll be time for that later, Brock. Control yourself.
“Hey, is that . . . ?” Nina asks suddenly as a couple approaches from out of my field of vision.
My blood turns to ice for a split second as I’m filled with worry that the couple might be Rosa and Philip.
But then I remember that I showed Philip the texts I’d gotten from Rosa and they’re now getting divorced. I can’t take the full credit for the divorce, though—my whole extended family basically staged an intervention to tell him everyone was concerned about how badly she was treating him.
So Rosa wasn’t invited to my wedding. And if she dares to show up, my relatives would be happy to throw her out of this hotel.
“Brock!” a voice shouts.
I grin as I recognize Luke’s voice booming over toward me.
“I never thought we’d make an honest man of you,” he quips, holding his hand out in front of me.
I pull him into a bear hug, and he grunts at the embrace. “Good to see you, Luke. And you too, Tessa. How’s Kayleigh?”
Tessa smiles warmly and gives me a hug, pecking me on the cheek. “Oh, she’s great. Congratulations you two,” Tessa says, clapping her hands together in delight. She gives Nina a knowing smile. “On both counts.”
“What? But how did you . . .“ I look over at Luke, who seems to be completely clueless as to what’s going on.
“Women just know, Brock. You’d better get used to it.” Tessa grins and turns to face Nina, their arms intertwined. “Well, I would let you have Kayleigh’s baby stuff. But, well . . .” Tessa glances at Luke. “We’re hoping for a second one on the way some time soon. We just need Luke to work his magic again . . .”
“Whoa, talk about graphic details,” I manage to say.
Luke pats me on the shoulder as the four of us walk together toward the bar.
“Well, I’ll tell you what, Tessa,” Nina says. “Once these two squeamish boys are over themselves, what say we plan a date to go shopping for baby stuff? Girls only.”
Tessa smiles at Nina’s words and they start chattering, words flying between them faster than any mortal man could keep up with.
“Well, these two can’t have any of the good stuff,” Luke says quietly, and I clasp him around the shoulder as he waves the bartender over. “Two of your finest scotch whiskies, my good man! Make them large,” Luke shouts before gesturing toward me. “He’s paying!”
A little while later, as we sit before our main course, a loud clink of metal on glass rings out, silencing the bustling throng.
Sorrow pangs in my chest and I reach down to clutch Nina’s hand. Tradition would mean that her father would speak first, but that’s not possible.
She smiles up at me bravely with misty eyes, and I lean in to kiss her gently on the cheek.
I start to rise, mind going over the words I’d prepared in my head, but Dean is up before me, silver spoon still tapping against the champagne flute in his left hand.
Dean is both my best man and Nina’s man of honor today. I smile up at him, glad to have the attention taken away from me.
